An inmate at a Loudoun County jail who was transferred to a hospital after developing a low-grade fever does not have Ebola, authorities said Thursday.
The woman had recently traveled from Sierra Leone, and was taken to Inova Lansdowne Hospital in the midst of mounting concerns over the spread of Ebola.
Authorities confirmed around 5:50 p.m. Thursday that the woman does not have Ebola. Medical professionals ruled out Ebola because the patient does not meet the testing threshold, a hospital spokesperson told Northern Virginia Bureau Chief Julie Carey.
JUST IN: Ebola has been ruled out for the #Loudoun inmate from W. Africa who was evaluated at Inova Loudoun hospital after running a fever — Julie Carey (@JulieCareyNBC) October 16, 2014
Earlier Thursday afternoon, Loudoun County officials held a press conference about the situation, saying they felt the patient was low-risk but were acting out of an abundance of caution.
"The fever is lower than is typically symptomatic for anybody experiencing" symptoms of Ebola, said Loudoun County Sheriff Michael L. Chapman during the press conference, "but nevertheless, we felt in an abundance of caution, it would be a very good thing to have this individual checked out."
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The woman arrived at Dulles International Airport on Monday, when airport authorities learned she had a warrant out for her arrest in Maryland. She was then taken to the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center.
Authorities said the woman was screened by the Centers for Disease Control after arriving in the United States, and then again at the jail, but no medical concerns were discovered at those times.
The patient developed a fever Thursday morning, and was then isolated and monitored within the jail. Staff members there also put protective measures into place, officials said.
#Loudoun adult detention center was shut down when the inmate in question was being transported, for about an hour. Back open now — Julie Carey (@JulieCareyNBC) October 16, 2014
Loudoun County Fire and Rescue then took the patient to Inova Lansdowne Hospital, where she was evaluated.
Authorities said there could be many reasons for the woman's fever.
JUST IN: As a precaution, Loudoun jail reports it took an inmate running low grade fever who was in W. Africa recently to the hospital — Julie Carey (@JulieCareyNBC) October 16, 2014
Citing privacy concerns, authorities would only identify her as a middle-aged woman.
Authorities said they had begun preparing six weeks ago to respond to any possible threat of Ebola
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