



KENOSHA (WITI) -- The Kenosha County Jail is taking precautions -- monitoring a detainee for signs of the Ebola virus. Local officials are in close contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) -- along with other federal officials.



For an UPDATE on this story, click here.



The Kenosha County Sheriff's Office confirms with FOX6 News that at 1 a.m. on Wednesday, October 8th, a woman came into the jail from O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. As officials screened her, they realized she is from Liberia -- a country hard hit with the Ebola outbreak. Officials say the woman was brought in as a federal immigration detainee until she can be deported.



It's important to note, so far this person has not shown any signs of being infected -- but the jail is taking precautions.



"It's a scary disease that's out there. We've made calls to the CDC, they've sent us information. Immigration has sent us information. It's something we need to address and everyone across the country needs to address," said Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth.



Also on Wednesday, Texas health officials announced the first person diagnosed with the Ebola virus on U.S. soil died. He was admitted and kept in isolation since September 28th. That victim had come from Liberia -- and the Kenosha County Sheriff says it's now important jails have plans -- and be on the watch.



"We realize it's not just people who enter the country and visit other people. We have to look into this as a serious threat too," said Sheriff Beth.



Kenosha County Jail medical staff is monitoring the Liberian detainee twice a day -- looking for Ebola symptoms with a checklist from the CDC. Officials have also been in contact with area hospitals as to what will be done if the detainee does show symptoms.



"We currently have the person in the medical ward or we're transporting them to the medical ward in a negative airflow cell that we have. And the medical staff is looking into this and we're doing an interview with this person as we speak -- and where they've traveled and where they've been to," said Sheriff Beth.



The Kenosha County Jail does house detainees for immigration officials on a regular basis -- so that's not unusual.



This immigration detainee is expected to be deported back to her home country shortly.



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