September 29, 2014 – An American physician, names withheld that was exposed to Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)in Sierra Leone has been quarantined at the National Institute of Health(NIH) Clinical Center, US for observation and to enroll in a clinical protocol. The patient arrived at the NIH Clinical Center on Sunday, September 28, at approximately 4 p.m. ET.
A statement from the NIH said the physician was volunteering services in an Ebola treatment unit in Sierra Leone where he was exposed to the virus.
“Out of an abundance of caution, the patient has been admitted to the NIH Clinical Center’s special clinical studies unit that is specifically designed to provide high-level isolation capabilities and is staffed by infectious diseases and critical care specialists”, the centre said adding that staff of the unit are trained in strict infection control practices optimized to prevent spread of potentially transmissible agents such as Ebola.
It said NIH is taking every precaution to ensure the safety of our patients, NIH staff, and the public. “This situation presents minimal risk to any of them”, the NIH said.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the US medical research agency and it includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
“NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases”.
