wo suspected Ebola patients were transported from a New York City urgent care facility to Bellevue Hospital on Sunday after exhibiting symptoms of the deadly disease.
The patients had recently traveled from Uganda, where an Ebola outbreak is ongoing. First responders, wearing protective gear, transported them from a CityMD on East 125th Street and Lexington Avenue.
After evaluation, NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morris confirmed, “The two patients do not have Ebola.” One patient remained at Bellevue for routine testing. Officials suspect they may have norovirus.
The CDC recently issued a health advisory urging doctors to evaluate patients for Ebola after an outbreak in Uganda was confirmed. The Sudan virus strain, causing this outbreak, has no approved vaccines or treatments.
Ebola spreads through contact with bodily fluids and causes fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and, in severe cases, internal bleeding. Since 1976, outbreaks in Sub-Saharan Africa have killed over 15,000 people.
Though the patients tested negative, the incident underscores concerns about global health threats and the importance of rapid response to potential outbreaks.
