New York City doctor tests positive for Ebola virus

New York City doctor tests positive for Ebola virus

A New York City doctor named Craig Spencer has tested positive for Ebola after returning from Guinea a week ago, where he was supposedly treating Ebola patients. The test results were announced at 8:30 p.m. today. He was taken by an EMS crew wearing full Hazmat (Hazardous Material) suits to Bellevue Hospital.

Spencer, 33, worked for Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières), a volunteer program that provides international medical aid in 60+ countries. He called in to Doctors Without Borders to report his symptoms; the organization said in a statement:

“A person in New York City, who recently worked with Doctors Without Borders in one of the Ebola-affected countries in West Africa, notified our office this morning to report having developed a fever. As per the specific guidelines that Doctors Without Borders provides its staff on their return from Ebola assignments, the individual engaged in regular health monitoring and reported this development immediately.  While at this stage there is no confirmation that the individual has contracted Ebola, Doctors Without Borders, in the interest of public safety and in accordance with its protocols, immediately notified the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, which is directly managing the individual’s care.”

If Spencer actually contracted the virus early enough for it to be contagious, traveling by plane back to the United States puts many people who were within close proximity to him at risk. Spencer also apparently went bowling and used Uber taxis. No other cases have been reported yet, but only time will tell.

Donald Trump posted on Twitter in response to the event, blaming President Obama for Ebola getting to New York:

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