UC Davis Medical Center treating patient for possible Ebola

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Authorities said U.C. Davis Medical Center has activated their Ebola Response Unit.

The Sacramento County Health Department has confirmed that one patient is being treated for possible Ebola. The patient was at the Dignity Health Mercy General Hospital, but has been moved to the U.C. Davis Medical Center -- which is specifically equipped to care for patients suspected of having or diagnosed with Ebola as part of the public health department's preparedness plan.

The person is currently considered to be low risk. Health officials are still trying to figure out where the potential exposure took place.

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Press Release

The California Department of Public Health

January 29, 2015

Statement from Dr. Gil Chavez, State Epidemiologist and Deputy Director, Center for Infectious Diseases, California Department of Public Health:

As has been explained by the U.C. Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, a patient is currently being evaluated there for Ebola. It is important to note that this patient has not been confirmed for Ebola. Whenever there is a person displaying symptoms that may be Ebola, who has recently traveled to Sierra Leone, Liberia or Guinea, certain precautions are taken including isolating the patient, ruling out other infectious diseases, and testing for Ebola if warranted. The California Department of Public Health, in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Sacramento County Public Health and U.C. Davis Medical Center, is ensuring that all protocols are in place to protect the public health and will continue to closely monitor the situation.

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More --> Ebola information for UC Davis patients and visitors