Ebola Panic Hits Sonoma County: Petaluma Woman Mistakes Flu For The Dreaded Virus

A woman who was experiencing mild flu-like symptoms called the Petaluma Fire Department Sunday evening because she believed she was infected with the deadly Ebola virus prevalent in some west African countries.

The fire department is not releasing the woman’s name or address. Initial reports to the 911 center at 5:02 p.m. stated there were two patients inside the residence who had flu-like symptoms and believed they had Ebola, Petaluma Fire Chief Larry Anderson said.

Responding fire department units called the residents but the occupants did not answer the phone, Anderson said.

The Sonoma County Department of Public Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were contacted for assistance and a county deputy health officer who is a medical doctor responded, Anderson said.

Fire personnel wearing protective clothing, medical goggles and masks made contact with the person who called the fire department and learned that only a woman was experiencing mild flu-like symptoms, Anderson said.

The woman did not meet the baseline criteria for Ebola and did not present any sign of Ebola infection, according to Anderson.

The woman was taken in a private vehicle to a hospital for treatment of flu symptoms, Anderson said.

--Bay City News

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