Craig Spencer Tests Positive For Ebola In New York City
The Huffington Post | By Andrew Hart & Anna Almendrala
Posted: 10/23/2014 8:38 pm EDT Updated: 7 minutes ago
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 experiencing symptoms like fever and gastrointestinal problems Thursday morning, and was 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. He was found to have developed a 103 degree fever.
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On Oct. 21, Spencer began feeling tired, but he didn't experience any symptoms until late Thursday morning, said Bassett. He also went on a three-mile jog (a sign he was "feeling quite well," said Bassett) before his symptoms. 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.
The Uber driver who transported him part of the way that night is not considered at risk, said Bassett, as Spencer didn't have any symptoms at the bowling alley. In a statement, Uber confirmed that public health officials personally met with the driver in question to say Spencer posed no risk to anyone in the car, nor subsequent passengers.
Of the three people Spencer had contact with since returning to the U.S., one is in isolation in the hospital, said Bassett. CNN reports that this person is Spencer's fiancee. Spencer's Manhattan apartment was quarantined.
Spencer also told officials that he was in full protective gear during his time treating patients in Guinea, and is aware of no breach in safety protocols.
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