Authorities in Zambia said on Thursday that a woman who was quarantined for suspected Ebola has tested negative for the deadly disease.

On Monday, health authorities in Zambia's Kitwe city on the Copperbelt Province quarantined a 25-year-old woman who had shown symptoms of Ebola, a move that caused panic in the mining town.

But Minister of Health Joseph Kasonde told reporters that tests on the woman have come out negative to the deadly disease and that there was no need for people to panic.

The woman, whose identity has been withheld, was isolated together with the nurses who attended to her.

He said the result means that Zambia has not recorded any confirmed Ebola cases although eight suspected cases have been reported so far which have all come out negative.

The Zambian minister has, however appealed to members of the public to continue to remain alter for any suspected Ebola cases to ensure that the country remained free of the deadly disease.

The Zambian government has since set aside funds towards Ebola preparedness and awareness campaign while a travel advisory has been put in place with rigorous screening of people entering the country.

A national epidemic preparedness prevention management and control committee has since put Ebola top of its agenda, he added.

Ebola, which broken out in West Africa early this year has so far claimed more than 2,800 lives and infected more than 5,800 people, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The WHO has since warned that the number of Ebola infections will triple to 20,000 by November, soaring by thousands every week if efforts are not significantly stepped up to stop the outbreak. Endi

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