Residents fear Ebola as African ship carrying sick crew docks in New Orleans
New Orleans residents are freaking out right now.vesseltracker.com
September 17, 2014
An African ship docked in New Orleans, Louisiana, on the evening of Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014, and it is carrying a crew of sick passengers. WGNO reported that the ship traveled from near western Africa and one of the passengers was transported to West Jefferson Medical Center.
The Center for Disease Control originally said that the ship was set to dock in New Orleans sometime on Wednesday evening. Earlier in the day, one passenger was taken off of the ship, transported to land, and taken to the hospital.
The passenger was said to be in critical condition. Doctors are concerned of an Ebola risk, but the CDC believes the chances of Ebola is "exceedingly low."
Federal and state officials have met up with the ship and are managing patient transfers for the other sick crew on board. Hospital spokesman Taslin Alfonzo says that up to four crew members and a river pilot may end up at the West Jefferson Medical Center.
“Our doctors and staff are ready and we have instituted full safety precautions in the unlikely event that this turns out to be something of concern,” Alfonzo said.
WDSU reported that the first passenger was taken to the hospital via ambulance. Upon arriving at the hospital, staff dress in HAZMAT suits came out to take the passenger inside for treatment.
The vessel from Africa has been identified as the Marine Phoenix and it docked at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Belle Chasse, LA. The CDC reports the ship traveled to a port in the Democratic Republic of the Congo along with others in Africa,
“"There is no evidence to suggest that the crew members traveled to, or had any contact with anyone from the remote island region of DRC where Ebola cases are occurring. Given this, the chance that the crew member could have Ebola is thought to be exceedingly low," the CDC stated.
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Just the fears of EBOLA can be dangerous.
Echo20
