BOSTON (AP) — Gov. Deval Patrick is trying to reassure residents about the threat of Ebola and says the state is taking steps to prepare for the unlikely discovery of an Ebola-infected patient here.

Patrick said on his monthly radio show Thursday on WGBH-FM that there have been no cases of Ebola reported in Massachusetts and the likelihood of the disease making an appearance is very low.

Patrick said the state's health care system has been gearing up just in case.

Those preparations include the sharing of recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about ways health care professionals can protect themselves and others.

Patrick also said the CDC has certified the state's public health lab to do diagnostic tests in cases of suspected Ebola to quickly determine if an individual has contracted the disease.

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