Yale student quarantined with Ebola-like symptoms

A student at Yale University with Ebola-like symptoms is being quarantined in Yale-New Haven Hospital, according to Eyewitness News. This student was admitted to the Yale-New Haven Hospital Wednesday night. The unidentified patient was a student researcher helping to monitor the Ebola outbreak in Liberia last month, and had undergone screening for the virus in Liberia with one other student who remains in isolation. Both had negative results and were discharged Oct. 11, according to Eyewitness News. 

While there has been a wave of suspected Ebola infections across the country over the past week, only two have tested positive for the virus. One of these patients who was suspected of having Ebola was at the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. However, the patient has tested negative for the virus, according to The Washington Post. The patient is visiting the United States from Liberia, and went to CrossOver Healthcare Ministry on Monday with a low-grade fever. Both her fever and travel history led Crossover to isolate the patient and contact the Richmond City Health District. She was allowed to leave the clinic that night, according to NBC12.

Lynne Deane, the medical director on campus, said there were Richmond students who volunteered at CrossOver Healthcare Ministry, but they had not been on site when the patient had come in.

A relative drove the patient, who remains unidentified, to the VCU Medical Center, where there were isolation rooms. The patient said she had not come into contact with any Ebola patients, according to NBC12.

Donald Stern, director of the City Health District, said, “Following conversations with the Virginia Department of Health State Epidemiologist and with the CDC, it was determined that the patient did not satisfy all the clinical criteria for Ebola, yet due to the patient’s travel history and low-grade fever, it was determined reasonable to recommend further evaluation,” according to The Washington Post. The patient was tested according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria, and the tests came back Oct. 14 with no signs of Ebola, according to NBC12.

Senior Robert Lodewick said he was not worried about Ebola at this point, “but if it came to UR it would spread across campus instantly.”

Senior Whitney Schwalm said, “Well, it’s cold and flu season so people are going to be exhibiting symptoms, and I can see why people would be nervous, but I’m not.” 

Deane said she was not surprised that someone presented themselves to a health clinic with symptoms that are as vague as Ebola symptoms are. She said the health center performed its annual screening on all international students before the school year had begun. They always ask the students about their travel history, and this year they asked specifically about questions related to Ebola, Deane said.

Deane said the health center had not received any calls with concerns about Ebola. However, if there were a concern, the health center would put the patient in the isolation room and call the health department. “The most important thing that people can do is get a flu shot to protect themselves from symptoms similar to Ebola,” Deane said.

Contact reporter Katie Mogul at katie.mogul@richmond.edu