A New York City doctor has been confirmed positive with Ebola virus after showing symptoms on Thursday, officials announced.
The man identified by CBS New York as Dr. Craig Spencer, 33, a New York City doctor, recently returned a week ago from treating Ebola patients in Guinea on Thursday. Dr. Spencer was sent to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan was tested after experiencing Ebola-like symptoms including fever and gastrointestinal symptoms, confirmed New York City Department of Health.
Dr. Spencer recently worked with the organization, Doctors Without Borders, and had worked in treating patients with Ebola in West Africa. The organization was the one to confirm with New York City Department of Health and Hygiene about the news.
Almost twelve hours after the tests, the results were out confirming that Dr. Spencer is positive with Ebola, said Mayor Bill de Blasio in a conference.
"We want to state at the outset - there is no reason for New Yorkers to be alarmed," de Blasio said. The mayor also asked the New Yorkers not to panic and reminded that Ebola can only be transmitted through bodily fluids.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo explained in the conference that officials believe Dr. Spencer came in contact with four people during the time he was infected and showed symptoms. State officials are already contacting these four people. These people include Dr. Spencer's fiancé and two friends and have to be quarantined and tested for the virus, New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Travis Bassett said.
The fourth person is a driver of an Uber car which the doctor when he went to a bowling in Williamsburg, Brooklyn on Wednesday night. Dr. Bassett told that the driver is already in contact with health officials and is believed not to be in any danger since he did not get direct contact with Dr. Spencer.
City and state officials emphasized that the public should remain calm from the Ebola case confirmed in New York. Dr. Spencer may have had symptoms on Wednesday night but a patient would have had to bleed to have any chance of spreading the virus. A person can get the virus when that bodily fluid has been touched, rubbed to an open sore or eyes, nose or mouth.