On Saturday at Newark Airport, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials rushed to meet with a United Airlines flight from Brussels and removed a passenger, believed to be from Liberia, suspected of having Ebola.
The CDC crew responded to flight 998 in full hazmat gear and took the man and his daughter to University Hospital in Newark for further evaluation. According to a senior federal official, the passenger was manifesting “flu-like symptoms.” The passenger was reportedly vomiting in the plane but did not exhibit other Ebola-like symptoms.
“He’s now being treated with protocols as if he has it, but no clear indication at this point that he does,” the official said.
ABC News reported that United Airlines released a statement saying, “Upon arrival at Newark Airport from Brussels, medical professionals instructed that customers and crew of United flight 998 remain on board until they could assist an ill customer. We are working with authorities and will accommodate our customers as quickly as we can.”
During the removal of the sick passenger and his daughter, all other passengers were instructed to remain seated and to stay on the plane. ABC reported that after passengers were allowed to leave the plane it was determined that he was not contagious.
Standing at United Terminal B at Newark Airport waiting to speak w/ passengers on flight 998 from Brussels @ABC7NY pic.twitter.com/PdSQp1OnTb
— AJ Ross (@AJRossABC7) October 4, 2014
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