FIRST EBOLA CASE DIAGNOSED IN THE US
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) confirmed today, through laboratory tests, the first case of Ebola to be
diagnosed in the United States in a person who had traveled to Dallas, Texas
from Liberia. The patient did not have symptoms when leaving West Africa, but
developed symptoms approximately four days after arriving in the U.S. on Sept.
20.
The person fell ill on
Sept. 24 and sought medical care at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of
Dallas on Sept. 26. After developing symptoms consistent with Ebola, he was
admitted to hospital on Sept. 28. Based on the person's travel history and
symptoms, CDC recommended testing for Ebola. The medical facility isolated the
patient and sent specimens for testing at CDC and at a Texas lab participating
in the CDC's Laboratory Response Network. CDC and the Texas Health Department
reported the laboratory test results to the medical center to inform the
patient. Local public health officials have begun identifying close contacts of
the person for further daily monitoring for 21 days after exposure. A CDC team
was dispatched to Dallas this morning.
"Ebola can be
scary. But there's all the difference in the world between the U.S. and parts
of Africa where Ebola is spreading. The United States has a strong health care
system and public health professionals who will make sure this case does not
threaten our communities," said CDC Director, Dr. Tom Frieden, M.D.,
M.P.H. "While it is not impossible that there could be additional cases
associated with this patient in the coming weeks, I have no doubt that we will
contain this."
The ill person did not
exhibit symptoms of Ebola during the flights from West Africa and CDC does not
recommend that people on the same commercial airline flights undergo
monitoring, as Ebola is only contagious if the person is experiencing active
symptoms. The person reported developing symptoms several days after the return
flight. Anyone concerned about possible exposure may call CDC-Info at
800-CDC-INFO for more information.
CDC recognizes that
even a single case of Ebola diagnosed in the United States raises concerns.
Knowing the possibility exists, medical and public health professionals across
the country have been preparing to respond. CDC and public health officials in
Texas are taking precautions to identify people who have had close personal
contact with the ill person and health care professionals have been reminded to
use meticulous infection control at all times.
We do know how to stop
Ebola's further spread: thorough case finding, isolation of ill people,
contacting people exposed to the ill person, and further isolation of contacts
if they develop symptoms. The U.S. public health and medical systems have had
prior experience with sporadic cases of diseases such as Ebola. In the past
decade, the United States had 5 imported cases of Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF)
diseases similar to Ebola (1 Marburg, 4 Lassa). None resulted in any
transmission in the U.S.
CDC has been
anticipating and preparing for a case of Ebola in the United States. We have
been:
Enhancing surveillance and laboratory testing capacity in states
to detect cases
Developing guidance and tools for health departments to conduct
public health investigations
Providing recommendations for healthcare infection control and
other measures to prevent disease spread
Providing guidance for flight crews, Emergency Medical Services
units at airports, and Customs and Border Protection officers about reporting
ill travelers to CDC
Disseminating up-to-date information to the general public,
international travelers, and public health partners
The data health
officials have seen in the past few decades since Ebola was discovered
indicates that it is not spread through casual contact or through the air.
Ebola is spread through direct contact with bodily fluids of a sick person or
exposure to objects such as needles that have been contaminated. The illness
has an average 8-10 day incubation period (although it ranges from 2 to 21
days); CDC recommends monitoring exposed people for symptoms a complete 21
days. People are not contagious after exposure unless they develop symptoms.
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