De Blasio: The ‘Only Threat’ of Ebola is Direct Contact with Bodily Fluids

"Let me emphasize what we have in NYC that is so crucial in this dynamic, We have the finest public health system not only anywhere in this country, but in the world. It's a public health system that has been developed over decades and is ready for extraordinary challenges and it is proving it as we speak.

We are fully prepared to handle Ebola. Our medical experts here in the city have been studying this disease intensively and working closely with our federal partners. And going so far, they consult with doctors in other parts of the country who where on the front-line, including in Atlanta and Nebraska, who have directly treated Ebola patients.

The partnership with the federal and state government has been consistent and seamless and that has been very helpful in allowing us to know every precaution that we have to take and every type of preparation we had to undertake. We had strong and clear protocol from the beginning and they have been followed to the letter.

The patient who tested positive was taken to Bellevue following those protocols. From the moment the call came in, the process proceeded exactly as dictated, interviewing the patient and getting the facts and having a IMS team that was especially trained to receive the patient, the hand-off at Bellevue, as the training dictated. The patients is now being held in isolation at Bellevue and poses no threat to others.

The health department team of disease detectives -- that's a very important point -- the health department has a team of experts who act as detectives would in a police investigation. They go and they trace all the contacts that the patient has had and they are trained to do so. They have been at work since the report came in re-tracing the steps of the patient, and we will have a detailed delineation of those findings later in the day.

The patient's fiancée is being quarantined and we are as always looking at each individual contact in determining whenever quarnateen is necessary. We know as was said last last night, the patient took a subway, went to a bowling alley, and went to a few other food establishments before being admitted to Bellevue yesterday.

So we have been able to retrace those steps. Our teams have visited each of those establishments. I want to emphasize again, casual contact cannot lead to acquiring this disease. The only threat is if one has come in contact directly with the bodily fluids of someone who has this disease.

Before I turn to my colleagues, I want to raise one important point because people in a moment of crisis always ask what they can do, what should they know., and I think it’s important to help New Yorkers understand the very crucial information they need.

We made clear all the things that Ebola is not, all the ways it does not transmit. But that still does not mean people can’t do something to help in this crisis. First, if you or a loved one feels you may meet the qualifications, meaning you have traveled to the three countries in West Africa that are afflicted in the last 21 days and you have a fever and other symptoms, it is crucial to call 911 immediately, or the only other alternative, go immediately to a hospital emergency room. I want to emphasize, those are the only two acceptable actions. Call 911 or go to a hospital emergency room.

Do not wait, do not hesitate, do not wait to see if you get better, do not go to a private doctor’s office. Call 911 or go to an emergency room. If a loved one you fear may be afflicted and fits those criteria, call on their behalf to 911 or bring them to an emergency room. Again, we have no other cases reported, but it's important that people understand that is the protocol."