And then there were two. CNN reports that there is a second Ebola case at Texas Presbyterian in Dallas.
(CNN) — A second health care worker at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital who cared for Thomas Eric Duncan has tested positive for Ebola, health officials said Wednesday, casting further doubt on the hospital’s ability to handle Ebola and protect employees.
The worker reported a fever Tuesday and was immediately isolated, health department spokeswoman Carrie Williams said.
A preliminary Ebola test was done late Tuesday at the state public health laboratory in Austin, and the results came back around midnight. A second test will be conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
“Health officials have interviewed the latest patient to quickly identify any contacts or potential exposures, and those people will be monitored,” the health department said.
As of yesterday, the CDC said that it was monitoring about 125 people who had come into contact with the first patient and/or Nina Pham, the second patient. Many of those are now nearing the end of the Ebola incubation period without showing symptoms, which is obviously good news. Now that we have a new patient, the number of people who are being monitored for signs of Ebola will likely grow again. Additionally, if what we heard from Betsy McCaughey yesterday is accurate, the strains on Texas Presbyterian’s ICU just increased again.
Update: The nurse has been identified, as has her recent travel by air. Her name is Amber Joy Vinson. She is 26 years old.
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – The CDC has announced that the second healthcare worker diagnosed with Ebola traveled by air Oct. 13, the day before she first reported symptoms.
The CDC is now reaching out to all passengers who flew on Frontier Airlines flight 1143 Cleveland to Dallas/Fort Worth. The flight landed at 8:16 p.m. CT.
The CDC is asking all 132 passengers on the flight to call 1 800-CDC INFO (1 800 232-4636). Public health professionals will begin interviewing passengers about the flight after 1 p.m. ET.
More: Nurses Union: There Was No Ebola Protocol; Duncan Left in ER for Hours
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