What would you do if you were on a plane headed to a fantastic destination when all of sudden a fellow passenger sneezes and yells, “I have Ebola, you are all screwed”? A U.S. Airways traveler learned that joking about Ebola is a definite don’t!
The man also screamed, “I’ve been to Africa!” His ill-timed and insensitive “joke” caused his flight from Philadelphia to be held upon arrival in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. A few hours after landing, a medical team boarded the plane wearing protective suits. They took the man to a separate medical facility where he was tested and later cleared of the deadly disease. It was also confirmed that he had not been to Africa.
Ebola has sent many Americans into panic over its deadly effects. Earlier this morning, CNN tweeted a video pointing out other diseases to be worried about other than Ebola because it is not easily contracted. But that hasn’t stop folks from worrying, especially after medical experts revealed that the virus could mutate and become airborne.
The Ministry of Public Health of the Dominican Republic confirmed the case as a false alarm and the unidentified man is being returned home to be retested for final confirmation. Other passengers were held on the plane for hours after the incident.
Someone recorded the plane incident on their smartphone, check it out below: