With New Ebola Case in Dallas, Health Officials Try to Reassure New Yorkers

New York City’s health officials on Sunday tried to reassure New Yorkers that they are taking precautions to protect them from the Ebola virus, as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control confirmed that a Texas health care worker who had cared for an Ebola patient tested positive for the virus.

The city's health commissioner, Dr. Mary Bassett, emphasized that the virus has not made an appearance in the city.

"It's very important to stress to everyone that we have had no cases of Ebola diagnosed in New York City," she told WNYC on Sunday evening. "Although we've had some cases that we've looked into more detail, we haven't recommended testing for Ebola in a single patient."

Anne Bové, a representative from the New York State Nurses Association, said nurses are concerned but that fears are best quelled with information.

“[If] you don’t keep people up-to-date, you don’t communicate with them, you don’t educate them, then, yes, of course, they’re going to be upset, nervous, and scared.”

Bové said she is training staff to prepare for an Ebola patient at Bellevue Hospital, the destination for any suspected cases of the virus flagged at JFK Airport. Bellevue has prepared rooms to isolate patients who may have Ebola.

The city's health department said all hospitals in the 5 boroughs have the ability to isolate patients, and their staffs are also undergoing training to prepare for an Ebola case.

"People are being trained on how to put the personal equipment on, and take it off," said Bové. "It's something that’s done more than once or twice. We just want to make sure that people are ready.”