Mat-Su

Mat-Su school district dispels Ebola rumors surrounding teacher's recent Africa visit

PALMER -- The Mat-Su Borough School District on Monday found itself dispelling Ebola-related rumors after a Houston teacher recently got back from South Africa -- far from the countries where an outbreak of the deadly virus is taking place.

A teacher at Houston Middle School who returned from a brief trip to South Africa does not fall under any travel bans associated with the Ebola virus, according to a written statement the district issued Monday.

The teacher, who was not identified, just got back from a visit with her daughter in Johannesburg, the written statement says. South Africa is not one of the three countries in West Africa -- Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone -- that fall under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's warning against non-essential travel due to concern over Ebola.

Erroneous information that the teacher was visiting West Africa surfaced in two Facebook posts Monday morning on the Mat-Su Valley News group, quickly attracting hundreds of comments before administrators removed them.

The school district posted the statement as officials became aware of the rumors and wanted to dispel them, spokeswoman Catherine Esary said. The statement, posted on Facebook, also drew dozens of comments including some indirectly questioning the district's decision and wondering if the teacher came in contact with the potentially deadly virus on her international flight. Most seemed to be in support of the teacher's return to work, including one that said of the critics, "This is crazy anyone who has traveled to the lower 48 is closer to Ebola then this teacher."

The district is following CDC guidelines for dealing with Ebola, Esary said.

"She was there on a short personal trip. She was not on a medical mission," she said, of the Houston teacher. "It is 3,000 miles from Guinea and the other countries. It's a long way. Africa is a big continent."

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The Houston Middle School principal planned to send messages to parents Monday night.

Contact Zaz Hollander at zhollander@alaskadispatch.com.

Zaz Hollander

Zaz Hollander is a veteran journalist based in the Mat-Su and is currently an ADN local news editor and reporter. She covers breaking news, the Mat-Su region, aviation and general assignments. Contact her at zhollander@adn.com.

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