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The CDC has confirmed the first Ebola case to be diagnosed in the U.S. Of course, the details of the diagnosis are of particular concern to nurses on the first line of defense against the deadly virus.
The patient had travelled from Liberia, but had no symptoms when leaving West Africa or when he arrived in Dallas. So far unidentified, the patient developed symptoms five days after arriving in the U.S. He currently is in “strict isolation” at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, according to MSNBC.
This brings about concerns not only for the patient but also anyone he came into contact with during the days between arriving in the U.S. and being placed in isolation.
However, CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H., issued a statement saying the U.S. is prepared to prevent the spread of the virus.
“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,” Frieden said. “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.”
Frieden also said that everyone the person has come into contact with is currently being monitored for 21 days.
“We are currently evaluating 12-18 people that the patient confirmed to have the Ebola virus was in contact with,” he said, according to ABC.
Texas Governor Rick Perry said that some of those people that came into contact with the Ebola patient are school-aged children, and that those also are being carefully monitored.
“Let me assure you, these children have been identified and are being monitored,” said Perry. “This is all hands on deck.”
Nurses, are you taking any precautions at home or on the job in light of this news?
