This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-29453719

The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Ebola crisis: How did the virus get into the US? Ebola crisis: How did the virus get into the US?
(6 days later)
A Liberian man is the first person to be diagnosed with the deadly Ebola virus on US soil. So how did he arrive undetected and what are the risks to Americans? A Liberian man was the first person to be diagnosed with the deadly Ebola virus on US soil. How did he arrive undetected and what are the risks to Americans?
The outbreak gripping West Africa is the world's worst, killing 3,338 people so far. The outbreak gripping West Africa is the world's worst, killing more than 3,000 people so far.
There have been 7,178 confirmed cases, with Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea suffering the most. There have been more than 7,000 confirmed cases, with Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea suffering the most.
This case in the US is thought to be the first outside West Africa involving this strain of Ebola. Thomas Eric Duncan was the first case diagnosed in the US, and when he passed away on 8 October, he became the first to die in the country.
Who is the new patient in the US? Who was the US patient?
Only one person has been diagnosed with the virus while in the US. Duncan, a Liberian national, tested positive in Dallas, Texas, on 30 September, ten days after he arrived in the US to visit his former girlfriend and their 19-year-old son, a university student and American footballer.
Thomas Eric Duncan, a Liberian national, tested positive in Dallas, Texas, on 30 September.
He worked as a driver for a courier service and lived in the Paynesville 72nd Community suburb of Monrovia.He worked as a driver for a courier service and lived in the Paynesville 72nd Community suburb of Monrovia.
On 20 September, he arrived in Dallas to visit relatives and is now in a serious condition in an isolation unit at a hospital in the city. Despite aggressive treatment in hospital, including an experimental drug, he succumbed to the virus on 8 October.
Is he the first person in the US to have Ebola?Is he the first person in the US to have Ebola?
No, a small number of American aid workers who contracted the virus while abroad have recovered after flying back to the US for treatment. But Mr Duncan is the first diagnosed within the US. No, a small number of American aid workers who contracted the virus while abroad have recovered after flying back to the US for treatment. But Duncan was the first diagnosed within the US.
Three of the aid workers were colleagues at the same hospital in Liberia. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol were flown back to Atlanta for treatment, while Rick Sacra, a family doctor from Massachusetts, recovered in Nebraska.Three of the aid workers were colleagues at the same hospital in Liberia. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol were flown back to Atlanta for treatment, while Rick Sacra, a family doctor from Massachusetts, recovered in Nebraska.
Ms Writebol said resources at the hospital where they worked were insufficient to protect workers.Ms Writebol said resources at the hospital where they worked were insufficient to protect workers.
On Thursday, it also emerged that a US journalist - a writer and cameraman - had tested positive in Liberia and will be flown home by NBC News. Another American to contract Ebola, NBC cameraman Ashoka Mukpo, was transported from Liberia and is being treated at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.
Do we know how Mr Duncan was infected? Do we know how Duncan was infected?
It is believed he came into contact with Marthalene Williams, an Ebola infected woman in Liberia on 15 September, according to a report by the New York Times. It is believed he came into contact with Marthalene Williams, a young Ebola-infected woman in Liberia on 15 September, according to a report by the New York Times.
Mr Duncan is said to have helped take her to hospital, but she was later turned away due to lack of space in the Ebola treatment ward. He helped to carry her home, where she died hours later. Duncan is said to have helped take her to hospital, but she was later turned away due to lack of space in the Ebola treatment ward. He helped to carry her home, where she died hours later.
Williams's brother, Sonny Boy, also later displayed symptoms of Ebola and died en route to a local hospital.Williams's brother, Sonny Boy, also later displayed symptoms of Ebola and died en route to a local hospital.
How did an infected person come into the US undetected?How did an infected person come into the US undetected?
Mr Duncan was screened for Ebola symptoms at Roberts International Airport, located near the Liberian capital of Monrovia. He displayed no signs of the virus and was allowed to board an SN Brussels Airlines flight to Brussels, Belgium, then on to Washington Dulles and finally Dallas-Fort Worth. Duncan was screened for Ebola symptoms at Roberts International Airport, located near the Liberian capital of Monrovia. He displayed no signs of the virus and was allowed to board an SN Brussels Airlines flight to Brussels, Belgium, then on to Washington Dulles and finally Dallas-Fort Worth.
Binyah Kesselly, chairman of the board of the Liberia Airport Authority, said they had screened 10,000 passengers since July, but it would be "nearly impossible" to identify a person infected with the Ebola virus if the person were not showing symptoms.Binyah Kesselly, chairman of the board of the Liberia Airport Authority, said they had screened 10,000 passengers since July, but it would be "nearly impossible" to identify a person infected with the Ebola virus if the person were not showing symptoms.
On Thursday, Liberian officials announced they planned to prosecute Mr Duncan for lying on the airport questionnaire about his contact with Ebola-infected people.
Isolating affected countries is a move opposed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention because, they say, it could make the epidemic worse by disrupting the flow of aid.Isolating affected countries is a move opposed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention because, they say, it could make the epidemic worse by disrupting the flow of aid.
Are the passengers on his flight in danger?Are the passengers on his flight in danger?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) do not plan to monitor passengers on Mr Duncan's flights. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) do not plan to monitor passengers on Duncan's flights.
According to CDC Director Thomas Frieden, Mr Duncan was not considered infectious at that time and posed "zero risk of transmission" to those on the aircraft.According to CDC Director Thomas Frieden, Mr Duncan was not considered infectious at that time and posed "zero risk of transmission" to those on the aircraft.
But, on Thursday officials with United Airlines told US media they were in the process of contacting up to 400 passengers on Mr Duncan's flights and referring them to the CDC out of what they described as an abundance of caution.
How dangerous is Ebola anyway?How dangerous is Ebola anyway?
Ebola virus: Busting the mythsEbola virus: Busting the myths
Could it now spread in the US?Could it now spread in the US?
Health officials have expressed confidence they can contain the virus. Health officials have expressed confidence they can contain the virus, and no new patients have been diagnosed with it since Duncan.
They say it's not comparable to conditions in Africa because basic sanitation levels are so different.They say it's not comparable to conditions in Africa because basic sanitation levels are so different.
"The bottom line here is I have no doubt that we will control this importation, this case of Ebola, so it does not spread widely in this country," said Mr Frieden. "We will stop it here.""The bottom line here is I have no doubt that we will control this importation, this case of Ebola, so it does not spread widely in this country," said Mr Frieden. "We will stop it here."
But they are closely monitoring all those who may have come into contact with Mr Duncan while he was infectious. But they are closely monitoring all those who may have come into contact with Duncan while he was infectious.
The hour after America knewThe hour after America knew
Should he have been diagnosed earlier?Should he have been diagnosed earlier?
Mr Duncan sought medical attention at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital on 25 September, where hospital officials said he displayed a low grade fever and abdominal pain. Basic blood tests were performed, but he was not screened for the Ebola virus. Duncan sought medical attention at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital on 25 September, where hospital officials said he displayed a low grade fever and abdominal pain. Basic blood tests were performed, but he was not screened for the Ebola virus.
A nurse asked Mr Duncan if he had travelled from Africa, and he said he had, but that detail was not fully communicated to the medical staff, an oversight the hospital now says it "regrets". A nurse asked Duncan if he had travelled from Africa, and he said he had, but that detail was not fully communicated to the medical staff, an oversight the hospital now says it "regrets".
Mr Duncan was given antibiotics and a pain reliever and sent home, where his condition worsened, says his sister. Duncan was given antibiotics and a pain reliever and sent home, where his condition worsened, says his sister.
On 28 September, a friend of Mr Duncan's contacted the CDC for advice, and was instructed to call the Texas Department of Health, who sent an ambulance. On 28 September, a friend of Duncan's contacted the CDC for advice, and was instructed to call the Texas Department of Health, who sent an ambulance.
Are people he has been in contact with at risk?Are people he has been in contact with at risk?
There was a four-day period between Mr Duncan developing symptoms and being put in isolation in hospital. There was a four-day period between Duncan developing symptoms and being put in isolation in hospital.
So officials are identifying and monitoring all the people he came into contact with. If they show no symptoms after 21 days, they are considered to be uninfected. Officials are identifying and monitoring people with whom he came into contact. If they show no symptoms after 21 days, they are considered to be uninfected.
Up to 100 people, including five children, are being monitored after coming into contact with him, mostly at the house where he stayed. About 10 people including five children are being monitored after coming into contact with him, mostly at the house where he stayed.
According to a statement from the local school district in Dallas, Mr Duncan came into contact with five children from four different schools. According to a statement from the local school district in Dallas, Duncan came into contact with five children from four different schools.
Mr Frieden said it is possible a family member who came in direct contact with the patient may develop Ebola in the coming weeks. Mr Frieden said it was possible a family member who came in direct contact with the patient would develop Ebola in the coming weeks.