New York City, with a population of 8.4 million, may have its very first case of Ebola. Craig Spencer, a 33-year-old Doctors Without Borders physician who treated Ebola patients in Guinea and returned to NYC 10 days ago, was rushed to Bellvue Sospital via ambulance with police escorts from his home in Harlem.
According to the New York Post, Spencer was suffering Ebola-like symptoms, including a 103-degree fever and nausea.
Spencer's fifth floor apartment was sealed off by FDNY, who were clad in hazmat suits. Police also blocked off West 147th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam after Spender was taken to the hospital.
The Health Department issued a statement which read:
“EMS HAZ TAC Units transferred to Bellevue Hospital a patient who presented a fever and gastrointestinal symptoms."
Spencer was working with Doctors Without Borders to treat Ebola patients in Guinea. He is now undergoing testing at Bellevue to see if he has the deadly virus. The Health Dept. also said:
“After consulting with the hospital and the CDC, DOHMH has decided to conduct a test for the Ebola virus because of this patient’s recent travel history, pattern of symptoms, and past work."
Test results should be available in the next 12 hours. Disease detectives are now trying to identify those who may have come into contact with Spencer and who may be at risk if he indeed has become infected with Ebola.