Emergency responders in full hazmat suits rushed two patients from a Manhattan urgent care facility to Bellevue Hospital on Sunday after concerns of a possible Ebola exposure, according to law enforcement sources.
The incident took place at a CityMD location on East 125th Street and Lexington Avenue, where the two individuals had sought medical attention.
The patients had recently traveled from Uganda, a country where Ebola outbreaks have previously occurred, and exhibited symptoms consistent with the virus.
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However, health officials later suggested that norovirus may be the more likely cause of the illness.
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Law enforcement sources confirmed that emergency responders transported the individuals to Bellevue Hospital for testing and further evaluation.
Ebola is a highly contagious and deadly virus spread through direct contact with bodily fluids of an infected person or contaminated materials.
The disease causes hemorrhagic fever, and symptoms include high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, and internal or external bleeding.
Given the patients’ travel history and symptoms, medical officials initially took extra precautions to prevent potential spread.
While the symptoms raised alarms for possible Ebola, health officials noted that the illness had spread quickly among family members, which is more characteristic of norovirus.
Norovirus, commonly referred to as the “stomach flu,” is a highly contagious virus that causes vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain but is not considered deadly like Ebola.
Following the transport of the patients, the CityMD facility was temporarily closed as a precaution.
After an evaluation by health authorities, the clinic was cleared to reopen, and first responders were allowed to continue their duties while wearing standard personal protective equipment (PPE) instead of full hazmat gear.
Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation and conduct further testing at Bellevue Hospital to determine the exact cause of the illness.
No confirmed cases of Ebola have been reported at this time.
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