This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.washingtonpost.com/a-dallas-hospital-is-evaluating-a-patient-for-possible-ebola/2014/09/30/511d2609-b3b9-4089-b3f3-10d3a18b7303_story.html?wprss=rss_homepage

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
CDC confirms first case of Ebola in the U.S. CDC confirms first case of Ebola in the U.S.
(35 minutes later)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed the first case of Ebola that's been diagnosed in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed on Tuesday the first case of Ebola diagnosed in the United States.
"An individual traveling from Liberia has been diagnosed with Ebola in the United States," Thomas Frieden, director of the CDC, said in a conference call Tuesday afternoon. "An individual traveling from Liberia has been diagnosed with Ebola in the United States," Thomas Frieden, director of the CDC, said in a news conference Tuesday afternoon.
State and federal health officials announcing the confirmed case repeatedly stressed the difficulties of contracting Ebola, which can be spread through bodily fluids or infected animals but not through the air or by water.State and federal health officials announcing the confirmed case repeatedly stressed the difficulties of contracting Ebola, which can be spread through bodily fluids or infected animals but not through the air or by water.
This person who is infected left Liberia on Sept. 19 and arrived in the U.S. the following day with no symptoms. They began showing symptoms four days after arriving in the U.S. This person who is infected left Liberia on Sept. 19 and arrived in the U.S. the following day to visit family in this country. The person, who was not identified, had no symptoms at the time and began showing symptoms about four days after arriving in the U.S.
"The bottom line here is that I have no doubt that we will control this importation, or this case of Ebola, so that it does not spread widely in this country," he said. "It is certainly possible that someone who had contact with this individual could develop Ebola in the coming weeks. But there is no doubt in my mind that we will stop it here.""The bottom line here is that I have no doubt that we will control this importation, or this case of Ebola, so that it does not spread widely in this country," he said. "It is certainly possible that someone who had contact with this individual could develop Ebola in the coming weeks. But there is no doubt in my mind that we will stop it here."
The patient with Ebola, who was not identified, is being treated in intensive care, according to Edward Goodman, the hospital epidemiologist at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas This is the first time Ebola has been diagnosed in the U.S. and the first time someone was diagnosed with this particular strain outside of Africa, he said. Still, health officials expressed optimism going forward.
"We're stopping it in its tracks in this country," Frieden said.
The patient with Ebola is being treated in intensive care, according to Edward Goodman, the hospital epidemiologist at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas
The man sought medical care on Sept. 26, but was sent home. He was admitted to the hospital two days later and placed into isolation.
Health officials are going to work to identify everyone who may have been exposed to this patient, Frieden said. This group, described as a "handful" of people by Frieden, will be watched for three weeks to see if any symptoms emerge.Health officials are going to work to identify everyone who may have been exposed to this patient, Frieden said. This group, described as a "handful" of people by Frieden, will be watched for three weeks to see if any symptoms emerge.
"Remember, Ebola does not spread from someone who's not infectious," Frieden said. "It does not spread from someone who does not have a fever or other symptoms." People who traveled on the flight with this man are not in danger because the patient was not symptomatic at the time. Frieden said the man's temperature was checked before departing on the plane.
"There is zero risk of transmission on the flight," Frieden said.
Frieden declined to say if the person with Ebola is a U.S. citizen. This man was visiting and staying with family members, he said. He is not believed to have been involved in the Ebola response, Frieden said.
"Remember, Ebola does not spread from someone who's not infectious," said Frieden, who has visited the West African region ravaged by Ebola. "It does not spread from someone who does not have a fever or other symptoms."
David Lakey, head of the Texas Department of Health Services, said the state's laboratory in Austin, Tex., was certified last month to do Ebola testing. That laboratory received a blood sample from the patient on Tuesday morning and confirmed it was Ebola shortly after 1 p.m., he said.David Lakey, head of the Texas Department of Health Services, said the state's laboratory in Austin, Tex., was certified last month to do Ebola testing. That laboratory received a blood sample from the patient on Tuesday morning and confirmed it was Ebola shortly after 1 p.m., he said.
The Texas Department of Health Services said that the patient is at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.The Texas Department of Health Services said that the patient is at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.
The test, the Texas health department said, was conducted at the state public health laboratory in Austin and later confirmed by the CDC.The test, the Texas health department said, was conducted at the state public health laboratory in Austin and later confirmed by the CDC.
In the statement, the health department said:In the statement, the health department said:
The CDC recommends that individuals protect themselves by avoiding contact with the blood and body fluids of people who are ill with Ebola. DSHS also encourages health care providers to ask patients about recent travel and consider Ebola in patients with fever and a history of travel to Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, and some parts of Nigeria within 21 days of the onset of symptoms.The CDC recommends that individuals protect themselves by avoiding contact with the blood and body fluids of people who are ill with Ebola. DSHS also encourages health care providers to ask patients about recent travel and consider Ebola in patients with fever and a history of travel to Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, and some parts of Nigeria within 21 days of the onset of symptoms.
The CDC recommends that individuals protect themselves by avoiding contact with the blood and body fluids of people who are ill with Ebola. DSHS also encourages health care providers to ask patients about recent travel and consider Ebola in patients with fever and a history of travel to Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, and some parts of Nigeria within 21 days of the onset of symptoms.The CDC recommends that individuals protect themselves by avoiding contact with the blood and body fluids of people who are ill with Ebola. DSHS also encourages health care providers to ask patients about recent travel and consider Ebola in patients with fever and a history of travel to Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, and some parts of Nigeria within 21 days of the onset of symptoms.
The deadliest Ebola outbreak in history is centered in the West African countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, where it has killed more than 3,000 people and infected thousands of others. There is a separate outbreak in Congo.The deadliest Ebola outbreak in history is centered in the West African countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, where it has killed more than 3,000 people and infected thousands of others. There is a separate outbreak in Congo.
No Ebola cases had been confirmed in the United States previously, although several American doctors and aid workers who were infected in West Africa have returned home for treatment. One of them, Richard Sacra, was discharged last week from a Nebraska hospital.No Ebola cases had been confirmed in the United States previously, although several American doctors and aid workers who were infected in West Africa have returned home for treatment. One of them, Richard Sacra, was discharged last week from a Nebraska hospital.
Days later, the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda admitted an American physician who was exposed to the Ebola virus in Sierra Leone.Days later, the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda admitted an American physician who was exposed to the Ebola virus in Sierra Leone.
Possible Ebola patients who were tested in New York, California, New Mexico and Miami all tested negative for the virus.Possible Ebola patients who were tested in New York, California, New Mexico and Miami all tested negative for the virus.
Here is a video showing how the Ebola virus works. Here is a video showing how the Ebola virus works:
And here is more on the spread:And here is more on the spread:
Sarah Larimer, Todd C. Frankel and Brady Dennis contributed to this report.
[This post has been updated multiple times.]
* * *
View Photo Gallery —As the overall death toll rises to more than 2,800, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the virus could potentially infect 1.4 million people in Liberia and Sierra Leone by the end of January.