Patient being monitored for Ebola symptoms

Patient being monitored for Ebola symptoms

12:15 p.m. Central time, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014

The University of Chicago Medical Center last night admitted a child for observation to rule out Ebola virus disease. The patient met screening criteria at O'Hare International Airport, and after an evaluation at Lurie Children's Hospital, a critical assessment by public health officials dictated that the child be transferred to our facility.

The patient has been isolated under strict quarantine protocols until the child's condition improves and a diagnosis is established. The patient has been assigned a dedicated and highly trained team composed of nurses, physicians and other health care professionals. We have absolute confidence in this team's ability to safely care for this patient.

The patient is in stable condition at this time. No other information can be shared about the child due to patient privacy laws.

The events of last night demonstrated the readiness of the University of Chicago Medical Center to participate as a resource facility for the city. We have been preparing for such an event for months, with intensified training in recent weeks, and have developed a comprehensive plan based on the successful models created by our peers at Emory University Hospital and University of Nebraska Medical Center, with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There have been no confirmed cases of Ebola in Chicago. There is no threat to the public, our staff and our patients. Clinics and operating rooms at the medical center remain on their normal schedules.

We've been monitoring the situation closely with our peers at Rush University Medical Center and public health officials. The next update will be provided at 8:45 p.m. today by email. Additional updates will occur based on any developments in this situation.