The case of the man who had visited Liberia and was showing possible signs of Ebola at a Harvard Vanguard clinic in Braintree has gotten a lot of attention, but it isn't the first possible case of Ebola in the city.

Dr. Anita Barry, director of the Infectious Disease Bureau at the Boston Public Health Commission, says there were three to four cases over the last few months and none turned out to be Ebola.

"They were treated with appropriate personal protective equipment," she said. "Their diagnosis of what they actually had was made. They were appropriately treated and they went back to living their lives."

Barry emphasized that hospitals in Boston are prepared to handle Ebola according to CDC standards, and the city's first responders are familiar with the protective equipment they would have to wear when dealing with a possible case.

Boston Would've Handled Case Differently

Still, Barry says Boston hospitals wouldn't have handled things the same way as the clinic in Braintree.

Barry couldn't speak to the man's case, but said a hospital in Boston would not follow the same steps if a similar case presented itself.

"I have never, in my 31 years of doing this job, isolated or quarantined someone in a car," Barry said. "I can't say never say never, but I've never done it."

Barry says Boston hospitals have appropriate spaces where they can isolate or quarantine people, as well as monitor them.

Man Who Sparked Scare In "Good Condition"

Beth Israel Medical Center says the man who visited Liberia and later complained of head and body aches is in good condition.

Health officials are awaiting test results that should arrive in the next 24 hours, but in the meantime, say it's not likely the man has Ebola.

The man first arrived at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates in Braintree on Sunday afternoon. In a statement, Vanguard's chief of infectious disease, Ben Kruskal, says the patient was quickly ushered back into his own car to reduce potential exposure to others. Kruskal says no one in the building had "significant exposure" to the patient.

The man is now at Beth Israel Medical Center, where officials say he remains isolated in a special unit designed to protect both him and staff.

Discouraging Panic

Meanwhile, Boston health officials are attempting to quell fear spreading among the public. Health officials are walking a fine line­, trying to prepare for possible Ebola cases and prepare the public for potentially many more false alarms, while not encouraging panic.

Barry says people need to understand Ebola is only transmitted under certain conditions ­ and is never transmitted by air.

"This is not something that is going to come at them through the air by somebody they sat next to on the T who looked perfectly healthy but God only knows," she said. "Frankly, they're more at risk for influenza and it is time for everyone to get their flu vaccine."