Statement from the Illinois Department of Public Health and Chicago Ebola Resource Network

CHICAGO – The following is a joint statement from the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and University of Chicago Medical Center (UCMC), two of the members of the Chicago Ebola Resource Network:

Test results for Ebola virus disease were negative for a child who recently traveled from West Africa to Chicago. The child had a fever during screening at O’Hare International Airport and was transported to UCMC following stringent infection control protocols for observation and testing. In addition to a medical evaluation, Ebola testing by IDPH was performed as a precaution, the results of which were negative. The child has been discharged.

At this time, there have been no confirmed cases of Ebola in Illinois, and there is no threat to the general public. Travelers from Africa may experience malaria or respiratory illness due to influenza or other non-Ebola associated diseases.

The statewide Ebola Task Force, announced Oct. 22 by Gov. Pat Quinn, will continue to work with hospitals and local health departments across Illinois to quickly identify a person who could potentially be at risk of Ebola, and take quick action in order to protect the health and safety of all Illinois residents.

The Chicago Ebola Resource Network is a coalition of CDPH and four leading Chicago-area hospitals, including the University of Chicago Medical Center, Rush University Medical Center, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital and Northwestern Memorial Hospital. It was formed as part of a coordinated response to prepare for and respond to possible diagnoses of Ebola.

For more information, visit http://www.idph.state.il.us/ebola/index.htm.

To respect and protect the individual’s privacy, no additional information is available.