CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A preliminary report says the patient who caused part of Carolinas Medical Center’s Emergency Department to shut down has Malaria, according to local health officials.
Hospital officials say a patient claimed to have recently visited Africa, a country known for high risk of infectious diseases. As a precaution, part of the emergency department was blocked off with yellow caution tape all Wednesday morning.
A statement from CMC says, “Late last evening, a patient arrived at Carolinas Medical Center Emergency Department after visiting a country known for high risk of infectious diseases. We took all appropriate infection control measures to protect patients, staff, and visitors. After consulting with the Centers for Disease Control and NC Department of Health and Human Services, it appears the risk for communicable disease is low. No further testing is needed and the patient will be sent home. The Emergency Department at Carolinas Medical Center remains open and operating normally.”
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease. It can not be spread from person to person.
