Coast Guard Picks Up Blood Sample From Carnival Magic Ebola Patient

The Coast Guard helicoptered to the Carnival Magic to retrieve a blood sample taken from a Dallas health care worker who is aboard a cruise ship and being monitored for signs of Ebola.

The Coast Guard crew flew the helicopter Saturday to meet the Carnival Magic crisis team and lower a basket of unknown supplies. The woman exchanged her blood sample, which was then transported back to a state lab in Austin.

The decision to take the sample was made in coordination with the federal, state and local health authorities.

Obama administration officials said the passenger handled a lab specimen from a Liberian man who died from Ebola at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital earlier this month. Officials said the woman poses no risk because she has shown no signs of illness, but that has not stopped several ports from denying the boat landing.

h/t abcnews