Sheriff

Dallas County Deputy Negative for Ebola Says He Followed Orders

The Dallas County Sheriff's deputy who tested negative for Ebola one day after going to a CareNow after feeling ill talked to reporters about the response to his illness saying he followed orders from the county and he wouldn't change a thing.

47-year-old Sr. Sgt. Michael Monnig was one of the deputies who went inside the Dallas apartment where Thomas Eric Duncan was staying. Monnig did not have contact with Duncan, but did see some of Duncan's family members now in isolation. Duncan died Wednesday.

Monnig read from a prepared statement thanking CareNow and Texas Health Presbyterian for their professionalism, care and compassion in following Centers for Disease Control Ebola safety protocols.

Monnig said he followed the directions of the county doctor to call in if he had health issues.

"So that morning, I woke up feeling like a truck hit me, feeling nauseated, head pounding, just basic flu-like symptoms and I took my temperature it was 98.9, I called up Dr. Perkins and said 'what do you want me to do, I'm following your directions to call you, what do you want me to do?' And that's when he stated to get with my primary care physician or go to a health care clinic," Monnig said. "I couldn't get in to see my primary care physician... so again according to his directive I went to CareNow."

Monnig says he answered the question of if he'd been around any individuals exposed to Ebola truthfully and when he said 'yes' it set in motion the CDC required response.

Monnig says he was scared when in the encapsulated room at Texas Health Presbyterian and nurses told him his temperature was 101.7 and he knew 101.5 was a key point for Ebola symptoms.

"When I heard 101.7 and I saw the two nurses look at each other with wide eyes, I wondered if my ticket was punched, I wondered if it was time. So that was a scary point," Monnig said.

The Texas Department of State Health Services said Thursday the specimen from Monnig tested negative for Ebola.

In the end, Monnig said doctors told him he had a viral infection of some type that has not been identified. Monnig says he tired, but happy to be cleared of Ebola.

Monnig said he trusted health care professionals who told him he did not need protective gear to enter the Dallas apartment where Thomas Eric Duncan stayed since the family had not shown symptoms.

Monnig says his clothing he wore that night is still bagged and in his garage.

Monnig will return to work with the county on Wednesday and if  he had it all to do again he wouldn't change a thing.

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