Ebola may be Stateside as the Mount Sinai hospital in New York is treating an American who recently returned from West Africa and is showing symptoms of the disease.
MailOnline reports
New York City’s Mount Sinai Hospital is treating a sick male patient who recently returned from a West African country where the Ebola virus has been reported.
The patient arrived at the hospital’s emergency room early on Monday morning with ‘a high fever and gastrointestinal symptoms,’ according to a statement from the hospital.
The patient has been isolated and is undergoing diagnostic testing for Ebola, but also for other illnesses that could cause his symptoms.
‘All necessary steps are being taken to ensure the safety of all patients, visitors and staff,’ the hospital said in a statement.
‘We will continue to work closely with federal, state and city health officials to address and monitor this case, keep the community informed and provide the best quality care to all of our patients.’
The Department of Health has since released a statement stating that the patient is unlikely to have the deadly disease.
‘After consultation with CDC and Mount Sinai, the Health Department has concluded that the patient is unlikely to have Ebola. Specimens are being tested for common causes of illness and to definitively exclude Ebola,’ read the statement.
Hospital officials say they hope to have an answer in the next 24 to 48 hours, but they say the symptoms are common in other illnesses.