Individual monitored for Ebola released from Nebraska facility: Completed 21-day monitoring period, never developed disease

In a follow-up on the American health provider who had a possible exposure in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nebraska Medicine officials say the individual completed the required 21-day monitoring period and did not develop symptoms of the disease and was released.

According to Ted Cieslak MD, infectious diseases specialist with Nebraska Medicine and associate professor of epidemiology in the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) College of Public Health, “Because this individual was symptom free throughout the monitoring period, it was determined they did not have Ebola, and therefore, were free to depart our facility and return home.”

The individual left the facility and Omaha, NE Saturday.

This individual arrived for monitoring in Omaha on Dec. 29. Federal, state and county public health officials coordinated the monitoring effort at Nebraska Medical Center. The individual was monitored in a secure area not accessible by the public or any patients.

If this person had developed Ebola, they would have been transferred to the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit, where three patients with Ebola were treated in 2014. In 2015, several others were monitored after exposures, none of which developed the disease.