A Filipino sailor who was banned entry to Malta over Ebola fears may actually by suffering Hepatitis, according to media reports.

The sailor was on a freighter which was turned away on Wednesday night. The sailor later disembarked in Sicily.

"An initial medical assessment suggested he has hepatitis," port authorities in Sicily told Agence France-Presse.

The MV Western Copenhagen, with 21 people on board, was on its way from Guinea, one of the three countries worst hit by west Africa's Ebola epidemic, to Ukraine when the sailor developed symptoms which could indicate Ebola.

AFP said an initial medical assessment by radio while the sailor was still on board suggested the man may be suffering from hepatitis. The passenger was met by an ambulance on the quay and taken to hospital.

The Western Copenhagen then continued on its way to Ukraine.

In comments on Thursday, Dr Muscat defended his decision on legal and moral grounds.

“We are lacking information. We can't say if the captain is understating or overstating the issue,” he said.

International conventions state that countries are obliged to help individuals in need of assistance, but they also specify exceptions if the country’s health systems or national security could be breached.

“It could be a false alarm, but we are morally correct to take this decision because we cannot endanger our health system, especially when we don’t know the magnitude of the problem,” Dr Muscat said.