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Ebola crisis: US patient's flat cleaned by specialists Ebola crisis: Family moved out of Texas Ebola flat
(about 4 hours later)
A cleaning crew has begun sanitising the flat in Dallas, Texas, where a man stricken with Ebola spent several days before being taken to hospital. The occupants of a flat in Texas where a man lay sick for days with Ebola have been moved from their home.
The private hazardous materials contractors were expected to spend about three hours there. Thomas Duncan, who caught the virus in his native Liberia, is now in a serious condition in hospital. This is the only Ebola case recorded so far in the US.
Thomas Duncan, who caught the disease in his native Liberia, was the first person diagnosed with Ebola on US soil. The flat in Dallas where he lived before being isolated is being cleaned by hazardous materials specialists.
Up to 10 people who had contact with him are at high risk of contracting the disease, Texas health officials said. The four people living there have been moved to a private home offered by a volunteer.
Quarantine order Louise Troh, thought to be Mr Duncan's girlfriend, her 13-year-old son and two nephews have spent days inside the flat under the orders of health officials.
Mr Duncan's diagnosis was confirmed on 30 September, 10 days after he arrived in the US to visit relatives. The family was driven away from the home in a police car, after officials failed to find shelter for them.
He is in a serious condition in hospital. Hotels, flats and others had refused to offer them accommodation, before a private residence was offered.
Mr Duncan, a courier driver, is believed to have taken a sick patient to a clinic in Liberia. Authorities there have accused him of lying on an Ebola questionnaire prior to leaving the country and say they plan to prosecute him upon his return. "No one wants this family,'' said Sana Syed, a Dallas city spokeswoman.
In Texas, members of Mr Duncan's family were led by authorities to an unknown location as the apartment underwent cleaning. More than 3,431 people have died in four West African countries in what has become the world's worst ever Ebola outbreak.
They had earlier been ordered not to receive any visitors at the apartment until 19 October.
Health officials, including workers with the American Red Cross, had delivered food and other supplies to the quarantined residents. On Wednesday, workers scrubbed the car park outside the apartment with high-pressure water and bleach.
Separately, an American freelance cameraman working in Liberia for NBC News - identified as Ashoka Mukpo, 33 - has tested positive for the disease and is to be flown home to the US for treatment.
And on Friday, Howard University hospital in Washington DC said a patient had come in with symptoms "associated with Ebola" and was in isolation while he was tested for the disease. He had recently travelled from Nigeria.
More than 3,431 people have died in four West African countries in what has become the world's worst outbreak.
Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm John Kirby said the US could deploy as many as 4,000 troops to West Africa to help contain the outbreak.Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm John Kirby said the US could deploy as many as 4,000 troops to West Africa to help contain the outbreak.
Senior officials in the US government are holding a news conference at 15:30 Washington time (19:30 GMT) to discuss the US government response. Although Mr Duncan is the first person to be diagnosed within the US, four Americans have contracted the virus in Liberia.
Three aid workers have recovered after flying back to the US for treatment but a fourth, photojournalist Ashoka Mukpo, 33, is expected to be flown home over the weekend.
Mr Duncan's diagnosis was confirmed on Tuesday, 10 days after he arrived in the US to visit relatives and friends.
As well as the four who shared his flat, another six people who had contact with Mr Duncan have been identified by Texas health officials as higher risk.
Mr Duncan, a courier driver, is believed to have taken a sick patient to a clinic in Liberia.
Authorities there have accused him of lying on an Ebola questionnaire prior to leaving the country and say they plan to prosecute him upon his return.
On Friday, Howard University hospital in Washington DC said a patient had come in with symptoms "associated with Ebola".
He was being kept in isolation while he was tested for the disease. He had recently travelled from Nigeria.
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