A New York City doctor who recently returned from treating Ebola patients in Guinea tested positive for the disease on Thursday.
Dr. Craig Spencer, 33, reported a fever of 103 degrees and gastrointestinal problems Thursday morning, both symptoms of Ebola. He was then transported to Bellevue Hospital in an ambulance staffed by a « specially trained HAZ TAC unit wearing Personal Protective Equipment, » according to a statement from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Tests conducted at the hospital revealed that he had the virus.
Spencer is the only case of Ebola in the city of more than 8 million. He is now the fourth person to be diagnosed in the U.S. with the viral disease.
« There is no reason for New Yorkers to be alarmed, » NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio said at an evening press conference. « New Yorkers who have not been exposed to an infected person’s bodily fluids are not at all at risk. »
Sharing a subway car or living near someone with Ebola does not transmit the disease, de Blasio added.
« We are as ready as one could be for this circumstance, » added Gov. Andrew Cuomo during the press conference. « What happened in Dallas was unfortunately the exact opposite — we had the advantage of learning from the Dallas experience. »
President Barack Obama spoke with de Blasio and Cuomo on Thursday night and offered full federal support in response to the first Ebola case in New York City, the Associated Press reported. The CDC also dispatched an Ebola response team to conduct further tests on Spencer and assist the city’s response.
Spencer left Guinea on Oct. 14 via Europe and arrived in New York on Oct. 17, said NYC health commissioner Dr. Mary Travis Bassett during the press conference. Upon arrival, he had no symptoms, but he checked his temperature twice a day as a precaution.
On Oct. 21, Spencer began feeling tired, but managed to go on a 3-mile jog (a sign he was « feeling quite well, » said Bassett). Also on Wednesday, Spencer took subway trains A, 1 and L, visited the High Line park, a restaurant and then a bowling alley called The Gutter in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. After it was confirmed on Thursday night that Spencer had visited the bowling alley, the venue was shut down and a concert scheduled there as part of the CMJ music festival was canceled, Brooklyn Vegan reported.
Officials have been retracing Spencer’s steps and interactions to determine if others may have been exposed. Ebola is only transmittable when the carrier of the virus is experiencing symptoms.
Three people Spencer had contact with since returning to the U.S. were to be quarantined and monitored. None were yet showing symptoms of Ebola. Of the three, one is in isolation in the hospital, said Bassett. CNN reports that this person is Spencer’s fiancee, who was identified as Morgan Dixon by The New York Times. A person briefed on the investigation said that it was unclear whether the other two contacts would isolate themselves in their homes or if they would be relocated by authorities, the Times reported.
The Manhattan apartment that Spencer shared with his fiancee was also quarantined.
