The Air Force has transported an Ebola blood sample from an infected doctor in New York City to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia.
At the request of the White House, the Air Force dispatched a C-37 business jet to picked up blood samples from Craig Spencer, a New York City doctor who spent time treating Ebola patients in Guinea, said Pentagon spokesman Air Force Lt. Col. Thomas Crosson.
Air Force officials first transported a three-person Centers for Disease Control and Prevention team from Andrews Air Force Base to New York City “before transporting the Ebola blood sample to Atlanta,” Lt. Col. Crosson said.
“The aircrew took all necessary precautions by following existing procedures directed by the International Air Transport Association for transporting hazardous cargo of this nature; at all times, the medical sample remained under the control of the CDC,” he said.
Mr. Spencer, a member of Doctors Without Borders, remains in isolation at Bellevue Hospital Center while investigators try to retrace his steps, The Associated Press reported.
In the days before Mr. Spencer became ill, he went on a 3-mile jog, went to High Line park, rode the subway, got into a taxi and went to a Brooklyn bowling alley.
Mr. Spencer began feeling fatigued on Tuesday and, when his symptoms started to get worse, contacted authorities on Thursday, AP reported.
• Maggie Ybarra can be reached at mybarra@washingtontimes.com.
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