The scene at Logan yesterday. Photo: Nicolaus Czarnecki, Metro
The morning after an Ebola scare prompted emergency medical crews to board a plane at Logan and screen passengers complaining of flu-like symptoms, Gov. Deval Patrick said at a press conference this morning Massachusetts remains at low risk for the disease and stressed there had yet to be a confirmed case in the commonwealth.
“TheCDC says we still remain at low risk but we remain vigilant,” he said.
On Monday, an Emirates flight from Dubai was held at Logan for hours while public safety personnel in protective suits boarded and screened five passengers who were complaining of flu-like symptoms. According to Massport Fire, the passengers had said they were in contact with people from west Africa — where Ebola has claimed more than 4,000 lives — during a recent trip to Saudi Arabia.
The five were ultimately transported to area hospitals, where they were determined to pose no public health risk, according to a statement from the Boston Public Health Commission.
On Sunday, a patient who had recently been to Liberia and was complaining of flu-like symptoms was taken to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Last night, that hospital released a statement saying the patient does not have Ebola.
At this morning’s press conference, public officials appealed for calm. The governor reiterated past comments, saying the disease was “very hard to catch.”
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said “Bysimply going out of your house and going on the train you’re not going to catch Ebola.”
