Ebola Ruled Out In DC-area Patients
Maryland patient tests positive for malaria
2:09 PM EDT Oct 04, 2014
BALTIMORE —Two Washington, D.C., area patients who exhibited Ebola-like symptoms have been ruled out for the disease.
Howard University Hospital officials confirmed Friday it was treating a patient who presented with symptoms that could be associated with Ebola virus after traveling to Nigeria. Washington, D.C., health officials announced Saturday that officials ruled out Ebola in this case.
D.C. Department of Health Director Dr. Joxel Garcia released a statement Friday saying, "The District of Columbia Department of Health has been working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Howard University Hospital to monitor any patients displaying symptoms associated with the Ebola virus. At this time, there are no confirmed cases of Ebola in the District of Columbia."
Not far away in Maryland, there was a possible case of Ebola at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Montgomery County, but late Friday night, the hospital issued a statement saying the patient has malaria and not Ebola.
Shady Grove Adventist Hospital said in a statement, "Following further tests, monitoring and consultations with infectious disease experts, our medical team has determined that the patient in our care has malaria and does not have Ebola. We appreciate the excellent work of our clinical team including physicians, nurses and staff, in handling the care of this patient. We also appreciate the partnership of county, state and federal agencies on this case."
The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said it has communicated with hospitals and medical personnel statewide to be on the lookout for this infectious disease.
"We just want to make sure they are aware and on the lookout and if they have somebody they think might have Ebola infection, or any of these infections that people could get from international travel, that they contact the local health department," said Dr. David Blythe, the state's epidemiologist.
Experts said Ebola is not easily spread. To get it, you must come in direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person who is showing symptoms.
Blythe said people need to remember that possible cases of Ebola have to have the right combination of exposure and symptoms. That means travel to west Africa and fever, but with flu season here, it's important that the two not be confused.
"The illnesses are different. They both have fever, but Ebola can also have other symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhea. People can have bleeding, so hemorrhage, and also can develop kidney or liver problems and so that's not typical of flu or influenza," Blythe said.
U.S. military may offer aid in Ebola outbreak
Military personnel may be deployed in response to the Ebola outbreak, a spokesperson confirmed.
"There may be personnel from Aberdeen Proving Ground who may deploy in response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa/Operation United Assistance. We are in the planning process to determine resources needed, and will work closely with DOD to source mission requirements. Specific units have not been identified at this time. We anticipate Army personnel supporting this U.S. government effort to include medical personnel to supporting health care provider training, engineers to construct the Ebola Treatment Units, logisticians, and other transportation personnel to support the regional intermediate staging base, as well as command and control staff for the Joint Force Command headquartered in Liberia. As part of the pre-deployment phase, one of our primary focus areas right now is ensuring our soldiers are prepared to operate in that environment, which include health care safety," said Kelly Luster, director of communication with U.S. Army Garrison.
WBAL-TV 11 News reporter George Lettis and WBALTV.com editor Saliqa Khan contributed to this story.
Read more: http://www.wbaltv.com/health/possible-ebola-case-present-in-maryland/28393780#ixzz3FCgejCPh
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| An Ebola virus illustration. |
2:09 PM EDT Oct 04, 2014
BALTIMORE —Two Washington, D.C., area patients who exhibited Ebola-like symptoms have been ruled out for the disease.
Howard University Hospital officials confirmed Friday it was treating a patient who presented with symptoms that could be associated with Ebola virus after traveling to Nigeria. Washington, D.C., health officials announced Saturday that officials ruled out Ebola in this case.
D.C. Department of Health Director Dr. Joxel Garcia released a statement Friday saying, "The District of Columbia Department of Health has been working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Howard University Hospital to monitor any patients displaying symptoms associated with the Ebola virus. At this time, there are no confirmed cases of Ebola in the District of Columbia."
Not far away in Maryland, there was a possible case of Ebola at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Montgomery County, but late Friday night, the hospital issued a statement saying the patient has malaria and not Ebola.
Shady Grove Adventist Hospital said in a statement, "Following further tests, monitoring and consultations with infectious disease experts, our medical team has determined that the patient in our care has malaria and does not have Ebola. We appreciate the excellent work of our clinical team including physicians, nurses and staff, in handling the care of this patient. We also appreciate the partnership of county, state and federal agencies on this case."
The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said it has communicated with hospitals and medical personnel statewide to be on the lookout for this infectious disease.
"We just want to make sure they are aware and on the lookout and if they have somebody they think might have Ebola infection, or any of these infections that people could get from international travel, that they contact the local health department," said Dr. David Blythe, the state's epidemiologist.
Experts said Ebola is not easily spread. To get it, you must come in direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person who is showing symptoms.
Blythe said people need to remember that possible cases of Ebola have to have the right combination of exposure and symptoms. That means travel to west Africa and fever, but with flu season here, it's important that the two not be confused.
"The illnesses are different. They both have fever, but Ebola can also have other symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhea. People can have bleeding, so hemorrhage, and also can develop kidney or liver problems and so that's not typical of flu or influenza," Blythe said.
U.S. military may offer aid in Ebola outbreak
Military personnel may be deployed in response to the Ebola outbreak, a spokesperson confirmed.
"There may be personnel from Aberdeen Proving Ground who may deploy in response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa/Operation United Assistance. We are in the planning process to determine resources needed, and will work closely with DOD to source mission requirements. Specific units have not been identified at this time. We anticipate Army personnel supporting this U.S. government effort to include medical personnel to supporting health care provider training, engineers to construct the Ebola Treatment Units, logisticians, and other transportation personnel to support the regional intermediate staging base, as well as command and control staff for the Joint Force Command headquartered in Liberia. As part of the pre-deployment phase, one of our primary focus areas right now is ensuring our soldiers are prepared to operate in that environment, which include health care safety," said Kelly Luster, director of communication with U.S. Army Garrison.
WBAL-TV 11 News reporter George Lettis and WBALTV.com editor Saliqa Khan contributed to this story.
Read more: http://www.wbaltv.com/health/possible-ebola-case-present-in-maryland/28393780#ixzz3FCgejCPh
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