Two Texas Patients Being Monitored for Potential Ebola Exposure in Amarillo

Two patients who recently returned from the West African nation of Liberia are being actively monitored for possible Ebola exposure.  The patients are a child and the child’s mother. Public Health officials say they will monitor the two patients for twenty-one days.

The patients were not symptomatic when they arrived in the United States from Liberia, according to a statement from the City of Amarillo Public Health Department obtained by Breitbart Texas. The child has since developed a fever and was transported to a local hospital for evaluation. The child’s elevated temperature is the only symptom at this time.

“We have been planning for such an event since September. Community partners such as fire, AMS, police, emergency management, environmental health, airport, animal control and county agencies have been instrumental in proper planning and response,” said Public Health Director Casie Stoughton in the statement. “By following these protocols we’re greatly reducing the likelihood of exposing others.”

The child and mother were transported to Northwest Texas Hospital, according to a report by NewsChannel10 in Amarillo. The mother has not shown any symptoms their report stated. The child; however, was found to have a higher than normal temperature on Tuesday morning.

Breitbart Texas reached out to the Amarillo Public Health Department, the Texas Department of Health and Human Services and Northwest Texas Hospital for an update on the child’s condition. No response has been received at this time. The Amarillo Department of Health stated there have been no further press releases since Wednesday.

Deputy Health Authority Dr. Ako Bradford said the individuals do not pose a risk to the general population. Ebola can only be contracted if a person has direct, unprotected contact with the blood or body fluids (urine, saliva, feces, vomit, sweat and semen) of a person who is sick with Ebola. The patients will continue to be monitored actively for the duration of the twenty-one-day incubation period.

Bob Price is a senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas and a member of the original Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX and on Facebook.