COLUMBUS, Ohio -- An employee in the emergency department of Children's Hospital tested positive for the H1N1 virus, but the hospital said it thinks it was an isolated case.
Click here for NBC 4's up-to-date H1N1 influenza FAQ page. It has everything you need and should know about the infectious disease, including hotlines, symptoms, related Web
sites and much more.
According to hospital officials, they received confirmation of the employee's status Wednesday evening. No further information about the employee was released.
UPDATE
Nationwide Children’s Hospital tested any emergency department employee who reported possible flu symptoms and those tests came back negative Thursday.
As a result, the hospital said it believes it is dealing with an isolated H1N1 case and offered information Thursday afternoon.
The hospital continues to follow CDC infection control guidelines.
Given it was an isolated case and is now beyond the incubation period, and after additional consultation with Columbus Public Health, employees in the emergency department are no longer wearing masks and the hospital has discontinued prophylactic antiviral treatments for those employees.
Officials said they are taking precautions to protect the hospital staff and patient families and prevent spread of the virus, while maintaining regular operations at the hospital.
All areas of the hospital are open and operating normally. Existing infection control policies remain in place hospital-wide.
"When you think of how many people come in and out and all the germs there is everywhere. I don't think it would be that surprising to find out that somebody does actually get it that is working in the hospital," said Belinda Bryner, a hospital visitor.
A representative for Columbus Public Health said officials will never know how the employee contracted the virus and that the hospital has been very transparent about the case.
The hospital is not asking patients’ families to take any additional precautionary measures at this time and is encouraging families to maintain all scheduled appointments.
So far, there have been 210 confirmed cases of H1N1 in Ohio, including 28 in Franklin County.
Anyone with questions about the flu can contact the Central Ohio Community Flu Hotline by calling 614-221-2255.
For additional information, stay with nbc4i.com and NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com -- Where Accuracy Matters.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail us at stories@nbc4i.com.
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement