Health experts in the US are observing more than 15 people, including children,
who had contact with the first person to be diagnosed with the deadly
Ebola virus in the United States, officials said on Wednesday.
It was confirmed that a man who flew to Texas from Liberia later fell ill with the hemorrhagic fever which prompted U.S. health officials to take steps to contain the virus, which has killed at least 3,338 people in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, the World Health Organization said.
The patient was evaluated initially last Friday and sent home from Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital with antibiotics, a critical missed opportunity that could result in others being exposed to the virus, infectious disease experts said.
The man was admitted to the same hospital on Sunday, where he was in serious condition, a spokeswoman said.
The hospital cited the man's privacy as the reason for not identifying him, but the Associated Press gave his name as Thomas Eric Duncan.
Five Dallas-area students were being monitored for possible exposure to Ebola after coming into contact with the man over the weekend, Dallas officials said.
A Dallas County health official said 12-18 people were being monitored because of possible contact with the patient.
It was confirmed that a man who flew to Texas from Liberia later fell ill with the hemorrhagic fever which prompted U.S. health officials to take steps to contain the virus, which has killed at least 3,338 people in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, the World Health Organization said.
The patient was evaluated initially last Friday and sent home from Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital with antibiotics, a critical missed opportunity that could result in others being exposed to the virus, infectious disease experts said.
The man was admitted to the same hospital on Sunday, where he was in serious condition, a spokeswoman said.
The hospital cited the man's privacy as the reason for not identifying him, but the Associated Press gave his name as Thomas Eric Duncan.
Five Dallas-area students were being monitored for possible exposure to Ebola after coming into contact with the man over the weekend, Dallas officials said.
A Dallas County health official said 12-18 people were being monitored because of possible contact with the patient.
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