UPDATED | 3 KSU employees related to latest Ebola victim; sent off campus for 21 days

KENT — Three employees at Kent State University are related to the latest person diagnosed with Ebola, according to a KSU news release.

“It’s important to note that the patient was not on the Kent State campus,” said Kent State President Beverly Warren. “She stayed with her family at their home in Summit County and did not step foot on our campus. We want to assure our university community that we are taking this information seriously, taking steps to communicate what we know.”

But Bob Burford, a university spokesman, said earlier that the three people were quarantined by health officials, adding to the cloud of confusion that has encircled the health care crisis since Thomas Duncan first arrived at a Dallas hospital Sept. 26.

Amber Joy Vinson, who was diagnosed with the diseased in Texas overnight, flew out to Cleveland over the weekend and back to Texas Monday.

“We’re coordinating with local public health authorities to ensure all precautions are taken,” said Dr. Angela DeJulius, director of University Health Services at Kent State. “Under the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, patients infected with the Ebola virus are not considered contagious until they show symptoms, such as fever, muscle aches and headaches.

“Out of an abundance of caution, we’re asking the patient’s family members to remain off campus for the next 21 days and self-monitor per CDC protocol,” DeJulius continued.

Vinson is a 2006 graduate of Kent State and she received a master’s degree in nursing in 2008 from the university.

Vinson was asymptomatic when visiting relatives, Burford said.

Both the Ohio Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control have been in contact with the university, he said.

In Atlanta, Dr. Tom Frieden, the director for Centers Disease Control and Prevention, in a telephone news conference this afternoon, said Vinson should not have traveled on a commercial airline after being exposed to the disease.

Travel of those exposed to the disease is to be limited to “controlled movement” such as by car or charter flight, he said.

Vinson tested positive in a presumptive test for Ebola Tuesday.

The CDC says she flew Frontier Airlines Flight 1143 from Cleveland to Dallas/Fort Worth International on Oct. 13, landing at 8:16 p.m. Dallas time.

The CDC is asking all 132 passengers who flew on that trip to call 1-800-232-4636.

Likewise, state and local health officials are working to contact anyone who may have had contact with Vinson.

Mary DiOrio, state epidemiologist and interim head of the Ohio Department of Health’s Division of Prevention and Health Promotion, told reporters Wednesday that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notified the state that the Texas woman was in the Akron area fand returned to Dallas Monday evening. She was diagnosed with the virus a day later.

DiOrio said the state is working with the Summit County Board of Health to identify anyone who may have had contact with her while she was in Ohio or on the flight back to Texas.

“As of right now, we do not have a case of Ebola in Ohio,” she said.

DiOrio could provide no other details of the Texas’ woman’s movements in Ohio.

“I cannot provide any exact specifics at this time,” she said.

Wednesday’s announcement came a day after DiOrio and other health officials met in suburban Columbus to review the state’s Ebola response plans.

DiOrio said at the time, “This is our message to the general public: The average Ohioan doesn’t need to be concerned about Ebola — only individuals who travel to and from West Africa where the Ebola outbreak is occurring or individuals in close contact with someone ill with Ebola.”

Health officials reiterated Wednesday that Ebola is spread via contact with blood and bodily fluids of infected individuals. It can take up to three weeks for symptoms of infection to appear.

Here is the official statement from Frontier Airlines:

“At approximately 1 a.m. MT on October 15, Frontier was notified by the CDC that a customer traveling on Frontier Airlines flight 1143 Cleveland to Dallas/Fort Worth on Oct. 13 has since tested positive for the Ebola virus. The flight landed in Dallas/Fort Worth at 8:16 p.m. local and remained overnight at the airport having completed its flying for the day at which point the aircraft received a thorough cleaning per our normal procedures which is consistent with CDC guidelines prior to returning to service the next day. It was also cleaned again in Cleveland last night. Previously the customer had traveled from Dallas Fort Worth to Cleveland on Frontier flight 1142 on October 10.

“Customer exhibited no symptoms or sign of illness while on flight 1143, according to the crew. Frontier responded immediately upon notification from the CDC by removing the aircraft from service and is working closely with CDC to identify and contact customers who may traveled on flight 1143.

“Customers who may have traveled on either flight should contact CDC at 1-800-CDC-INFO.

“The safety and security of our customers and employees is our primary concern. Frontier will continue to work closely with CDC and other governmental agencies to ensure proper protocols and procedures are being followed.”