Newark, Rutgers officers released from hospital after Ebola scare

Several Newark and Rutgers police officers were detained at University Hospital Wednesday morning after coming in contact with a woman with Ebola-like symptoms. (Star-Ledger file photo)

Several Newark and Rutgers police officers were briefly detained at University Hospital today after coming into contact with a woman doctors suspected may have been suffering from Ebola, officials said.

The officers encountered the woman at a hotel near Newark Liberty International Airport just before 1 a.m. after receiving a call about a mentally disturbed person inside, according to city spokeswoman Marjorie Harris.

Officials declined to share details about the woman's condition at the time, but Mayor Ras Baraka issued a statement saying she was initially believed to have recently traveled to the U.S. from Liberia, one of several West African nations where outbreaks of Ebola have occurred.

The woman was taken to University Hospital to be evaluated, and was eventually determined not to have traveled to Liberia or any country on the Center for Disease Control's watch list.

"Out of an abundance of caution, the patient was evaluated in consultation with the Newark Department of Health and Community Wellness and New Jersey Department of Health officials," Baraka said. "Based on the patient's clinical symptoms, it was determined the patient is not at risk for Ebola Virus Disease."

A total of six Newark officers who came into contact with the woman were held at the hospital to be evaluated, but were cleared to return to duty this afternoon.

It was unclear how many officers with the Rutgers department, which patrols the hospital campus, were affected.

Hospital spokeswoman Stacie Newton said the incident caused no disruptions to its normal treatment of patients or other operations.

James Stewart Jr., president of the Newark Fraternal Order of Police, said he was relieved to hear no one was at risk of contracting the disease, and hoped the city would examine its procedures for responding to similar incidents in the future.

"Thankfully everybody is safe and there is no threat to the first responders involved. Hopefully this incident can be used to learn from, to better prepare for the next event like this," he said.