5-year-old boy being tested for Ebola in New York City

[tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN]

The latest to add to the fears. There are not many details to be found, but we all are hoping the labwork is negative.

A 5-year-old boy is under observation at New York City's Bellevue Hospital this morning after experiencing a 103-degree fever after returning home from Guinea Saturday, prompting Ebola concerns, officials told ABC News.

The boy is in isolation, but has not been tested for Ebola and is not under quarantine, the city's health department said.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/year-boy-observation-nyc-hospital-ebola-concerns/story?id=26478362

Here is another article that says the boy is not in isolation and has not been tested.

The boy, who arrived in the United States on Saturday, had a 103 degree Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius) fever, ABC News reported. He has not been tested for the virus and was not under quarantine, ABC said, citing officials with New York City's health department.

The New York Post said the boy had been vomiting and was transported from his home in the Bronx by emergency medical workers.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/27/ebola-new-york_n_6053150.html

Both say the boy hasn't been tested for Ebola.

I wonder why not???

[sistrmoon, BSN, RN]

Yeah that makes no sense.

[tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN]

More information has surfaced on this case.

According to the New York Times:

While the child’s travel history was clear, and worrying, it was less clear whether he had any known contacts with people infected with Ebola.

There have been lots of suspicious cases in NYC after Dr. Spencer's diagnosis. In most all if the cases Ebola was ruled out without blood tests.

They were especially cautious about drawing blood from a 5-year-old, but because of the patient’s recent travel history and pattern of symptoms, the city health department decided to move forward with testing.

As with all diseases, children are prone to dehydrate quickly with any kind of illness that results in loss of bodily fluids and are more vulnerable that adults.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/28/nyregion/5-year-old-new-york-ebola.html?_r=0

[sistrmoon, BSN, RN]

When I clicked on the link, it said he had been tested and results would be available in 12 hours.

[tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN]

Update......

The result of the test is negative. Out of an abundance of caution, further negative Ebola tests are required on subsequent days to ensure that the patient is cleared. The patient will also be tested for common respiratory viruses. The patient will remain in isolation until all test results have returned

Tests on a 5-year-old boy who showed possible symptoms of Ebola, have come back negative. « CBS New York