County's first Ebola watch

Skagit County Public Health is monitoring a person to rule out the possibility of Ebola exposure, public health nurse Amie Tidrington confirmed Tuesday.

Due to patient confidentiality laws, she was unable to provide any other information, such as gender or whereabouts of the person.

However, a letter to first responders from the county’s Department of Emergency Medical Services stated that the person recently returned from Liberia.

Apparently the traveler con-tacted the health department just to let authorities know, even though the person had not been in an area of Liberia affected by the deadly virus and exhibits no symptoms. Tidrington said there is “low or no risk” of exposure.

The traveler will be self-monitoring for signs of fever or illness until 21 symptom-free days have elapsed.

Skagit County Public Health and Community Services has asked that travelers notify health officials if they have returned within the last 21 days from Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone — the West African nations where the hemorrhagic fever has killed thousands of people — or any other areas with active Ebola cases.

Also, anyone who has been in contact with an ill person from one of the areas stricken with the Ebola epidemic is asked to contact the health department, take their temperature twice a day and stay off commercial airliners, trains, buses and cruise ships for 21 days.

If symptoms of illness begin, people should call their hospital or doctor and report their travel history before they seek treatment.

Kelly Stowe with the Washington state Department of Health said that there are a total of five people in the state, all in the Puget Sound area, who are self-monitoring for Ebola.

Skagit County Public Health and Community Services can be reached at 360-336-9397.