Patient in Oahu hospital isolated for possible Ebola

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A Honolulu newspaper is reporting a hospital on Oahu has isolated a patient because the individual might have contracted the Ebola virus.

A Honolulu newspaper is reporting a hospital on Oahu has isolated a patient because the individual might have contracted the Ebola virus.

According to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, state Department of Health spokeswoman Janice Okubo confirmed Wednesday afternoon the action was taken. Citing federal privacy laws, Okubo declined to name the hospital or provide details of the patient’s identity, but the newspaper reports it learned the patient is a male hospitalized at The Queen’s Medical Center.

Okubo reportedly told the paper the patient, whose evaluation is in the preliminary stages, has not yet been administered an Ebola lab test, and said there is no reason for alarm.

The federal Centers for Disease Control has received 94 inquiries nationwide about illnesses that initially were suspected to be Ebola, the Associated Press reported. But after taking travel histories and doing some other work, most were ruled out. Of the 13 people who actually underwent testing, only one — in Dallas — tested positive.