Ebola Ruled Out in Sarasota Case

Sarasota residents concerned that Ebola had made its way to town can breathe a sigh of relief.

Sarasota Memorial Hospital says the patient it’s been treating for symptoms similar to those presented in the deadly virus does not have that particular illness. The man, however, was placed in isolation and the case was reported to the Florida Department of Health, the Sarasota Herald Tribune reported.

The man has since been taken out of isolation and officials say his illness didn’t meet the testing protocol for Ebola, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

Ebola is a virus that’s spread through close contact with bodily fluids. It presents with a fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Patients may also suffer unexplained hemorrhaging, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Often deadly, the virus has claimed thousands of lives in an ongoing West African outbreak.

The first travel-associated case of Ebola diagnosed in the United States was announced by the CDC on Sept. 30, giving rise to concerns about the virus across the country.

Photo Credit: Image via Shutterstock