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CHARLOTTE, NC – At a press conference Tuesday, WCCB asked Mecklenburg County Health Director Stephen Keener how many people are being monitored for Ebola symptoms in Mecklenburg County.
βIt’s not an important number to know. I said yesterday that it was less than 10, which is the truth, but if I say that it’s two today, then it could be five tomorrow,” said Keener.
Another question: Are they are men, women, children or American citizens?
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Keener answered, “I don’t know. I haven’t had a specific conversation with the nurses about it.”
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Did they fly into Charlotte Douglas?
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Keener answered,Β “I do not know. I do not know their mode of arrival,” said Keener.
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What were they doing in West Africa? Are they doctors or health care workers?
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Keener answered, “I don’t know.”
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Keener’s answers are not sitting well with Charlotte residents or visitors.
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“You can’t go around just keeping people in the dark, especially if you’re a part of a government agency. Especially the health department,” said Lamar Blocker, an East Charlotte Resident.Β
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“We feel like it’s very important that the public knows kind of what is going on, to the extent that privacy laws allow us to do that,” said Keener.
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Keener says none of the people being monitored are showing symptoms, and they say they have not had contact with anyone who has Ebola. He says they are self-monitoring themselves at home and have to check their temperature twice a day for 21 days. They must report that number to a nurse. They also must report any Ebola symptoms such as vomiting or fatigue.
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During the three-week monitoring period, Keener say the people being monitored are allowed to leave their home, but they have been asked to not ride public transportation.
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WCCB reached out to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention andΒ N.C. Department of Health & Human Services. Β Both suggested contactingΒ the Mecklenburg County Health Department for answers to any questions on local Ebola monitoring.Β
