No Ebola found at Alabama hospital after ER diversion, EMA director says
The hospital statement said it was limited in what information it could share in order to protect patient privacy.
Ethan Parker 
The emergency room at Gadsden Regional Medical Center briefly shifted to diversion status on Saturday as rampant social media speculation regarding a patient treated at the facility sparked community concern.
No cause for alarm
Etowah County Emergency Management Agency director Jim Slick acted quickly to debunk the rumors, confirming that the patient was not suffering from Ebola. Slick emphasized to 205focus.com that the public should not be alarmed, stating that there are currently no issues or active health scares at the hospital.
Hospital confirms safety
In an official statement, Gadsden Regional Medical Center confirmed it is coordinating with the Centers for Disease Control and the state department of public health. While the hospital cited patient privacy laws in limiting the specific details it could share, it provided a clear message to the community.
“We can confirm this evening that there are currently no confirmed or suspected cases of viral hemorrhagic fever within our hospital, community, or the surrounding region,” the facility stated.
Understanding the risks
According to the CDC, viral hemorrhagic fevers are illnesses caused by several different viruses, including Ebola and hantavirus. Slick explicitly clarified that no cases of hantavirus have been linked to the hospital.
Although the emergency room was temporarily diverted—sending incoming ambulances to other locations—the hospital continued to provide care throughout the period. As of tonight, the facility is fully operational and open to the public.
