Crime & Safety
It's Official: Cobb Inmate Tests Negative for Ebola
The man exhibited "flu like symptoms" while he was being processed and said he had traveled to Africa recently, but did not get Ebola.
A man who was arrested in Cobb County Friday morning but sent to WellStar Kennestone Hospital after demonstrating ”flu-like symptoms” during booking and telling jail workers he had recently travled to Africa has not contracted the Ebola virus, the CDC reports.
According to the Marietta Daily Journal, the man, who FOX 5 Atlanta identifies as Harry Randall Withers, was arrested at approximately 3 a.m. Friday and charged with driving under the influence and failure to maintain his lane. While undergoing a medical exam during the booking process, it was determined that Withers was not well. WSB-TV reports that Withers inmate was suffering from a fever.
After Withers told jail staff that he had recently been to Africa, he was immediately isolated and Cobb and Douglas Public Health was summoned to examine him. Following an interview, Withers was taken to WellStar Hospital for further testing to determine whether or not he had contracted the Ebola virus during his travels.
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The initial testing for the virus showed Withers had not contracted the disease, but authorities waited until a further test was completed by the CDC to officially declare the man was Ebola-free. Those test results came back later on Friday and confirmed the inmate did not have Ebola.
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