Fort Worth Marine under quarantine for possible Ebola infection

An unidentified Marine, stationed at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, is under voluntary quarantine after learning he was on a flight with a nurse who is undergoing treatment for Ebola.

USA Today reported that the Marine flew Monday on Frontier Flight 1143 from Cleveland to Dallas, the same flight as a nurse infected with the virus.  He will be in isolation for 21 days and observed for possible Ebola symptoms.

Deputy Chief of Staff for Public Affairs at Marine Forces Reserve New Orleans, Adam Bashaw, said the identity of the Marine will not be release to protect the privacy of his family.

“He did the right thing by volunteering that he was on the flight and quarantining himself,” Bashaw said.

The Marine was on leave when he flew with Amber Joy Vinson, who has since tested positive for Ebola.  He imposed a self-quarantine when he found out he had flown with the nurse.  The Marine had not entered the base since he got off the flight.

According to the Military Times, the Marine is related to a student attending Lake Pointe Elementary School in Fort Worth.  A letter has been sent to parents from the Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District, explaining the situation and alerting them of potential contact.  There is also a notice posted on the school and district’s websites.

“This family has one child who attends Lake Pointe Elementary,” the school district release said. “District officials will be in regular communication with the family as well as officials from the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base.”

The district said so far none of the family are exhibiting any symptoms.

According to USA Today, another nurse who cared for Liberian Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan has also been diagnosed with the virus.  She is scheduled to be transported to a treatment center at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials are contacting all 132 passengers on the flight.