A doctor from New York City who just returned from West Africa has tested positive for the deadly virus.
Craig Spencer had been treating Ebola patients in Guinea before returning to the United States ten days ago, The New York Times writes. On Thursday, he was rushed to hospital and placed in isolation after reporting that he had a 39.4C fever and diarrhoea. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio revealed that Dr Spencer had been in direct contact with very few people since he returned from Guinea, but health care workers are still seeking those he may have come into contact with, AP reports.
During a news conference, Mayor de Blasio assured the audience that “it is a very brief period of time that patient has had symptoms.” Dr Spencer told authorities he did not believe the protective gear he wore while treating Ebola patients in Guinea had been breached, but he had been monitoring his own health. He was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, which has been designated New York City’s main venue for handling Ebola cases. Bellevue has four isolation rooms which can quickly expand to 20.
Dr Spencer is the fourth person in the United States to contract Ebola. City officials announced that the 32-year-old doctor had admitted riding the subway and taking a taxi to a Brooklyn bowling alley in the past week before symptoms started to appear. His fiancé is also in quarantine at Bellevue, although she was not showing symptoms.
Meanwhile, Mali also reported its first Ebola case. Health Minister Ousmane Kone announced that a two-year-old girl coming from neighbouring Guinea is the country’s first case. The announcement was made on Malian television late of Thursday. According to Mr Kone, both the child and all those who were in contact with her in the Malian city of Kayes were promptly diagnosed and taken care of.
According to latest World Health Organisation figures, Ebola has now claimed the lives of at least 4,877 people and infected almost 10,000 across West Africa.
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