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| Ebola: Health care worker tests positive at Texas hospital | Ebola: Health care worker tests positive at Texas hospital |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A preliminary test shows a Texas health worker who treated Ebola victim Thomas Duncan before he died is also infected with the virus, US officials say. | A preliminary test shows a Texas health worker who treated Ebola victim Thomas Duncan before he died is also infected with the virus, US officials say. |
| "We knew a second case could be a reality, and we've been preparing for this possibility," said Dr David Lakey, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services. | "We knew a second case could be a reality, and we've been preparing for this possibility," said Dr David Lakey, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services. |
| Mr Duncan, who caught the virus in his native Liberia, died at a Dallas hospital on Wednesday. | Mr Duncan, who caught the virus in his native Liberia, died at a Dallas hospital on Wednesday. |
| The health worker has not been named. | The health worker has not been named. |
| The current Ebola outbreak, concentrated in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, has resulted in more than 8,300 confirmed and suspected cases, and at least 4,033 deaths. | The current Ebola outbreak, concentrated in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, has resulted in more than 8,300 confirmed and suspected cases, and at least 4,033 deaths. |
| Sent home by hospital | Sent home by hospital |
| Mr Duncan tested positive in Dallas on 30 September, 10 days after arriving on a flight from Monrovia via Brussels. | Mr Duncan tested positive in Dallas on 30 September, 10 days after arriving on a flight from Monrovia via Brussels. |
| He had become ill a few days after arriving in the US, and went to the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas with a high fever. | He had become ill a few days after arriving in the US, and went to the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas with a high fever. |
| But despite telling medical staff he had been in Liberia, he was sent home with painkillers and antibiotics. | But despite telling medical staff he had been in Liberia, he was sent home with painkillers and antibiotics. |
| Mr Duncan was later put into an isolation unit at the hospital but died despite being given an experimental drug. | Mr Duncan was later put into an isolation unit at the hospital but died despite being given an experimental drug. |
| It is not clear whether the health worker who tested positive came into contact with Mr Duncan when he first showed possible symptoms or when he was re-admitted to hospital. | It is not clear whether the health worker who tested positive came into contact with Mr Duncan when he first showed possible symptoms or when he was re-admitted to hospital. |
| The health worker reported a low-grade fever on Friday and was isolated and referred for testing, Texas health care services said in a statement. | The health worker reported a low-grade fever on Friday and was isolated and referred for testing, Texas health care services said in a statement. |
| "Health officials have interviewed the patient and are identifying any contacts or potential exposures," it added. | "Health officials have interviewed the patient and are identifying any contacts or potential exposures," it added. |
| "People who had contact with the health care worker after symptoms emerged will be monitored based on the nature of their interactions and the potential they were exposed to the virus." | "People who had contact with the health care worker after symptoms emerged will be monitored based on the nature of their interactions and the potential they were exposed to the virus." |
| Some 50 people who had direct or indirect contact with Mr Duncan are reportedly already being monitored in case they develop symptoms. | |
| Screening | Screening |
| More tests on the US health care worker are being carried out at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. If Ebola is confirmed, it would be the first time the infection is known to have spread within the US. | More tests on the US health care worker are being carried out at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. If Ebola is confirmed, it would be the first time the infection is known to have spread within the US. |
| A nurse in Spain contracted the haemorrhagic fever while caring for patients who came from West Africa. | A nurse in Spain contracted the haemorrhagic fever while caring for patients who came from West Africa. |
| The arrival of Ebola in Texas prompted the US authorities to introduce screening of passengers from affected countries at airports, starting on Saturday at New York's JFK. | The arrival of Ebola in Texas prompted the US authorities to introduce screening of passengers from affected countries at airports, starting on Saturday at New York's JFK. |
| Passengers from those countries will have their temperatures taken and have to answer a series of questions. | Passengers from those countries will have their temperatures taken and have to answer a series of questions. |
| With the numbers of those affected continuing to rise in West Africa, the UN special envoy on Ebola says he hopes that the outbreak can be brought under control within three months. | With the numbers of those affected continuing to rise in West Africa, the UN special envoy on Ebola says he hopes that the outbreak can be brought under control within three months. |
| David Nabarro told the BBC the number of Ebola cases was currently increasing exponentially, but greater awareness would help contain the virus. | David Nabarro told the BBC the number of Ebola cases was currently increasing exponentially, but greater awareness would help contain the virus. |
| "I think we've got much better community involvement [now] which leads me to believe that getting it under control within the next three months is a reasonable target," he said. | "I think we've got much better community involvement [now] which leads me to believe that getting it under control within the next three months is a reasonable target," he said. |
| Mr Nabarro described the accelerating increase of new cases as "quite frightening". | Mr Nabarro described the accelerating increase of new cases as "quite frightening". |
| Ebola deaths: Confirmed, probable and suspected | Ebola deaths: Confirmed, probable and suspected |
| Source: WHO | Source: WHO |
| Note: figures have occasionally been revised down as suspected or probable cases are found to be unrelated to Ebola. They do not include one death in the US recorded on 8 October. | Note: figures have occasionally been revised down as suspected or probable cases are found to be unrelated to Ebola. They do not include one death in the US recorded on 8 October. |
| How not to catch Ebola: | How not to catch Ebola: |
| Why Ebola is so dangerous | Why Ebola is so dangerous |
| How Ebola attacks | How Ebola attacks |
| Ebola: Mapping the outbreak | Ebola: Mapping the outbreak |
| Have you been affected by the Ebola outbreak? Do you think enough is being done where you live to fight the disease? Tell us your story. You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you been affected by the Ebola outbreak? Do you think enough is being done where you live to fight the disease? Tell us your story. You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Have your say | Have your say |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international). Or you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international). Or you can upload here. |
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