By . Reuters . and Ashley Collman for MailOnline . The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Wednesday it flew an employee back to the United States from West Africa by chartered plane after the staff member came in contact with an international healthcare worker who later tested positive for Ebola. CDC spokesman Tom Skinner said the employee was 'feeling fine' and had been scheduled to return to the United States from West Africa anyway. The staffer's exposure was 'low-risk', the CDC said in a statement. According to the statement, the staff member worked in 'close proximity', which it defined as within three feet, and in the same room with the ill person for a prolonged period during the period that that individual had symptoms. Home: A CDC employee who came in contact with an Ebola patient, returned to the U.S. from West Africa on Wednesday. That employee has not displayed symptoms of the disease and is not believed to pose a risk to the public. Above, a photo showing the Ebola virus . The CDC transported the staff member via chartered plane because its regulations require that people who have contact with Ebola patients who travel long distances must travel by private means for 21 days after the last contact, the statement said. The provision is designed to protect other travelers in case the exposed person develops symptoms during the flight, it said. According to the World Health Organization, Ebola spreads through direct contact with blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and through indirect contact with contaminated surfaces. According to the CDC statement, the staff person is not sick with Ebola, does not show symptoms of the disease and 'poses no Ebola-related risk to friends, family, co-workers or the public'. At least 1,427 people have died and 2,615 have been infected since Ebola was detected in Guinea in March. The outbreak has killed at least 120 healthcare workers. News of the CDC worker's return comes as the director of the health organization issued a statement, warning about the dangers of the fast-spreading disease. 'It's even worse than I'd feared' CDC Director Dr Tom Frieden said on Wednesday. 'Every day this outbreak goes on, it increases the risk for another export to another country. 'The sooner the world comes together to help Liberia and West Africans, the safer we will all be.' Dr Frieden arrived in Liberia on Monday to asses the situation. Warning: News of the CDC worker's return came the same day that the health organization's director issued a statement, calling the Ebola crisis 'worse than I'd feared'. Above, CDC Director Tom Frieden in a photo taken on August 7 .
The CDC worker took a chartered flight to the U.S. from West Africa on Wednesday .
Staffer's exposure to Ebola was 'low-risk' - meaning she came within three feet of a patient and was in the same room for a prolonged time .
Does not feel unwell or display any symptoms; is not considered a risk to the public .
Staffer's return comes as CDC's director has issued new Ebola warning .
'It's even worse than I'd feared,' Director Dr Tom Frieden said Wednesday .
By . Reuters . and Ashley Collman for MailOnline . The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Wednesday it flew an employee back to the United States from West Africa by chartered plane after the staff member came in contact with an international healthcare worker who later tested positive for Ebola. CDC spokesman Tom Skinner said the employee was 'feeling fine' and had been scheduled to return to the United States from West Africa anyway. The staffer's exposure was 'low-risk', the CDC said in a statement. According to the statement, the staff member worked in 'close proximity', which it defined as within three feet, and in the same room with the ill person for a prolonged period during the period that that individual had symptoms. Home: A CDC employee who came in contact with an Ebola patient, returned to the U.S. from West Africa on Wednesday. That employee has not displayed symptoms of the disease and is not believed to pose a risk to the public. Above, a photo showing the Ebola virus . The CDC transported the staff member via chartered plane because its regulations require that people who have contact with Ebola patients who travel long distances must travel by private means for 21 days after the last contact, the statement said. The provision is designed to protect other travelers in case the exposed person develops symptoms during the flight, it said. According to the World Health Organization, Ebola spreads through direct contact with blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and through indirect contact with contaminated surfaces. According to the CDC statement, the staff person is not sick with Ebola, does not show symptoms of the disease and 'poses no Ebola-related risk to friends, family, co-workers or the public'. At least 1,427 people have died and 2,615 have been infected since Ebola was detected in Guinea in March. The outbreak has killed at least 120 healthcare workers. News of the CDC worker's return comes as the director of the health organization issued a statement, warning about the dangers of the fast-spreading disease. 'It's even worse than I'd feared' CDC Director Dr Tom Frieden said on Wednesday. 'Every day this outbreak goes on, it increases the risk for another export to another country. 'The sooner the world comes together to help Liberia and West Africans, the safer we will all be.' Dr Frieden arrived in Liberia on Monday to asses the situation. Warning: News of the CDC worker's return came the same day that the health organization's director issued a statement, calling the Ebola crisis 'worse than I'd feared'. Above, CDC Director Tom Frieden in a photo taken on August 7 .
staffer's exposure was 'low-risk', the CDC said it defined as within three feet, and in the same room with the ill person for a prolonged period U.S. from West Africa on Wednesday. That employee has not displayed symptoms of the disease and is not believed to pose a risk to the public. Above, the CDC worker's return comes as the director of disease. 'It's even worse than I'd feared' CDC Director Dr Tom Frieden said on Wednesday. 'Every