Ebola Virus: Nicaragua Wants Possibly Infected US Embassy Worker Removed
A U.S. embassy worker in Nicaragua may be infected with the Ebola virus, Nicaraguan authorities say, and they want the worker removed from the country. However, the embassy states the man is not infected but is cooperating with Nicaraguan health officials.
An embassy worker recently arrived in the U.S. embassy in Managua, the Nicaraguan capital, according to The Associated Press. The worker previously traveled to Liberia but the U.S. government says he is not infected with the deadly virus, which continues to ravage West Africa.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Carlos Saenz, a Nicaraguan health ministry official, said the Nicaraguan government asked the U.S. for help to transport the man back home. He also explained the man was placed in quarantine and health officials were looking into who he may have had contact with.
However, the U.S. embassy in Managua rejects the Nicaraguan government's claims.
"The U.S. Embassy confirms that an officer of our mission was recently in Liberia, Africa where at no time been in contact with Ebola patients," a statement posted on the embassy's website explained.
The embassy further explained the worker had first traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, where he was tested by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), which did not find any sign of infection. The CDC reported its findings to the Nicaraguan government before the man traveled and the embassy says it was transparent with the Nicaraguan government about the worker's travel history, stating the Nicaraguan health ministry approved his entry into the country.
According to the BBC, Saenz told reporters the man had confirmed he had been in contact with Ebola patients, counter to what the embassy stated.
"The man confirmed that he had spent time in health facilities where Ebola patients are being treated," said Saenz, who serves as head of epidemiology at the ministry.
"The man does not show any symptoms of the disease and the measures are strictly preventive."
Ebola is considered a deadly virus that is spread through contact with bodily fluids and fecal matter of someone infected. Thousands have died in West Africa since the virus began spreading last year.
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