Two medical tests have confirmed the 24-year-old Fort Hood soldier who was found dead in his front yard did not have or die from the Ebola virus. The soldier returned from West Africa recently on emergency leave. His name is still being withheld pending family notification.
The soldier was found dead on his front lawn on Tuesday afternoon. There was no immediate indication of Ebola exposure, according to a press release from the Fort Hood Press Center obtained by Breitbart Texas. Two separate tests were conducted to confirm the initial conclusions. Both tests had negative results for exposure to the Ebola virus.
Carl R. Darnall Medical Center officials have notified state and local officials that there is “no evidence of a public health threat or EVD [Ebola Virus Disease] exposure to community or law enforcement officials involved in the current investigation of the death of a Fort Hood Soldier.”
The soldier was tested for the Ebola virus out of an abundance of caution and not because of the appearance of any symptoms.
The soldier recently returned from West Africa on a non-medical-related emergency leave. Information has not been released at this time as to exactly when the soldier returned from West Africa or if the soldier went through the 21-day controlled monitoring program previously reported on by Breitbart Texas. Fort Hood officials have said the soldier was under “self-monitoring” where he was required to check in with officials twice daily.
Breitbart Texas reached out to the Fort Hood Press Center and the Killeen Police Department for additional information. At this time, neither agency has responded. The incident is being investigated by the Killeen Police Department.
Bob Price is a senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas and a member of the original Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX.