A freelancer working with NBC News, specifically Dr. Nancy Snyderman’s medical news unit, has been diagnosed with ebola. He was a cameraman for the network. The cameraman, whose name has not been revealed at the family’s request, has been in Liberia for the past three years and started working with Dr. Snyderman’s team on Tuesday. He discovered that his temperature was higher than usual, a symptom of ebola, and self-quarantined himself. Later, he was tested at a local clinic and the results came back positive. Now, he will be flown back to America in order to receive treatment. In addition, Dr. Snyderman and her team will return to the United States on a private flight and be quarantined for twenty-one days to avoid any further possible spread.
Read the memo from NBC News President Deborah Turness:
All:
As you know, Dr. Nancy Snyderman and our news team are in Liberia covering the Ebola outbreak. One of the members of their crew is an American freelance cameraman who has worked in Liberia for the past three years and has recently been covering the epidemic for US media outlets. On Tuesday he began working with our team. Today, he tested positive for Ebola.
We are doing everything we can to get him the best care possible. He will be flown back to the United States for treatment at a medical center that is equipped to handle Ebola patients. We are consulting with the CDC, Medicins Sans Frontieres and others. And we are working with Dr. Nancy on the ground in Liberia.
We are also taking all possible measures to protect our employees and the general public. The rest of the crew, including Dr. Nancy, are being closely monitored and show no symptoms or warning signs. However, in an abundance of caution, we will fly them back on a private charter flight and then they will place themselves under quarantine in the United States for 21 days – which is at the most conservative end of the spectrum of medical guidance.
We know you share our concern for our colleagues and we will continue to keep you up to date and informed. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or David Verdi with any questions.
Deborah