Astorino: No Ebola Virus Cases in Westchester County
County Executive Rob Astorino announced on Wednesday that there are no cases of the Ebola virus in Westchester after a man was hospitalized and put in isolation the night before.
In the past two months, the health department has received 11 inquires including one made last night. Upon review, none of the individuals had any risk factors, exposures or indicators that warranted testing for Ebola.
County officials held an early afternoon press conference to try to dispel fears after word got out that the hospitalized man, who is West African, came into contact with others from that region.
“The Westchester County Department of Health has been proactively encouraging hospitals and other medical providers to contact them if they have concerns about the Ebola virus,” Astorino said. “This is a best practice that is underway out of an abundance of caution.”
Most of the inquiries have involved people returning from trips and not feeling well, he said.
“The Health Department continues to encourage hospitals and medical providers to contact them if they have any concerns,” Astorino said. “These calls allow us to review procedures and to be prepared in the event that an actual case is identified.”
An Ebola patient died in Dallas on Wednesday, more than two weeks after he came to the United States from Liberia.
For more information on the Ebola virus, visit the county’s website at www.westchestergov.com/health.
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