Health Department: Child Tests Negative For Ebola At Bellevue Hospital
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Tests on a 5-year-old boy who showed possible symptoms of Ebola, came back negative Thursday evening.
"Today, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene conducted a test for the Ebola virus on a minor patient who had been transferred to HHC Bellevue Hospital Center last night," according to a statement by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. "This patient developed a fever this morning while under observation at the hospital, and had been in one of the three Ebola epidemic countries in West Africa within the past 21 days. The result of the test is negative. Out of an abundance of caution, further negative Ebola tests are required on subsequent days to ensure that the patient is cleared. The patient will also be tested for common respiratory viruses. The patient will remain in isolation until all test results have returned."
Health Department: Child Being Tested For Ebola At Bellevue Hospital
As CBS 2's Tracee Carrasco reported, cellphone video from a neighbor showed the boy, wrapped in protective gear, as he was wheeled out of his Bronx apartment building Sunday night and brought to Bellevue hospital by ambulance. The ambulance crew was also in full hazmat gear.
The child returned to the U.S. Saturday night after visiting family in the Ebola-stricken country of Guinea. His mother called for help after he came down with a 103 degree fever.
The New York City Health Department said he had been in West Africa in the past 21 days.
"The child was showing some signs of an illness," Mayor Bill de Blasio told reporters, including WCBS 880's Rich Lamb and 1010 WINS' Juliet Papa. "Not clear what the illness was. We did the cautious thing and brought the child in under the full protocol."
EXTRA: More On Ebola From The CDC
"There are pediatric ICU nurses who are specially trained to work with children," the mayor added. "There's a lot of sensitivity to make sure we handle this child carefully."
The boy had been visiting family in Guinea for about a month and flew back to the U.S. on Saturday, CBS 2's Ilana Gold reported.
Health Department: Child Being Tested For Ebola At Bellevue Hospital
Officials stressed that Ebola is only contagious through coming in direct contact with an infected patient's bodily fluids and that the chances of the average New Yorker getting Ebola "are extremely slim."
"The chances of the average New Yorker contracting Ebola are extremely slim. Ebola is spread by directly touching the bodily fluids of an infected person. You cannot be infected simply by being near someone who has Ebola," said the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Health Department: Pediatric Patient Being Tested For Ebola At Bellevue Hospital
Bellevue is the same hospital where New York City's first confirmed Ebola patient, Dr. Craig Spencer, remains in serious but stable condition.
This weekend, he received plasma from Nancy Writebol, who was successfully treated for the deadly virus in Atlanta back in August.
Spencer's fiancee, Morgan Dixon, is under a three-week quarantine at their Hamilton Heights apartment. Only case workers can visit Dixon, who are helping her with food and supplies and looking for Ebola symptoms. So far, she has none.
Spencer also had contact with two friends before getting symptoms. They are also in a mandatory three-week quarantine and aren't showing any symptoms.
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