An individual who recently traveled to Africa was quarantined at St. Vincent’s St. Clair Hospital in Pell City, Ala., with symptoms of Ebola, but doctors now say that the individual does not have the deadly disease.
After a confirmed case of Ebola surfaced in Dallas a few days ago, states began taking precautions to make sure they’re prepared to respond properly if the disease spreads. Earlier this week, Governor Bentley addressed Alabama’s preparedness in case of an Ebola diagnosis in the state.
“In the event that Ebola spreads to Alabama, we are ready and we are prepared to respond,” said Bentley. “The Department of Public Health and the Hospital Association have partnered together to ensure every healthcare worker in Alabama knows the proper steps to identity someone with the potential to have Ebola.”
Ebola is not transmitted through the air. The only way to catch the disease is by coming into contact with the bodily fluids of someone who is infected.
State Health Officer Dr. Donald Williamson noted earlier this week that the most realistic scenario for Alabama to encounter Ebola is if an individual who contracted the disease in West Africa traveled to the United States.
The individual in Pell City had recently traveled to Africa, but it was not one of the areas of concern. However, out of an abundance of caution, doctors quarantined the individual until they were able to make a diagnosis.
As a result of the publicity Ebola has gotten in recent weeks, there will likely be a number of similar incidents in Alabama and around the nation in the coming days.
For now it appears that the process Alabama’s health officials have put in place was followed correctly and worked the way it was designed.
We will update this story as we get more information from the State Health Department.
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