The first Ebola-infected patient to be diagnosed in the United States has been hospitalized in Texas, Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, announced September 30.
The infection was confirmed in a patient who had traveled from Liberia to visit relatives in Texas. The patient traveled from Africa on the 19th, arrived in the United States on the 20th, developed symptoms on the 24th, sought care on the 26th, and was admitted on the 28th to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, Dallas. The results of a PCR test confirmed infection with ebolavirus Zaire on the September 30.
Given this progression of infection, none of the passengers traveling on the flight with the patient are at risk for infection, Dr. Frieden emphasized during the teleconference. All contacts with the patient have been identified and will be monitored for 21 days after exposure. “I have no doubt that we will control this case ... and that it will not spread widely. We will stop it here,” he said.
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The first patient diagnosed in the U.S. with the ebola virus is now hospitalized in Texas.
The CDC is working with a broad global coalition, and “we are invested in assuring this disease is controlled in Africa,” he added.
Dr. David Lakey of the Texas Department of State Health Services noted that there are no other suspected cases at this time related to the infected patient. “We are committed to keeping Texas safe. We’re working through this case together.”
Dr. Edward Goodman of the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, Dallas, noted that the hospital “has a robust infection control system. We’ve had a plan in place for some time now” for dealing with infection requiring isolation.
“Ironically, we had a staff meeting a week before to discuss this scenario and as a result we were well prepared to deal with this crisis,” he added.
Zachary Thompson, director of Dallas County Health and Human Services, said that contact investigation is underway based on the patient’s travel history and close contacts.
Dr. Frieden deflected questions about the patient’s flights. Ebola is spread only by direct contact, he reiterated, and the patient was incubated with the disease but was not infectious at the time of travel. “Remember, Ebola doesn’t spread until someone gets sick, so we do not believe anyone on that plane is at risk at this time.”
People traveling from epidemic areas are being screened for fever before allowed on planes, he said. But as long as there continue to be cases in Africa, there is risk of spread beyond those countries.
“We are protecting people by making sure we find the contacts (who were exposed at the time of active infection) and by tracing those direct contacts, as well as their contacts, for 21 days.”
Because the initial symptoms of Ebola are nonspecific (fever, muscle pain, weakness, diarrhea/vomiting, hemorrhage/bruising), physicians and emergency physicians in particular should ask about the patient’s history of travel in the last 21 days, he said.
While not revealing any identifying information, Dr. Frieden said that the patient, who is critically ill, was not involved in the medical response to the Ebola epidemic. Virtually any hospital in this country that can do isolation can care for patients infected with Ebola.
A CDC team is en route to Texas to identify all possible contacts and monitor them for 21 days, including people who may have been exposed to the patient during the 2-day span between the time he initially sought treatment and the time he was admitted. The patient was staying with family members at the time he became ill. “We are erring on the side of safety ... even monitoring those who might not have been in direct contact,” Dr. Frieden said.
“This is a tried and true protocol. I have no doubt that we will stop this case in its tracks in the US.”