Harvard Vanguard says no risk to others in Braintree

BOSTON (MyFoxboston.com) -- Harvard Vanguard has released an update following Sunday's Ebola scare at its Braintree medical center.

The message, which sought to calm both patients and staff members, said no one at the Braintree branch Sunday would have been exposed significantly to the Ebola virus, and no one in the building would pose a risk to others.

"As you may have heard, a patient was briefly in the Braintree Harvard Vanguard office on Sunday 10/12 with a question raised of Ebola virus infection. At the moment, things are looking like the probability that this patient has Ebola is quite low.

"The patient, who was clinically stable, was quickly ushered out of the building and into his own car to reduce any potential exposure of others, before being transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for further evaluation. Ebola transmission requires exposure to blood or body fluids. This patient had no cough or sneezing, no vomiting or diarrhea ,and no bleeding, and therefore was not exposing anyone to blood or body fluids. NO ONE in the Braintree office would have had significant exposure—neither our staff nor other patients present in the building at the time. Patients and staff who were in the building at the time do NOT pose any risk to others. They do NOT need any special disinfection or decontamination or temperature monitoring.

"The only disinfection necessary for the building was straightforward and minor, using CDC specified cleaning solution and was done before the building opened today.

"Staff and patients coming to Braintree are safe. We have reviewed procedures with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and are confident that all is being done appropriately. Normal operations continue at Braintree today Monday, 10/13."

Cox Media Group