DALLAS, TX – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed Tuesday the first case of Ebola to be diagnosed in the United States.
The unnamed man has recently traveled from Liberia and sought medical care at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas September 26.
Health officials say he did not have symptoms on the flight.After developing symptoms consistent with Ebola, he was admitted to the hospital September 28.
“Ebola can be scary. But there’s all the difference in the world between the U.S. and parts of Africa where Ebola is spreading. The United States has a strong health care system and public health professionals who will make sure this case does not threaten our communities,” said CDC Director, Dr. Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H.
“While it is not impossible that there could be additional cases associated with this patient in the coming weeks, I have no doubt that we will contain this.”
Since Ebola is contagious only if the person is experiencing active symptoms, health officials do not recommend people on the same commercial airline flights undergo monitoring.
Anyone concerned about possible exposure may call CDC-Info at 800-CDC-INFO for more information.
The CDC said in a release that medical and public health professionals across the nation have been preparing to respond. The agency has been anticipating a case of Ebola in the United States and prepare to stop further spread through “thorough case finding, isolation of ill people, contacting people exposed to the ill person, and further isolation of contacts if they develop symptoms.”
Indiana native Dr. Kent Brantly contracted the virus while working in West Africa. He was eventually taken to the United States and was released from the hospital after doctors declared him cured.
