The evacuation of a toddler suspected of having meningitis caused delays for other passengers disembarking a flight from Vancouver, British Columbia, to John Wayne Airport in Orange County on Friday afternoon, authorities said.

A 2-year-old girl with fever and back pain was taken from the plane by paramedics to Children’s Hospital of Orange County with her parents.

Meanwhile, the other 122 passengers and crew were asked to stay on board for about 20 minutes while the child was being evacuated and health authorities evaluated the situation, said Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Larry Kurtz.

If tests show that the child does indeed have meningitis, health authorities will contact passengers who may have had some contact with her, Kurtz said.


He said the recent concern over the Ebola virus did not trigger the delay.

“The protocol was not any different from any type of medical aid for a possibly contagious disease,” Kurtz said.

Follow me @larrygordonlat