New York mayor confirms first case of Ebola in the city; doctor in isolation

A Doctors Without Borders physician who recently returned to New York City after treating Ebola patients in West Africa tested positive for the Ebola virus Thursday, becoming the city’s first diagnosed case. The doctor was identified as Craig Spencer, who was working for the humanitarian organization in Guinea, one of three West African nations hardest hit by Ebola. Spencer, 33, developed a fever and gastrointestinal symptoms and notified Doctors Without Borders on Thursday morning, the organization said in a statement. A further test will be conducted by the federal Centers for Disease Control to confirm the initial test.

… The individual engaged in regular health monitoring and reported this development immediately.

Doctors Without Borders in a statement

Meanwhile, Ebola experts raised grave concerns Thursday about the worsening epidemic in West Africa ater Mali became the sixth nation in the region to have Ebola. The number of infections have soared to almost 10,000 and the death toll edged closer to 4,900. The World Heath Organization met on Thursday and discussed a “70/70” plan, which aims by December to ensure 70 per cent of people infected by Ebola are placed in medical isolation, and, given that dead bodies can spread the virus, to ensure 70 per cent of burials are conducted safely.