Is Ebola in the States? Maggie Rogers, News ReporterMon March 28, 2016
ALABAMA- Recently there have been 9 people in Alabama that were exposed to the deadly virus of Ebola and one of them is experiencing “Ebola-like” symptoms. A patient at the University of Alabama-Birmingham Hospital was experiencing the symptoms and has been quarantined at the hospital. The other eight people that have been exposed are six rescue workers, and two family members. The rescue workers have been quarantined in a couple of different places and the family members have been instructed to not leave their home. The patient quarantined in the hospital was considered a “low-risk” for the disease because he had visited a country that had recently had activity of Ebola in the area but had not come into contact with any cases, and didn’t participate in any “high-risk” activities like health care work. Even though this case is not considered very high-risk, the health officials and the CDC, along with the state have been taking major precautions. "The county has been keeping a close watch and have been taking appropriate precautions,” said Johnson, a CDC worker. "The state is aware, and we're running appropriate tests. The CDC has been notified." He also states that the hospital is checking the patient's temperature and watching all day for “Ebola-like” symptoms to follow protocol for any American who has returned from an Ebola stricken country. So far it is noted that no hospital workers have been in contact or exposed to the patient, and there is no known public health risk. It is stated that this hospital and the workers have been preparing for over a year, and that they were prepared for this type of situation. No more information will become available until Wednesday on the results of the patients tests. All we know is that the precautions are being taken and all we can do is wait.