A patient suspected of contracting the Ebola virus was admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital Tuesday at 2 p.m., according to a statement on the hospital’s website Tuesday night.
The release said the diagnosis has not been confirmed and that the individual is undergoing diagnostic testing. Massachusetts General Hospital held a press conference at 10:15 p.m. on Tuesday to further explain the situation.
The suspected victim is undergoing clinical evaluation and care, and the results from the tests will come back in a “staggered fashion,” said Dr. Paul Biddinger, the chief of the hospital’s emergency preparedness division.
The patient met the infected persons guidelines, implying the patient has traveled to Ebola-infected areas. The patient is being held in an isolation area with a team specially outfitted for this case, Biddinger said.
Noah Brown, the hospital’s public affairs officer, emphasized that MGH had been preparing for a suspected Ebola case, taking into account precautionary actions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state guidelines.
A message has been disseminated to all current inpatients, though Brown insisted that there is no threat to the public.
“We have been preparing and are prepared, so there is no need for panic,” he said.
MGH officials also assured the public of the hospital’s safety in its statement.
“As always, our focus is the health and safety of our patients, their families and our staff members,” the statement said. “We want to reassure you that the hospital is safe.”
