New York hosts over 7 million people each day, from commuters to locals, the streets, trains, buses and subways are filled to the masses with people. Close quarters, pushed together, it can be a breading ground for illnesses.
Dr. Craig Spencer’s returned to New York last week after spending time in West Africa treating Ebola patients. Via Yahoo News, “We want to state at the outset that New Yorkers have no reason to be alarmed,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Ebola is not contagious unless a patient has symptoms. In which case, the virus can be spread via bodily fluids, such as vomit, blood, urine or sweat. It cannot be transferred unless the individual has come in direct contact. It is not airborne though it can survive up to 5 hours on a surface.
Spencer, 33, traveled via Belgium and came state side through John F. Kennedy airport last Wednesday. Spencer had no symptoms of Ebola until early Thursday morning when he had a high fever, stomach pain and nausea.
According to New York City’s health commissioner, Dr. Mary Travis Bassett, Spencer has only come into contact with three people since his return who are in quarantine, his fiancée and two friends. The chances of the average street go-er contracting the virus according to officials are very slim. Spencer has not seen any patients upon his return and reported his symptoms quickly. The risk factor is low. Spencer, now the 4th Ebola case in the US is being held at Manhattan’s Bellevue Hospital in a quarantined area.
Photo via Facebook/Craig Spencer
