Washington, D.C. media are reporting a patient with Ebola symptoms was hospitalized by crews wearing hazmat gear in the Washington, D.C. suburb of Arlington, Virginia.
DEVELOPING: Possible case of #Ebola in Arlington Co. Patient is being transported to an area hospital. http://t.co/JNFgP9BJRK
— CBS D.C. (@CBSDC) February 26, 2015
The Washington Post quoted an Arlington County health official downplaying the incident:
“Arlington County fire officials have transported a patient to the hospital from a Clarendon apartment building using their Ebola protocols, though a department spokesman said it is “unlikely” that they are dealing with a real case of the deadly disease.
“Lt. Sarah-Maria Marchegiani said the patient had traveled recently to an Ebola affected country and exhibited symptoms consistent with the disease, so medics wearing protective clothing removed the person from the apartment at 1128 North Irving Street and notified Virginia Hospital Center to prepare for a possible Ebola patient. Marchegiani said, though, that the steps were taken out of an abundance of caution.
““While it’s unlikely that this is an Ebola case, the fire department and public health department and receiving hospital are taking all the precautions,” Marchegiani said.
Clarendon is a densely populated area with condos, apartments, single family homes, bars, night clubs, coffee shops, cafes, restaurants, schools and shopping. Its close proximity to Washington, D.C. makes it a haven for government workers and companies that do business with the federal government.
Arlington Patch describes the building the potential Ebola patient was removed from as a “luxury apartment building.”
“The patient lives at 1128 N. Irving Street in Clarendon, she(Marchegiani) said. The address is home to The Beacon Clarendon, a luxury apartment building.”
