California man quarantines himself for Ebola despite no symptoms of virus



Sacramento, CA (KTXL) -- Despite the fact that Kwazi Lawrence says he has had no symptoms of the Ebola Virus, the Sacramento resident still decided to quarantine himself inside of his home.

"I just got back from a one month trip to Liberia. I did not come in contact with anyone who the virus, but I'm taking this upon myself to take precaution," Lawrence told FOX40 in a Skype interview Wednesday afternoon. "I called my doctor and he said 'Okay'."

Lawrence is choosing to spend 21 days in isolation. As a software engineer at CalPERS, his employer has agreed to give him the time off, and that might be a smart choice.

"As we stand here in 2014, the only way you are going to bring Ebola to Sacramento is if you bring it from West Africa," said Dr. Stuart Cohen, Chief of Infectious Diseases at UC Davis Medical Center.

Despite the fact that Lawrence just returned from the epicenter of the Ebola outbreak in Monrovia, he says he did not come in contact with anyone who has the virus. "Still, I am staying in isolation to ease my own mind," he said.

"I think you should not be freaked out, because somebody thought enough to be in isolation," Dr. Cohen told FOX40.

If Lawrence develops a fever, chills, or even a rash, he told FOX40 he will check himself into a hospital.

Lawrence concluded, "I am not afraid, I am old enough to know how to take care of myself. I have my children to live for, why should I put my life in jeopardy?"