Jenkins repeatedly emphasized that since the man was not showing symptoms, then there is 'zero chance of contracting the Ebola virus' from him.
DALLAS -- Even as officials have sought to project calm, authorities are looking for a homeless panhandler who rode in an ambulance after an Ebola patient.
News 8 was the first to report the search for the man Sunday morning. Officials have not indicated at what point the man rode in the ambulance. Officials have also not indicated if they have found and located all of the individuals who rode in the ambulance after the Ebola patient.
Dallas police are searching for a man who rode in an ambulance after an Ebola patient.(Photo: Dallas police)
News 8 is not naming the man at this point at the request of county officials.
In a statement released to the media and in a Centers for Disease for Disease Control conference call, County Judge Clay Jenkins confirmed that officials are looking for a 'low risk individual who has been identified by our local team as a contact.'
Jenkins said sheriff's deputies and Dallas police officers are looking for the man. He said that the man was found Saturday and was not showing symptoms of Ebola.
Officials said that the man was asked to remain there at the location but then left. Officials did not explain how this occurred.
'We are working to locate the individual and get him to a comfortable, compassionate place where we can monitor him and care for his every need for the full incubation period,' Jenkins said. 'I want to emphasize that he is a very low risk individual and are doing this out of precautionary measures.'
Jenkins repeatedly emphasized that since the man was not showing symptoms, then there is 'zero chance of contracting the Ebola virus' from him.
'We just need to locate this individual and we could use your help in letting him know you're not in trouble,' Jenkins said.
Jenkins asked that the man turn himself into the authorities.
The Ebola patient, Michael Eric Duncan, was transported to Presbyterian Hospital last Sunday. The ambulance was taken out of service on Tuesday, but has since been put back into service after being decontaminated.
CDC officials did not take any questions from local reporters during Sunday's conference call.
Below is Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins' full statement:.
We are working to find a low risk individual who has been identified by our local team as a contact. We have our Dallas County Sheriff's Department and Dallas Police Department teams on the ground. We are working to locate the individual and get him to a comfortable, compassionate place where we can monitor him and care for his every need for the full incubation period. I want to emphasize that he is a low risk individual and we are doing this out of precautionary measures.
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