The Ebola story is almost moving too fast to keep up with. The latest is that a second person is now being monitored for symptoms of Ebola infection, according to USA Today.
DALLAS — Health officials are closely monitoring a possible second Ebola patient who had close contact with the first person to be diagnosed in the U.S., the director of Dallas County’s health department said Wednesday.
All who have been in close contact with the man officially diagnosed are being monitored as a precaution, Zachary Thompson, director of Dallas County Health and Human Services, said in a morning interview with WFAA-TV, Dallas-Fort Worth.
Additionally, at least five schoolchildren who attend public schools in the Dallas Independent School District were likely exposed to the first patient.
Dallas ISD superintendent Mike Miles also revealed that five children from four of the district’s schools were possibly exposed to the virus.
Miles identified the schools as:
- Conrad High School
- Tasby Middle School
- Hotchkiss Elementary School
- Dan D. Rogers Elementary
The superintendent says the students didn’t exhibit any symptoms.
“So, the odds of them passing on any sort of virus is very low,” Miles said.
The schools have had their health staff beefed up, and the district is urging those kids to stay home.
The ambulance that the original patient, who has been identified as Thomas Eric Duncan, rode to the hospital in was used for a couple of days after his ride to enter the hospital. He was later confirmed with Ebola. That ambulance has been isolated from others and is not being used now. The EMS crew who drove Duncan to the hospital have tested negative for Ebola. They are currently restricted to their homes and are under observation.
Update: Politico reports that 18 people are being monitored for Ebola now.
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