Ebola scare on the high seas: Mexico and Belize close ports to cruise ship carrying health worker who handled samples from ‘patient zero’ who died of virus

The female passenger works at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, Dallas
Took a trip on the Carnival Magic trip – due to stop in Belize and Mexico
She handled clinical samples from Duncan – who died of Ebola on October 8
The woman, who is with her husband, had no symptoms but went into voluntary isolation
Hospital has now issued tighter guidelines to stop staff traveling
Belize is refusing to let the passenger ashore because of Ebola fears
The ship will be skipping its final stop in Cozumel, Mexico, Friday and will return to Texas on Sunday

A cruise ship which launched from Texas has been barred from entering Belize and Mexico because it may be carrying an Ebola victim.

The ship is carrying a health worker from Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas – the epicenter of the Ebola crisis, where the first patient to die of the disease in America was treated.

The woman – who is now in voluntary isolation to protect fellow passengers – had handled samples from Thomas Eric Duncan, who died of the virulent disease on October 8.

Officials had wanted to move her off the ship so she could fly home. But the governments of Belize and Mexico both denied permission for the ship to dock in order to protect its own citizens.

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