Ebola In NYC 2014: Dr Craig Spencer’s Virus Ignites Twitter

Doctor Craig Spencer tested positive for the Ebola virus at Bellevue Hospital in New York City Thursday and set off a Twitter firestorm. Some wondered whether Ebola could be spread on the subway while others blamed the doctor for bringing the deadly virus into NYC.

President Barack Obama and the government caught the brunt of the blame from some netizens upset to hear about Spencer’s diagnosis.

A few people pointed out that the Ebola infection seems scarier now that it has arrived in a metropolitan area like NYC.

Some noted it might be time to flee the coast now that the infection landed close to home.

Others were afraid to go to the same places Spencer had been.

It should be noted, however, that Ebola cannot be caught by someone who is infected if they are not symptomatic. Spencer, 33, reportedly went to the hospital when he experienced a fever and gastrointestinal issues Thursday morning.

If anyone is at risk after coming into contact with Spencer, they will be notified. “As a further precaution, beginning today, the Health Department’s team of disease detectives immediately began to actively trace all of the patient’s contacts to identify anyone who may be at potential risk,” according to a statement from the NYC Health Department released Thursday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) dispatched an Ebola response team to New York City to help Bellevue properly and safely take care of Spencer and protect the staff.

After treating patient Thomas Eric Duncan, two of his nurses -- Nina Pham and Amber Vinson -- contracted the virus. The CDC has since taken the blame and created the response team to prevent it from happening again with another Ebola patient.

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