Texas patient confirmed as first Ebola case diagnosed in United States

A Texas hospital said on Monday it has admitted a patient into “strict isolation” to be evaluated for possible infection with the Ebola virus, as health officials battle an epidemic in West Africa that has already killed thousands of people. Dr. Thomas Frieden, CDC director, said the man arrived from Liberia on Sept. 20, but didn’t start feeling ill until Sept. 24. The man sought medical treatment last Friday before being sent home, but later admitted to the hospital on Sunday.

We know at this time this person was not symptomatic during travel but became symptomatic once arriving here and being home for several days. So that decreases the threat that might be to the general population.

Dr. Christopher Perkins, Dallas County health department, in the Dallas Morning News

The CDC said results show the man has the deadly disease which has been linked to more than 3,000 recent deaths in Africa. According to the World Health Organization, there have been more than 6,500 cases confirmed in Africa, with Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone among the hardest hit. In past years Ebola has killed up to 90 percent of those it has infected, but officials say the death rate in the current outbreak is closer to 60 percent due to early treatment.

Health Ebola Dallas