This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.washingtonpost.com/ny-health-worker-who-recently-returned-from-west-africa-being-evaluated-for-ebola/2014/10/23/56de1529-575c-4977-ba74-112feae74ec6_story.html?wprss=rss_homepage

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Doctors Without Borders physician being tested for Ebola in New York City Doctors Without Borders physician being tested for Ebola in New York City
(35 minutes later)
A New York City physician who recently returned from the front lines of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa has been hospitalized in Manhattan and is being tested for the deadly virus, the city health department said in a statement.A New York City physician who recently returned from the front lines of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa has been hospitalized in Manhattan and is being tested for the deadly virus, the city health department said in a statement.
The man, whose identity was confirmed as Craig Spencer by District 7 New York City Councilman Mark Levine, "presented a fever and gastrointestinal symptoms" and was transported on Thursday to Bellevue Hospital, the health department said. The health department said he had returned to the United States "within the past 21 days from one of the three countries currently facing the outbreak of this virus." The man, identified as Craig Spencer by New York City Councilman Mark Levine, "presented a fever and gastrointestinal symptoms" on Thursday, the health department said, and was transported to Bellevue Hospital, where he is now in isolation. The city health department, which did not identify Spencer, said he had returned to the United States "within the past 21 days from one of the three countries currently facing the outbreak of this virus."
In its statement, the city health department said that after consulting with the hospital and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, officials "decided to conduct a test for the Ebola virus because of this patient’s recent travel history, pattern of symptoms, and past work." After consulting with the hospital and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the statement said, officials "decided to conduct a test for the Ebola virus because of this patient’s recent travel history, pattern of symptoms, and past work."
The statement added that the patient, whom it did not identify, is also being evaluated "for other causes of illness, as these symptoms can also be consistent with salmonella, malaria, or the stomach flu." The statement added that the patient is also being evaluated "for other causes of illness, as these symptoms can also be consistent with salmonella, malaria, or the stomach flu."
Preliminary test results are expected in the next 12 hours, said the statement, which was issued shortly after 3 p.m. Eastern time. Preliminary test results are expected in the next 12 hours, according to the statement, which was issued shortly after 3 p.m. Eastern time.
According to a federal official, the CDC is readying a team of specialists for epidemiology, infection control and communications to travel to New York on Thursday night. CDC officials declined to comment. A federal official said the CDC is readying a team of specialists for epidemiology, infection control and communications to travel to New York on Thursday night. CDC officials declined to comment.
The New York lab conducting the Ebola test is a part of the Laboratory Response Network, a group of facilities designed to coordinate quickly with the CDC in response to public health threats. The CDC has "high confidence" in the results and is unlikely to repeat the test, the official said. The New York lab conducting the Ebola test is a part of the Laboratory Response Network, a group of facilities designed to coordinate quickly with the CDC in response to public health threats. The CDC has "high confidence" in the results and is unlikely to repeat the test, the federal official said.
Spencer wrote in a recent Facebook post that he had recently returned from working with Doctors Without Borders in Guinea. On Sept. 18, Spencer published a photo of himself on Facebook wearing personal protective equipment. In an accompanying post, he wrote: "Off to Guinea with Doctors Without Borders (MSF). Please support organizations that are sending support or personnel to West Africa, and help combat one of the worst public health and humanitarian disasters in recent history."
A spokesman for the organization confirmed that someone who had worked with the organization had recently returned to New York from an Ebola-affected country and notified the Doctors Without Borders office Thursday morning about developing a fever. A spokesman for Doctors Without Borders confirmed that someone who had worked with the organization had recently returned to New York from an Ebola-affected country and notified the organization's office Thursday morning about developing a fever.
"As per the specific guidelines that Doctors Without Borders provides its staff on their return from Ebola assignments, the individual engaged in regular health monitoring and reported this development immediately," spokesman Tim Shenk said in a statement. "While at this stage there is no confirmation that the individual has contracted Ebola, Doctors Without Borders, in the interest of public safety and in accordance with its protocols, immediately notified the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, which is directly managing the individual’s care.""As per the specific guidelines that Doctors Without Borders provides its staff on their return from Ebola assignments, the individual engaged in regular health monitoring and reported this development immediately," spokesman Tim Shenk said in a statement. "While at this stage there is no confirmation that the individual has contracted Ebola, Doctors Without Borders, in the interest of public safety and in accordance with its protocols, immediately notified the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, which is directly managing the individual’s care."
The statement said that "as a further precaution," a team of disease detectives has already begun "to actively trace all of the patient’s contacts to identify anyone who may be at potential risk." The city health department's statement said that "as a further precaution," a team of disease detectives has already begun "to actively trace all of the patient’s contacts to identify anyone who may be at potential risk."
"We can safely say it has been a very brief period of time that the patient exhibited symptoms," said New York mayor Bill de Blasio in a news conference Thursday evening."The patient is in good shape and has gone into a good deal of detail with our personnel with regard to his actions in the last few days." "We can safely say it has been a very brief period of time that the patient exhibited symptoms," New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a news conference Thursday evening. "The patient is in good shape and has gone into a good deal of detail with our personnel with regard to his actions in the last few days."
"Very few people" were in direct contact with Spencer and as a physician he was "quite aware" to look for symptoms after returning from West Africa, the mayor added. "Very few people" were in direct contact with Spencer, and as a physician he was "quite aware" to look for symptoms after returning from West Africa, the mayor added.
