California Patient Deemed 'Low Risk' for Ebola

As the 2 Americans stricken with Ebola continue to receive treatment in Atlanta, a new potential case of the deadly virus has been reported in California.

According to a CNN story, the patient checked into the Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Medical Center. Much like similar suspected cases in New York, New Jersey, and other states, the patient is not believed to be infected with the disease.

A statement from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) deemed the as-yet-unidentified patient as “low-risk” of having Ebola.

“People returning from the affected areas who may be at high risk for Ebola should be isolated and their blood sent to CDC for testing,” the statement said. “Some low-risk patients, like the one from Sacramento, may be tested out of an abundance of caution.”

The statement from CDPH also said that there have been no confirmed cases of the Ebola virus in the state or any “high risk” patients checking into local hospitals.

“The risk of the spread of Ebola in California is low,” the statement continued. “Any patient suspected of having Ebola can be safely managed in a California hospital following recommended isolation and infection control procedures. Suspect cases of Ebola will be investigated by local health departments in consultation with CDPH.”