A sick male passenger and his daughter were taken off a flight after other passengers in the plane expressed fear that he could have Ebola. A statement from the senior federal official said that passengers were alarmed when the person in question exhibited flulike symptoms during the flight. The subject was also reportedly vomiting on the flight, which heightened the concern. However, health officials have confirmed that the man does not have the deadly virus.
Officials from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were on hand as United Airlines flight 998 that was traveling from Brussels landed at the Newark Liberty International Airport to meet the passenger who was believed to have come from Liberia. He was escorted off the plane, together with his daughter, by CDC members who were in full hazmat gear. The other passengers on the plane were asked to stay ready were as the man and his daughter were being removed. The pair was then taken to the University Hospital in Newark for testing.
Spokeswoman for the University Hospital, Donna Leusner, said in the official statement that, "After an examination by physicians at the University Hospital, the symptoms of one individual were found to be consistent with another, minor treatable condition unrelated to Ebola. The second individual, who was traveling with the patient, was asymptomatic. The two individuals will be released with self monitoring." After the announcement that the two subjects tested negative for the Ebola virus, all the other passengers were allowed off the plane, but were required to give airport officials information on how they can be reached for follow-up if necessary. The Boeing 777 - 200 had a crew of three pilots and 11 flight attendants, and was carrying a total of 255 passengers.
United airlines have issued a statement saying that, "Upon arrival at Newark Airport from Brussels, medical professionals instructed that customers and crew of United flight 998 to 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."
