HAMILTON HEIGHTS — The day after a doctor tested positive for Ebola, health workers disinfected his Hamilton Heights apartment as neighbors showed concern.
Craig Spencer, the doctor who recently returned from a trip to Guinea, is being treated at Bellevue Hospital. His fiancee Morgan Dixon, who lives with him, and two other people are being quarantined at the hospital.
"There's some people that are keeping things in perspective and there are some people that are scared out of their wits," said Ricardo Lawrence, 54, who lives across the hall from Spencer.
At least two families have left the 35-unit apartment building, he said.
A private contractor, Bio-Recovery Corporation, is working with the city’s Department of Health to disinfect Spencer’s apartment. Workers will throw away bed linens, towels, toiletries, food in the fridge and garbage, a department spokeswoman said.
“We do not believe there are any body fluids in the apartment because the patient did not report any vomiting or diarrhea,” she added.
People in the neighborhood have been taking extra precautions.
Mailman Keven Ngo, 52, wore latex gloves and a mask while delivering the mail to Spencer’s building.
“I usually wear gloves. The mask is only for this building,” he said. “You don’t know where Ebola, where it goes.”
Inside the building Lawrence was comforted to see a physical response from the city. Thursday, as he watched the news of Ebola in New York on the television, he felt frustrated that health officials didn’t visit the building.
"There were a lot of unknowns, I think that's what fed a lot of the panic in the building,” he said. “There wasn't anyone around to answer questions. We were basically wondering on our own."
On Friday, health workers told Lawrence he would be quarantined to his apartment for his protection, but later allowed him to move freely.
Once he learned this, Lawrence mopped part of the hallway with bleach and warm water. He also wiped down the elevator buttons. He was eventually able to walk in and out of the building while the cleanup crew disinfected Spencer's apartment.
