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First case of Ebola diagnosed in US

October 1, 2014

Health officials have released a statement confirming that a patient infected with Ebola has been diagnosed for the first time in the US. Authorities say they believe they will be able to bring the case under control.

https://p.dw.com/p/1DNyw
USA - Ebola
Image: Reuters

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed on Tuesday that a patient infected with Ebola had been diagnosed on US soil for the first time.

CDC Director Thomas Frieden told a press conference that he was confident that there would be no major spread of the virus. Frieden said people who had contact with the patient while he could have been infectious were being identified and would be monitored for 21 days to see if they develop a fever. The patient was said to have recently traveled to Liberia.

"The bottom line here is that I have no doubt that we will control this case of Ebola so that it does not spread widely in this country," said Frieden. "It is certainly possible that someone who had contact with this individual - a family member or other individual could develop Ebola in the coming weeks, but there is no doubt in my mind that we will stop it here."

In a phone call with President Barack Obama, Frieden was reported to have discussed "stringent isolation protocols."

Sierra Leone Ebola September 2014
Authorities in West Africa, where Ebola has killed more than 3,000, have struggled to stop the spread of the virusImage: DW/Scholz/Kriesch

'This is not Africa'

Zachary Thompson, director of Dallas County Health and Human Services, said health services in Texas were well equipped to care for the patient. "This is not Africa," he told Dallas radio station WFAA. "We have a great infrastructure to deal with an outbreak."

The news came after Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital said in a statement on Monday that an unnamed patient, who had been placed in strict isolation, was being tested for the virus. Among the reasons given for the testing to take place were the individual's "symptoms and recent travel history."

The hospital said it was following all CDC recommendations to keep the doctors, staff and other patients safe.

US hospitals have treated a number of medical workers with Ebola who were flown back home after being diagnosed in West Africa.

While 12 other people in the US have been tested for the virus since July 27, results until now have always come back negative.

The United Nations, which has been accused of responding too slowly to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, has launched an emergency response mission to help stem the spread of the disease. The current outbreak, most notably affecting Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea has so far killed more the 3,000 people.

rc/lw (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)