14 DAY TRIAL // This past Sunday, health officials in Dallas, Texas, announced that a nurse working at a local hospital had tested positive for Ebola. The woman, not yet identified, is believed to have contracted the virus while treating US' first Ebola patient, Thomas Eric Duncan.
As detailed by the country's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and doctors at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, 42-year-old Thomas Eric Duncan passed away in isolation on October 8.
Just a couple of days later, on Friday, the nurse started feeling feverish. She was immediately rushed to the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, and just like the 42-year-old man before her, she was put in isolation. Blood samples were collected and analyzed.
Health officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that, although it is true that the outcome of this preliminary test indicates that the woman is in fact suffering from Ebola, a second test was ordered and is now underway.
How did this woman get sick?
For the time being, specialists cannot say for sure how and why this nurse at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas contracted the deadly virus. What they are sure of is that she got it from 42-year-old Thomas Eric Duncan.
Thus, it is understood that the woman had extensive contact with the country's first Ebola patient during the time that he spent in hospital. Despite the fact that she wore protective equipment while looking after him, it appears that something went terribly wrong.
According to the current director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, evidence indicates that the nurse became sick following a breach in protocol. “At some point, there was a breach in protocol, and that breach in protocol resulted in this infection,” Dr. Tom Frieden said in a statement.
“It is certainly very concerning. It tells us that there is a need to enhance training and protocols to make sure the protocols are followed,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director went on to comment on this incident, as cited by Live Science.
What is being done?
Looking to make sure that the deadly virus does not spread any further in the US, specialists are now monitoring several dozen people who came into contact both with 42-year-old Thomas Eric Duncan and with the nurse recently found to have Ebola.
The good news is that, by the looks of it, just one other person came into contact with the nurse after she started displaying Ebola symptoms and turned contagious. Health officials maintain that the situation is well under control, and that people have nothing to worry about.
“We knew a second case could be a reality, and we've been preparing for this possibility. We are broadening our team in Dallas and working with extreme diligence to prevent further spread,” said Dr. David Lakey, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services.