Hazmat crews descended on Logan Airport Monday afternoon after five passengers were reported to have flu-like symptoms. Health officials confirmed that the five people are on their way to nearby hospitals.
Update: Ebola Didn’t Sicken Logan Airport Passengers or Patient at Beth Israel
According to the Boston Globe, Massport spokesperson Matt Brelis said “hazmat teams began responding to concerns about Flight 237 at about 2:45 p.m. on Monday.” The ailing passengers were escorted off the plane wearing protective suits.
None of the passengers, Massport made clear, traveled to West Africa recently where the Ebola virus has already killed more than 3,000 people. They were, according to WCVB, previously in Mecca on a pilgrimage. WCVB notes further that Emirates was the first major airline to suspend service to West Africa.
On Monday, doctors at Beth Israel released a statement that a patient also suffering from symptoms resembling those of Ebola is unlikely to have the virus.
“The City and our partners at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health were in constant contact today as news of an Ebola scare began to break,” said Mayor Marty Walsh.
He continued,
Today’s efforts reinforced my belief that the City is more than prepared to deal with any scenario like this. We take any threat to public health very seriously, but we must educate ourselves about Ebola precautions and do what we can to quell unnecessary public panic. Our emergency preparedness plans are recognized as national models, and I have full confidence in our departments and healthcare organizations that we can keep Bostonians safe and healthy.
According to en eerie TIME magazine article, the Ebola virus was first observed by the human eye on this day 38-years ago.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned to BostInno for more information as it continues to be made available.
UPDATE: 3 of 5 passengers taken to Mass. General Hospital, hospital confirms. http://t.co/a9L8kSAE7P
— NECN (@NECN) October 13, 2014
Passengers on Emirates flight say situation was handled well #wcvb
— John Atwater (@AtwaterWCVB) October 13, 2014
#MassPort confirming passengers off plane in Customs. #7News
— susantran (@susantran) October 13, 2014
3 of 5 patients taken off an Emirates flight have arrived at Mass General. All 3 walked out of the ambulance #wcvb pic.twitter.com/GgPUVF7Uwe
— Mary Saladna (@MaryWCVB) October 13, 2014
Passenger says saw one man put into protective suit and taken off plane. Said he spent much of 14 hr flight coughing. #7News
— susantran (@susantran) October 13, 2014
PIC: Hazmat team boards #Emirates Flight 237 to tend to five ill passengers #WCVB #Logan pic.twitter.com/RzPAZQvtUP
— Liam Martin (@LiamWCVB) October 13, 2014
Pic from onboard the Emirates plane at Logan airport #7news courtesy @barahont pic.twitter.com/4ZRe3XFGsw
— Brad Tatum (@BradTatum) October 13, 2014
Family of Emirates passengers wait for them to get off plane. Man waiting for his wife say wait is terrible.#fox25 pic.twitter.com/sm1qiWSMsd
— John Monahan Fox 25 (@MonahanFOX25) October 13, 2014
Family of Emirates 237 passengers moved to new waiting area. Some in contact w/loved ones by cellphone. #fox25 pic.twitter.com/jDGNBCKZoj
— Capturegirl (@jenyp) October 13, 2014
IC reports patient #1 is now off the plane
— Boston EMS Incidents (@BEMSincidents) October 13, 2014
IC update: 2 patients loaded in to A8- both patients will be transported shortly.
— Boston EMS Incidents (@BEMSincidents) October 13, 2014
IC update: patients 1 and 2 are loaded in A8, transporting shortly. Receiving hospital notified (Still ongoing)
— Boston EMS Incidents (@BEMSincidents) October 13, 2014
Patient #3 is off the aircraft
— Boston EMS Incidents (@BEMSincidents) October 13, 2014
Family member of Emirates Flight 237 passenger says they’re “not concerned” about Ebola. That sickness is “common on flights.” #fox25
— Capturegirl (@jenyp) October 13, 2014
A person has been walked off the Emirates Flight 237 plane at Logan Airport #fox25 pic.twitter.com/E2hcX0CAZX
— FOX 25 News Boston (@fox25news) October 13, 2014
Family members of passengers tell us five people on-board have flu-like symptoms. They were in Mecca on pilgrimage #WCVB
— Liam Martin (@LiamWCVB) October 13, 2014
@BostonLogan @emirates hazmat boarded. Now to wait for clearance http://t.co/741PPFyrzI
— Tracy Barahona (@barahont) October 13, 2014
Boston Public Health: no comment on ongoing sit at Logan airport where number of pass on Emirates flight w/flu-like symptoms
— Ted Daniel (@TedDanielFOX25) October 13, 2014
See photos from the Hazmat response at Logan Airport: http://t.co/AFgbcVBYej pic.twitter.com/zjOfb1TtQU
— WCVB-TV Boston (@WCVB) October 13, 2014
Family members of passengers say most were in the Middle East, not W. Africa. http://t.co/guBWgdLsPT pic.twitter.com/SY9TOzv7Hj
— WCVB-TV Boston (@WCVB) October 13, 2014
At least 4 hazmat crew members boarding #Emirates flight #7news #Ebola pic.twitter.com/1SO2AaL2MW
— Cheryl Fiandaca (@CherylFiandaca) October 13, 2014