ROME, Sept. 9 -- A Nigerian woman hospitalised on Tuesday in Italy with suspected symptoms of contracting the Ebola virus was suffering from malaria, hospital authorities said.

The results did not rule out yet a possible Ebola virus infection, health authorities added.

The 42-year-old woman, a regular migrant living in the central region of Marche, showed signs that could be those of Ebola and was admitted early on Tuesday to the infectious diseases' department of the main regional hospital in Ancona, where she was isolated.

She had returned to Italy from Nigeria last week.

Samples of her blood were sent to "Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases in Rome, Italy's reference centre for the diagnosis of suspected Ebola virus cases, to be analysed.

The results were expected on Wednesday at the latest, scientific director of Spallanzani Institute Giuseppe Ippolito told Xinhua.

Further analyses were meanwhile carried out in Ancona, where the woman remained under treatment in an isolated ward. These clinical tests showed she was suffering from malaria, hospital authorities stated. She was immediately given specific medication.

Doctors at Ancona's hospital confirmed the results from Spallanzani Institute were still crucial in order to clear the suspected case of Ebola virus, and the response was expected as soon as early on Wednesday.

"Our laboratories are usually able to give a definitive answer in some 12 hours from the moment they receive blood samples," scientific director of Spallanzani Institute Giuseppe Ippolito told Xinhua.

The regional health councillor, Almerino Mezzolani, said the emergency procedures' protocol was immediately enabled on Tuesday and authorities were gathering all the information necessary to the case.

Italy's Ministry of Health said the woman was "apparently in good health conditions", despite her symptoms.

According to preliminary information gathered by doctors in Ancona, the woman's husband was not at home in the days after she had come back from Nigeria Furthermore, the couple has no children.

These circumstances would reduce the risk of further infection, in case of positive results on her.

If confirmed, it would be the first case of Ebola virus in Italy.

However, Italy's National Institute of Health (ISS) said even if this case were to be confirmed, risks of infection were very low.

"A spread of the Ebola virus in Italy is highly unlikely thanks to our sanitary and hygienic conditions," director of ISS Pharmacology Department Stefano Vella declared.