Ebola or stomach bug? NYC patients hospitalized, but it's not what officials feared

Two patients were rushed to a hospital from a Manhattan urgent care facility on Sunday by emergency workers in hazmat suits following a suspected Ebola exposure. However, the officials have now ruled out the Ebola scare.

Two patients were transported from a City MD on East 125th Street and Lexington Avenue by first responders who were wearing hazmat suits, the law enforcement sources said. The officials later said the illness was likely norovirus rather than Ebola.

The officials initially feared that the patients might have Ebola, as they may have had contact with an individual or individuals who traveled from Uganda. Reportedly the patients also had symptoms consistent with the disease, but the tests came back negative. The sources told the New York Post that early emergency notification suggested that the patients may have traveled directly.

However, upon further investigation, it was found that the illness had spread rapidly to the family members, which further strengthened the likelihood that it was norovirus.

“The two patients that sought services at CityMD on February 16 at 153 East 125th Street do not have Ebola. Neither patient had exposure to Ebola or other factors that would indicate risk. One patient is being taken to NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue for routine testing and treatment. The NYC Health Department is in close communication with FDNY, CityMD and NYC Health + Hospitals,” Acting Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse of the NYC Health Department in a statement confirmed.


The City MD was open and conducting business as usual on Sunday afternoon.

Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness affecting humans and other primates, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The virus transmits to people from wild animals (such as fruit bats, porcupines, and non-human primates). The disease spreads in the human population through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids.

The average fatality rate of the disease is around 50%. Case fatality rates have varied from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks. The first outbreaks were recorded in remote villages in Central Africa, near tropical rainforests.

The symptoms of the disease include fever, fatigue, muscle, pain, headache, and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash, symptoms of impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases internal and external bleeding (e.g. oozing from the gums, and blood in the stools).



Some of the symptoms are similar to the norovirus. Norovirus is a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea, according to the CDC. It is also known as 'stomach flu' and stomach bug' due to its symptoms. The symptoms diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, fever, headache, and body aches.

(Pic courtesy: iStock)