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Kent Co. Health Department monitoring traveler from West Africa with ‘very low’ Ebola risk

Posted at 4:16 PM, Oct 24, 2014
and last updated 2014-10-24 16:27:15-04

KENT COUNTY, Mich. — The Kent County Health Department announced Friday that they are monitoring a person who traveled from a country in West Africa where an Ebola outbreak has been declared.

They said the person has not shown any signs of illness since returning to West Michigan.

“The individual did not provide care for or have contact with anyone who has Ebola, and has very low risk for Ebola infection by CDC standards,” a release from the health department said.

According to a release, the person will be contacted by the health department twice a day for 21 days to have their temperature taken and to see if they are exhibiting any symptoms of the virus.

No other details about the person will be made public at this time, health officials said.

The CDC started a program earlier this week to “actively monitor” people who arrive in the U.S. after traveling to Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone.

“We have confidence in the systems and protocols that are in place, and Kent County is fully prepared to monitor anyone with a travel history to an Ebola outbreak region,” said Kent County Health Officer Adam London.