First Ebola case diagnosed in North America

(Updated)

The latest from a Texas hospital — where officials say a patient in a Dallas hospital has the first case of Ebola to be diagnosed in the United States.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the patient — who is now in isolation — arrived in the U.S. from Liberia 10 days ago. Tonight there is growing concern in Dallas that the deadly disease could spread. But the CDC’s director says he’s confident staff will be able to keep it under control.

It’s here at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas where the unidentified patient is now being treated.

Dr. Thomas Frieden, CDC Director: “We received in our laboratory today specimens from the individual. Tested them and they tested positive for Ebola.”

The patient arrived in the U.S. on September 20th from Liberia. But didn’t show signs of any symptoms for four days — it wasn’t until the 26th that they sought medical attention.

Dr. Frieden: “And Sunday, the 28th of September was admitted to a hospital in Texas and was placed on isolation.”

Health officials didn’t say how many others may have been exposed, but say they are tracing the patient’s contacts.

Dr. Frieden: “I have no doubt that we will control this importation or this case of Ebola so that is does not spread widely in this country.”

But that seems to offer little relief for locals. Giselle Phelps of St. Catharines is a freelance journalist living in Dallas. She says many people in the conservative state are now saying the U.S. government may have been slow in its efforts to fight the spread of Ebola as the epidemic grew in West Africa: “Because it was kind of viewed in the public as something that was happening over there and now here. So I think now that it’s here in our own backyard there’s just that heightened concerned amongst the general public.”

A concern that was felt close to home in 2001 when media from across North America descended on Hamilton’s Henderson Hospital — now Juravinski — over speculation a female who had arrived from the Congo contracted Ebola. The difference is, in 2001, test results provided comfort.

Dr, Mark Loeb, Henderson Hospital, 2001: “The Ebola testing is negative.”

Where 13 years later in Texas, there is now real concern over how Ebola could have spread to American soil.

Phelps says there are already calls from the public and politicians for better screening processes. Health officials say Ebola does not spread easily from person to person. It requires direct contact with a person with symptoms. Three Americans who were diagnosed in West Africa have survived the disease after getting intensive care in the U.S.
The World Health Organization says more than 3,000 deaths have been linked to Ebola.