UH hospital patient no longer in isolation

University Hospitals St. John Medical Center in Westlake, Ohio, has confirmed that a patient previously receiving treatment under isolation after arriving from Tanzania with flu-like symptoms has been cleared and is no longer in isolation.

North Olmsted EMS initially transferred the patient to the hospital's emergency department early Dec. 5. The individual had recently traveled from Tanzania to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

On Dec. 6, UH St. John Medical Center announced that the patient’s condition was determined to be routine and that they are no longer in isolation.

"Infectious disease specialists, working with the Ohio Department of Health, determined the cause of the patient’s symptoms are routine," the health system said in an internal memo to staff, which was sent to Becker's.

"We want to thank the caregivers at UH St. John’s Medical Center, who acted promptly and compassionately to provide care not only to this patient, but also took steps to ensure the safety of other patients and staff there," leaders wrote in the memo.

The initial isolation came as a precaution due to overlapping timelines with health concerns in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a neighboring country to the west of Tanzania, where officials are investigating an unidentified disease that has sickened 376 people since late October, including at least 76 confirmed deaths. Efforts to test samples are ongoing, with officials anticipating the illness to be identified in the coming days. Preliminary analyses suggest the outbreak may be linked to other prevalent diseases in the region and exacerbated by malnutrition, according to health officials. 

The CDC has said it "is aware of reports of an illness in southwest DRC."

"U.S. government staff, including those from [the] U.S. CDC's country office in Kinshasa, are in contact with DRC's Ministry of Health and stand ready to provide additional support if needed."

Symptoms related to the unidentified outbreak in the Congo include fever, headache, breathing difficulties and anemia. The World Health Organization is aware of the situation and has been working with health authorities in the region to collect and test samples, the agency told NBC News.

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