Physicians volunteering with Doctors Without Borders follow strict protocols as they return from West Africa. They first travel through Europe and are debriefed in Brussels. Doctors can remain in the field for a maximum of four to six weeks, and upon return to the U.S., they are told to follow CDC guidelines. Those without any known exposure to Ebola are told to monitor their health for the 21-day incubation period, according to the organization.​Physicians volunteering with Doctors Without Borders follow strict protocols as they return from West Africa. They first travel through Europe and are debriefed in Brussels. Doctors can remain in the field for a maximum of four to six weeks, and upon return to the U.S., they are told to follow CDC guidelines. Those without any known exposure to Ebola are told to monitor their health for the 21-day incubation period, according to the organization.​
Emergency officials received a call just before noon Thursday for a sick person in Harlem and transported him to Bellevue, a fire department spokesman said.Emergency officials received a call just before noon Thursday for a sick person in Harlem and transported him to Bellevue, a fire department spokesman said.
In its statement, the city health department noted that Bellevue Hospital "is designated for the isolation, identification and treatment of potential Ebola patients by the City and State." Earlier this month, New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D) designated Bellevue as one of eight hospitals in the state that could care for potential Ebola patients.In its statement, the city health department noted that Bellevue Hospital "is designated for the isolation, identification and treatment of potential Ebola patients by the City and State." Earlier this month, New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D) designated Bellevue as one of eight hospitals in the state that could care for potential Ebola patients.
"New York City is taking all necessary precautions to ensure the health and safety of all New Yorkers," the health department statement said. "The chances of the average New Yorker contracting Ebola are extremely slim.""New York City is taking all necessary precautions to ensure the health and safety of all New Yorkers," the health department statement said. "The chances of the average New Yorker contracting Ebola are extremely slim."
According to Spencer’s public LinkedIn profile, he has worked as a doctor at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, not far from where he lives in Manhattan, since July 2011.According to Spencer’s public LinkedIn profile, he has worked as a doctor at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, not far from where he lives in Manhattan, since July 2011.
NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center didn’t name Spencer, but in a statement described the doctor as “a dedicated humanitarian” who hasn’t returned to work nor seen patients since his overseas trip. “He is a committed and responsible physician who always puts his patients first,” the hospital statement read.NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center didn’t name Spencer, but in a statement described the doctor as “a dedicated humanitarian” who hasn’t returned to work nor seen patients since his overseas trip. “He is a committed and responsible physician who always puts his patients first,” the hospital statement read.
President Obama is aware of Spencer’s case and is being updated, according to White House official who asked for anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.President Obama is aware of Spencer’s case and is being updated, according to White House official who asked for anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
The deadly virus is spread by direct contact with the bodily fluids of a symptomatic Ebola patient. Health department officials were in Spencer's neighborhood this afternoon and passing out bilingual informational handouts about Ebola, according to Levine. "I want to reiterate that this has not yet been confirmed as an Ebola case but every precaution is being taken as if it were," the councilman said in a statement. The deadly virus is spread by direct contact with the bodily fluids of a symptomatic Ebola patient. Health department officials were in Spencer's neighborhood this afternoon and passing out bilingual informational handouts about Ebola, according to Levine.
Three people have been diagnosed with the Ebola virus in the United States. The first, Thomas Eric Duncan, a Liberian man who traveled from West Africa to Dallas through Brussels, died on Oct. 8. Two nurses who treated him, Nina Pham and Amber Vinson, were subsequently diagnosed with the virus. Pham is being treated at a National Institutes of Health facility in Maryland. And Vinson is being treated at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Ga. In a statement on Wednesday, Vinson's family said that she is now free of the virus.Three people have been diagnosed with the Ebola virus in the United States. The first, Thomas Eric Duncan, a Liberian man who traveled from West Africa to Dallas through Brussels, died on Oct. 8. Two nurses who treated him, Nina Pham and Amber Vinson, were subsequently diagnosed with the virus. Pham is being treated at a National Institutes of Health facility in Maryland. And Vinson is being treated at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Ga. In a statement on Wednesday, Vinson's family said that she is now free of the virus.
Five other American patients have been treated for the Ebola virus after being evacuated from West Africa. All five have survived and been discharged from the Emory facility and the Nebraska Medical Center.Five other American patients have been treated for the Ebola virus after being evacuated from West Africa. All five have survived and been discharged from the Emory facility and the Nebraska Medical Center.
The Ebola outbreak in West Africa has killed more than 4,877 people in three West African countries, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Doctors Without Borders, also known by its French name Médecins Sans Frontières, has been on the front lines of fighting the virus where it began in rural Guinea since March, as one of the earliest aid groups on the ground. Cases and deaths in Guinea are far lower than in Sierra Leone and Liberia.The Ebola outbreak in West Africa has killed more than 4,877 people in three West African countries, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Doctors Without Borders, also known by its French name Médecins Sans Frontières, has been on the front lines of fighting the virus where it began in rural Guinea since March, as one of the earliest aid groups on the ground. Cases and deaths in Guinea are far lower than in Sierra Leone and Liberia.
Abby Ohlheiser, DeNeen Brown and Juliet Eilperin contributed to this report. Abby Ohlheiser, Brady Dennis, DeNeen Brown and Juliet Eilperin contributed to this report.
[This post has been updated][This post has been updated]