Chicago Patient Being Monitored for Ebola Symptoms Discharged
There have been no confirmed cases of Ebola in Chicago
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Medical personnel at the University of Chicago Medical Center who were monitoring a child to rule out an Ebola diagnosis say the child has been discharged.
The child, who was coming from West Africa, had one of the classic symptoms of Ebola, a fever, during screening at the international terminal at O'Hare International Airport.
Officials said the child was not displaying any other symptoms of the virus, but the child was taken to Comer Children's hospital on Friday for extra monitoring to be done to rule out the disease.
A fever alone does not trigger such a response. While a fever is often the first indicator, the extra precautions are taken when it's coupled with exposure that's considered high risk -- contact with fluids from an infected person or animal or contaminated objects -- or the person resided in or traveled to a country with widespread Ebola transmission.
A statement from the University of Chicago Medicine and Biological Sciences said tests for the Ebola virus in the child were negative, and the child was discharged
It can take up to 72 hours for officials to get accurate results, Northwestern Memorial Hospital's global health expert Dr. Robert Murphy says, because viral loads are slow to show up.
"The first three days symptomatic tests can be negative unfortunately," Murphy said, adding that any testing being done on Friday was preliminary. "Because we don't know the kid's history. We know nothing."
There have been no confirmed cases of Ebola in Chicago.
The World Health Organization last month said the recent outbreak has killed nearly 7,000 people in Western Africa. More than 16,000 people have been diagnosed with Ebola since the outbreak was confirmed in Guinea in March.
The Feast
As the calendar turns to 2015, Illinoisans will have to get used to some new laws. Here are the top-15 changes to expect in 2015. Source: Illinois Senate Democrats.
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#1: Electronic cigarettes must be behind the counter or sealed to keep out of the hands of children. Refills must be in child-proof packaging. Source: Illinois Senate Democrats
#2: Speed limit increases to 70 mph on tollways and interstates, 60 mph for semis on interstates. Source: Illinois Senate Democrats
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#3: No more police ticket quotas. If stopped for a traffic violation, you can drive away with your license.Source: Illinois Senate Democrats
#4: Employers must supply pregnant workers with reasonable accommodations or it's a civil rights violation.Source: Illinois Senate Democrats
#5: Home sellers must now disclose door or window damage as well as floor damage, asbestos, lead paint or meth labs to prospective buyers.Source: Illinois Senate Democrats
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#6: Beer tax rules have been amended to include hard ciders. Milk is now re-defined to include sheep, water buffalo and other hooved animal milk. Source: Illinois Senate Democrats
#8: New school construction must include storm shelters. Source: Illinois Senate Democrats
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#9: Children with seizures now qualify for cannabidiol in Illinois' medical marijuana program. Source: Illinois Senate Democrats
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#10: Privacy and security for crime victims has been strengthened, an automatic system updates victims on offenders' parole release.Source: Illinois Senate Democrats
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#11: The Job Opportunities for Qualified Applicants Act will prohibit employers with more than 15 employees from inquiring about job applicants’ criminal history until after they have been deemed qualified for the job or selected for an interview. Source: Illinois Senate Democrats
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#13: Eligible veterans can receive one Purple Heart license plate for free. Source: Illinois Senate Democrats
Lynda Rudinger
#14: Cyber bullying laws will be expanded and will extend to computers accessed away from school for cyber bullying if the activity hinders a student’s ability to learn. Source: Illinois Senate Democrats
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#15: A new law will require information regarding breast cancer provided by the Department of Public Health to explain the complications created by dense breast tissue. Source: Illinois Senate Democrats
