Thread: Ebola ruled out for West African brought into El Centro,CA. medical center

Ebola ruled out for West African brought into ECRMC; county, hospital issue joint statement


By JOSELITO VILLERO, Staff Photographer
Calexico ICE Detention Center

A number of West African illegal immigrants are being detained in the new Calexico-area Immigration and Customs Enforcement Detention Center. A man from Cameroon in West Africa was taken to El Centro Regional Medical Center this morning from the ICE facility after he complained of pain. ECRMC officials have ruled out Ebola virus.

Posted: Friday, October 17, 2014 9:45 am | Updated: 1:43 pm, Fri Oct 17, 2014.

By ANTOINE ABOU-DIWAN, Staff Writer

UPDATE: 1:40 p.m. – El Centro Regional Medical Center and the Imperial County Public Health Department have issued a joint statement including additional information:

“The call was received by the Imperial County Duty Officer at 2:26 am this morning and the Ebola response was set in motion. The County Health Officer was notified and consulted with the State’s Ebola Response Team. The State’s Ebola Response Team then contacted the emergency room doctor at ECRMC for consultation.

The individual had been detained by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on October 8th and as of October 10th was being held at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detention Center. The individual had a history of travel in West Africa. After complaining of abdominal pain, the individual was taken to ECRMC for medical screening. After a detailed medical evaluation and review of the travel history it was determined the individual did not meet the criteria for Ebola, however the abdominal pain is being treated at the hospital.”

UPDATE: 11:30 a.m. - The West African patient brought into the Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center arrived to the U.S. through Mexico, according to Ron Olds, ECRMC chief nursing officer. He flew to Mexico City, then to Tijuana, and crossed into the U.S. in San Diego. ICE brought him to the detention facility in Calexico, Olds said.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has released a statement:

"As a precautionary measure, ICE screened the entire detainee population nationwide for individuals from Ebola-affected West African nations who had recently entered the country and come into ICE custody within the last 21 days. ICE Health Service Corps (IHSC) identified 11 individuals nationwide who matched this criteria.

All 11 were medically screened and found to be asymptomatic. Out of an abundance of caution, ICE placed a number of these individuals into medical housing until the 21 day incubation period passes.

ICE officials were not authorized to confirm how many or whether any West Africans were being held specifically in the Calexico facility.

ECRMC officials said the man was from Cameroon, one of the 14 nations either bordering or having heavy travel routes with Ebola-affected West African countries.

ORIGINAL: 9:45 a.m. Officials with El Centro Regional Medical Center confirmed that an individual who was in West Africa within the last two weeks was admitted to the emergency room around 2 a.m. today complaining of abdominal pain.

The possibility that he has Ebola virus has been ruled out, said Ronald Olds, ECRMC chief nursing officer. He doesn’t have a fever, nor is he vomiting, Olds said.

The patient, described as 5 feet 8 inches tall and between the ages of 40 and 49, was brought to the ER from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility with complaints of pain in his abdomen and across his diaphragm, according to Olds.

The patient was placed in isolation as a precautionary measure.

Hospital officials believe he has gallstones and were waiting for confirmation this morning.

The patient is from Cameroon, one of 14 West African countries identified by the World Health Organization where containing Ebola is a top priority because they border countries affected by Ebola.

Cameroon borders Nigeria, which has had 19 confirmed cases of Ebola this year. The CDC is urging travelers to Nigeria to exercise enhanced precautions.

“He doesn’t meet any of the Ebola criteria other than the fact he’s from West Africa,” Olds said.

ICE officials could not immediately comment.

Staff Writer Antoine Abou-Diwan can be reached at 760-337-3454 or aabou-diwan@ivpressonline.com

http://www.ivpressonline.com/open/eb...7a43b2370.html

1. Ebola by the numbers
   
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   10/17/2014