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Ebola patient told hospital of Liberia travel but was not initially admitted Ebola patient told hospital of Liberia travel but was not initially admitted
(35 minutes later)
Health officials in Texas revealed on Wednesday that the first patient to be diagnosed with Ebola outside Africa told hospital staff on his first visit that he had recently travelled from Liberia, where the disease is prevalent, but was nevertheless sent home.Health officials in Texas revealed on Wednesday that the first patient to be diagnosed with Ebola outside Africa told hospital staff on his first visit that he had recently travelled from Liberia, where the disease is prevalent, but was nevertheless sent home.
An official at the Dallas hospital where he is being treated told a news conference that the patient told an emergency-room nurse about his travel history. But the information was not shared widely enough with the medical team treating him, and he was diagnosed as suffering from a “low-grade common viral disease”.An official at the Dallas hospital where he is being treated told a news conference that the patient told an emergency-room nurse about his travel history. But the information was not shared widely enough with the medical team treating him, and he was diagnosed as suffering from a “low-grade common viral disease”.
The man, identified on Wednesday by his family as Thomas Eric Duncan, was sent home with a course of antibiotics, an outcome that the hospital described as a matter of “regret”.The man, identified on Wednesday by his family as Thomas Eric Duncan, was sent home with a course of antibiotics, an outcome that the hospital described as a matter of “regret”.
Ebola has so far killed more than 3,000 people in west Africa since the outbreak began in March, according to the World Health Organisation. Duncan travelled from Liberia to Texas on 19 September but did not begin to show symptoms of the disease until a few days after he arrived in the US.Ebola has so far killed more than 3,000 people in west Africa since the outbreak began in March, according to the World Health Organisation. Duncan travelled from Liberia to Texas on 19 September but did not begin to show symptoms of the disease until a few days after he arrived in the US.
Only patients who are sick with or have died from Ebola can transmit the disease, and it can only be spread through direct contact with blood or bodily fluids. Duncan began developing symptoms, which can include high fever, vomiting and diarrhea, on 24 September.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Duncan’s sister, Mai Wureh, confirmed that he was sent home from Texas Health Presbyterian hospital after his first visit on 26 September. Duncan returned two days later with more serious symptoms, when he was admitted. He was described as being in a serious but stable condition on Wednesday.In an interview with the Associated Press, Duncan’s sister, Mai Wureh, confirmed that he was sent home from Texas Health Presbyterian hospital after his first visit on 26 September. Duncan returned two days later with more serious symptoms, when he was admitted. He was described as being in a serious but stable condition on Wednesday.
At the news conference, Texas governor Rick Perry said that school-age children who may have been in contact with the patient are being monitored at home for signs of the disease. Mark Lester, a senior executive at Texas Health Resources, which operates the hospital where Duncan is being treated, said medical staff used an Ebola checklist on his first visit, which included a question about travel history. “That checklist was utilised by the nurse who did ask that question,” Lester said.
Mark Lester, a senior executive at Texas Health Resources, which operates the hospital where Duncan is being treated, said medical staff used an Ebola checklist on his first visit, which included a question about travel history. “That checklist was utilised by the nurse who did ask that question,” Lester said. “That nurse was part of a care team that was a complex care team taking care of him in the emergency department. Regretfully that information was not fully communicated throughout the full team. As a result the full import of that question was not factored in to the clinical decision making.” The nurse was part of a “complex care team” in the emergency department, Lester said, adding: “Regretfully that information was not fully communicated throughout the full team. As a result the full import of that question was not factored in to the clinical decision-making.”
That failure led staff to conclude that Duncan’s symptoms were “not yet typical” for Ebola and concluded that he was suffering from a “low-grade common viral disease”.That failure led staff to conclude that Duncan’s symptoms were “not yet typical” for Ebola and concluded that he was suffering from a “low-grade common viral disease”.
Health officials have identified about 12 to 18 people who may have come into close contact with Duncan, five of whom are family members. None has yet shown any symptoms of Ebola.
At the news conference, Texas governor Rick Perry said that school-age children may have been in contact with the patient. The children had been in school this week, but have now been restricted to their homes, where they are being monitored for signs of the disease.
David Lakey, commissioner of the Texas department of state health services, attempted to reassure locals. “This is not west Africa. This is a very sophisticated city, a very sophisticated hospital and the dynamics are so significantly different than they are in west Africa that the chances of it being spread very, very, very small.”
The Associated Press reported that three members of the ambulance crew that took Duncan to hospital have tested negative for Ebola but were being restricted to their homes while their conditions are observed.The Associated Press reported that three members of the ambulance crew that took Duncan to hospital have tested negative for Ebola but were being restricted to their homes while their conditions are observed.
Duncan was vomiting when the ambulance got to the hospital, Dallas city spokeswoman Sana Syed said.Duncan was vomiting when the ambulance got to the hospital, Dallas city spokeswoman Sana Syed said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the federal public health agency, has sent a nine-member team to Texas to assist local and state officials. “If anyone develops fever, we’ll immediately isolate them to stop the chain of transmission,” said Tom Frieden, director of the CDC.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the federal public health agency, has sent a nine-member team to Texas to assist local and state officials. “If anyone develops fever, we’ll immediately isolate them to stop the chain of transmission,” said Tom Frieden, director of the CDC.