BANFF, Alta. -- Health ministers meeting in Alberta are trying to reassure Canadians now that the first confirmed case of Ebola virus has been reported in the United States.
Ontario Health Minister Eric Hoskins, who is a family physician, said Tuesday the provinces and territories have some of the best infection control measures in the world in place.
"We are all deeply concerned about what is going on in the U.S.," Hoskins said in Banff.
"It is important to reassure Canadians -- North America is not West Africa. We have right across this country, in every province and territory, we have extremely effective infection control measures in place and protocols."
Hoskins said surveillance by public health officials for Ebola has been heightened and health providers across Canada are being made aware of how to recognize and deal with any suspected cases.
He said people should keep in mind that Ebola is very difficult to transmit and the chances of it spreading to Canada are extremely remote.
Ebola is believed to have sickened more than 6,500 people in West Africa, and the World Health Organization says more than 3,000 deaths have been linked to the disease.
Federal health officials in the U.S. have confirmed that a patient being treated at a Dallas hospital has tested positive for the virus.
Officials at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital said the unidentified patient is being kept in isolation.
Hospital officials said they're following Centres for Disease Control recommendations to keep doctors, staff and patients safe.
