Suspected sinus infection leads to League City Ebola scare

LEAGUE CITY, TX (KTRK) -- Officials at UTMB in Galveston report a man brought there with Ebola-like symptoms does not have the virus. Even so, just the threat of the disease was enough to bring crews in protective gear out to a League City emergency care center Friday.

It goes to show what can happen when you show up an urgent care clinic with upper respiratory problems and a recent trip to Africa. The clinic was under quarantine. Rescue workers in HazMat suits responded.

The patient was rushed to an isolation unit at UTMB, one of the state's two designated Ebola treatment centers.

"This patient has not been exposed to the Ebola virus disease," said UTMB President Dr. David Callendar. "He came from Equitorial Guinea, which is a western African nation, but it is completely separated from the afflicted region. It's not included in any CDC advisory."

Dr. Callender says the patient has a simple sinus infection, but when he showed up at Intermediate Medical Care Friday morning, workers were cautious.

"They're like, 'I'm sorry. We have to quarantine the facility.'" Said Chance Purcell who was at the urgent care clinic at the time. "We cannot allow you to leave. And I'm just like, 'What's going on' and they wouldn't tell me."

The patient was taken directly to UTMB in Galveston, where doctors say he didn't have a fever or many other symptoms associated with Ebola.

Without symptoms, a blood test will not help diagnose the virus. Travel history, doctors say, is more useful.

"If they don't have the appropriate travel history, it's extraordinarily unlikely," said Dr. Callendar. "We consider it a zero risk."

And as we move into flu season, they expect to see scares just like Friday's.