State and local health officials are keeping watch over 10 people who very recently visited western Africa.
But, as we hear from The Michigan Public Radio Network’s Rick Pluta, the threat posed by the Ebola virus in Michigan remains very small.
The 10 people are required to check in with their local health departments twice a day and report symptoms such as fever or vomiting. So far, no one has those symptoms, says Jennifer Smith of the state Department of Community Health.
And, she says, while the threat from Ebola in Michigan is slight, there are other infectious diseases that kill people in Michigan, such as the flu.
“The best thing they can do to protect their health is to remain up to date on their vaccinations to protect against diseases that are preventable, like the flu,” she says.
It’s expected about one in 10 people in the state will become infected during the coming flu season. Last year, four children in Michigan died from the flu.