A suspected Ebola exposure at a Manhattan urgent-care facility led to two patients being rushed to the hospital by emergency workers in hazmat suits on Sunday.
However, sources now suggest the infection may actually be norovirus.
Patients Transported in Full Hazmat Precautions
The individuals were taken from a CityMD clinic on East 125th Street and Lexington Avenue by first responders in full protective gear, law enforcement sources confirmed. Initial fears of an Ebola outbreak arose because the patients had recently traveled from Uganda and displayed symptoms consistent with the virus. However, no tests had confirmed its presence at the time.
Health Officials Suspect Norovirus
Medical experts later noted that the illness had rapidly spread among family members, making norovirus a more likely culprit. The patients have been transferred to Bellevue Hospital for testing and further evaluation.
CityMD Reopens as Ebola Fears Subside
Following the emergency response, the CityMD location was cleared and reopened. First responders were permitted to continue working with standard PPE precautions.
Ebola, a deadly hemorrhagic fever, is spread through direct contact with bodily fluids or contaminated materials. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, and, in severe cases, internal and external bleeding—similar to norovirus, though the latter is not fatal.
