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Dallas health-care worker tests positive for Ebola Dallas hospital worker tests positive for Ebola
(35 minutes later)
In the first apparent case of Ebola transmission in the United States, a Texas hospital worker who treated an Ebola-stricken Liberian man in Dallas has tested positive for the deadly virus. The preliminary test result was announced early Sunday morning, four days after the death of Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan; the diagnosis has not yet been confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the first apparent case of Ebola transmission in the United States, a Texas hospital worker who treated an Ebola-stricken Liberian man has tested positive for the deadly virus. The preliminary test result was announced early Sunday, four days after the death of Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan in Dallas; the diagnosis has not been confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital worker had reported “a low grade fever” on Friday, the Texas Department of State Health Services said in a statement. This person “was isolated and referred for testing.” The preliminary test result was received late Saturday. The Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital worker reported “a low-grade fever” Friday, the Texas Department of State Health Services said in a statement. This person “was isolated and referred for testing.” The preliminary test result was received late Saturday.
“We knew a second case could be a reality, and we’ve been preparing for this possibility,” Texas health commissioner David Lakey said in a statement. “We are broadening our team in Dallas and working with extreme diligence to prevent further spread.” “We knew a second case could be a reality, and we’ve been preparing for this possibility,” Texas Health Commissioner David Lakey said in a statement. “We are broadening our team in Dallas and working with extreme diligence to prevent further spread.”
Health officials have already begun the contact tracing process, identifying and checking in with anybody who made contact with the health-care worker recently. Those people “will be monitored based on the nature of their interactions and the potential they were exposed to the virus,” the state said. Health officials have already begun the contact tracing process, scrambling to identify and check in with anybody who recently made contact with the health-care worker. Those people “will be monitored based on the nature of their interactions and the potential they were exposed to the virus,” the state said.
It was unclear what role the worker had in caring for Duncan. It was unclear what role the worker had in caring for Duncan, who was the first person in the United States to be diagnosed with Ebola. 
In a statement, Texas Health Resources, which operates Texas Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, said the worker “had been under the self-monitoring regimen prescribed by the CDC, based on involvement in caring for patient Thomas Eric Duncan during his inpatient care that started on September 28.”
The worker is in isolation, in stable condition, the hospital system said.
“We have known that further cases of Ebola are a possibility among those who were in contact with Mr. Duncan before he passed away last week,” the statement said. “The system of monitoring, quarantine and isolation was established to protect those who cared for Mr. Duncan as well as the community at large by identifying any potential Ebola cases as early as possible and getting those individuals into treatment immediately.
Duncan traveled by plane from Liberia to Texas through Brussels and Dulles International Airport near Washington, though he wasn’t symptomatic at the time of his trip.
He became sick several days after arriving in Dallas and first sought treatment Sept. 25. But he was released by the hospital, despite saying that he had traveled from Liberia and that he had a fever and abdominal pain.
He was admitted to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital on Sept. 28, and the CDC confirmed Sept. 30 that he was infected with Ebola.
Ebola is only contagious if someone has symptoms. It can spread through bodily fluids or infected animals but not through the air.
The virus has killed more than 4,000 people and infected more than twice as many this year, according to the World Health Organization.
Months after the deadliest Ebola outbreak in history began ravaging West African countries, the virus has slowly begun to spread around the world.Months after the deadliest Ebola outbreak in history began ravaging West African countries, the virus has slowly begun to spread around the world.
On Monday, a Spanish sanitary technician who had treated an Ebola-stricken priest in Madrid tested positive for the virus, becoming the first case of Ebola transmission outside of Africa.On Monday, a Spanish sanitary technician who had treated an Ebola-stricken priest in Madrid tested positive for the virus, becoming the first case of Ebola transmission outside of Africa.
The nursing assistant said she may have contracted the virus while removing her protective suit. Health-care workers at her hospital are now refusing to work, out of concern that the safety conditions there are inadequate.The nursing assistant said she may have contracted the virus while removing her protective suit. Health-care workers at her hospital are now refusing to work, out of concern that the safety conditions there are inadequate.
Duncan was the first person diagnosed with Ebola in the United States. He had flown from Liberia to Texas through Brussels and Dulles International Airport near Washington, though he wasn’t symptomatic at the time of his trip. [This post has been updated.]
He became sick several days after arriving in Dallas and first sought treatment on Sept. 25, five days after he arrived in Dallas. He was released by the hospital, despite saying that he had traveled from Liberia and that he had a fever and some abdominal pain. He was admitted to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital on Sept. 28 and the CDC confirmed on Sept. 30 that he was infected with Ebola.
It remained unclear early Sunday whether the health-care worker became infected during that first visit or only after Duncan was admitted.
Ebola is only contagious if the person has symptoms, and can be spread through bodily fluids or infected animals but not through the air.
The virus has killed more than 4,000 people and infected more than twice as many this year, according to the World Health Organization.
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