Health Officials Confirm There is No Ebola Patient at Elgin Hospital

Rumors surrounding a possible ebola patient at a suburban hospital were quick to spread in recent days.

A man came to Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin Thursday with flu-like symptoms and told hospital personnel he had recently traveled to Africa, according to the Elgin Courier News. He was placed in isolation but it was verified on Friday that he was not a likely ebola patient and he was treated and released, the newspaper reports.

Hospital staff used protective gear when treating the patient, the Daily Herald reports. Under CDC guidelines, a patient needs to be assessed for ebola if he or she comes in flu-like symptoms and has recently traveled to Africa, according to the newspaper.

Rumors spread throughout the area quickly surrounding the possible ebola patient, according to the Elgin Courier News. Information about the possible case were posted on web forums, including http://www.abovetopsecret.com/, and shared on social media, the newspaper reports.

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