Possible Ebola patient transferred from Baylor to Presbyterian hospital, then released

Baylor University Medical Center became the second Dallas Hospital to receive a potential Ebola patient, who screened positive on a questionnaire before being transferred to another facility.

The unidentified patient went to Baylor University Medical Center on Thursday evening reporting Ebola-like symptoms and indicated that he or she had contact with someone with the disease. The patient was transferred to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas at the direction of the Dallas County Health Department on Thursday night, then sent home from Presbyterian on Friday.

Upon arrival at Baylor University Medical Center, the patient entered the Emergency Room through a private entrance, and went immediately into isolation, according to a statement from that hospital.

At Presbyterian, the patient again was placed in isolation and evaluated "with all appropriate precautions," according to a statement from that hospital.

"The patient was determined to be low risk and wanted to leave the hospital," the statement from Presbyterian says. "The (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and Texas Department of State Health Services were advised of this and did not feel it was necessary to have her detained."

Texas Health Presbyterian has drawn fire for sending Liberian Thomas Eric Duncan back into the Dallas community for two days, even though he had Ebola symptoms and reported that he had just come to Dallas from West Africa, where the deadly disease is rampant. Duncan returned to Presbyterian two days later in a worsened state and later died while in the hospital's care. Two nurses who were on Duncan's treatment team have since tested positive for the virus.

Bill covers health care, law, education and general assignments. Subscribe to our email newsletters.