Christian missionary being monitored for possible Ebola in Charlotte
CHARLOTTE (WTVD) -- Health officials in Charlotte are monitoring a Christian missionary with "some risk" for Ebola who arrived in the U.S. this weekend.
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Mecklenburg County health officials said Dr. John Fankhauser did not travel through Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, and arrived in the area via private ground transportation from Atlanta.
The Christian missionary group SIM said Fankhauser is healthy and shows no signs of Ebola. It also said Fankhauser was not treating Ebola patients in Liberia directly, but did treat a patient who was later diagnosed with the virus.
SIM said Fankhauser was wearing full protective gear at the time.
Fankhauser has made several trips to west Africa to help with the Ebola crisis.
"John's commitment to helping the people of Liberia is inspiring," said Bruce Johnson, president of SIM USA.
According to the CDC, an individual has to have had close contact with someone with the virus in order to be classified as "some risk."
Doctors will monitor them for 21 days. That's the incubation period for the Ebola virus.
Officials stress the risk to the community is very low.
