11 monitored, considered “low risk” for Ebola in Delaware

The Delaware Department of health is monitoring 11 people who recently traveled from Ebola-stricken countries.

The Delawareans have recently traveled from Liberia, Guinea or Sierra Leone and are within the in the 21-day incubation period for Ebola.

Dr. Karyl Rattay, director of the Delaware Division of Public Health said those being monitored include eight in New Castle County and three in Kent County. They are considered “low risk” and have not come in contact with an Ebola patient.

Those being monitored are permitted to go about their daily routines and the department of health has provided each with a fever monitoring kit and have asked them to check their temperatures twice a day.

“They previously were considered in the no risk category,  we’re now considering them (a part of) the low risk category, and out of an abundance of caution we interact with them every day. But, there’s no reason to limit their work in any other way,” she said.

The state monitoring is part of increased measures that were coordinated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to better track those who have visited Ebola plagued countries in West Africa.

Rattay said they also have “high risk” and “some risk” categories but no Delawareans have met the criteria for those monitoring situations.

A high risk person would be an individual who had direct contact with an Ebola patient and did not use protective gear. A high risk person would need to be quarantined at home for the entire incubation period.

A “some risk” person would be an individual such as a health worker, who cared for an Ebola patient but was wearing protective gear at all times.

“The some risk category individuals will be asked to sign an agreement with us that involves limiting their activities including avoiding public transportation and large gathering and seeking approval from DPH to travel,” Rattay explained.

As people continue to travel to and from West African countries, Rattay said they expect to monitor about 15-20 people in the “low risk” category at a time.