Ebola Suspected in Dallas Tx

Fauci stating that a couple cases in the U.S. should be expected.   

If it does turn out pos, we could expect more to probably pop up worldwide at approximately the same time. One suspected case should put all countries on alert. They don't want to fall behind during an initial outbreak

It is almost noon CST, if the CDC is mobilizing and going to Dallas, one would have to assume they already have the results.

It is not like they get test results back and a white coat lab tech goes running out on the street to announce the results...we can assume the first positive stateside case would be immediately followed by a planned press conference

I agree.  In all the other suspected cases they didn't hop on a plane.  YIKES!

This is all reasons why we will have outbreaks here that go beyond just a couple people, when it happens. Two think an isolated case or two is fairly optimistic.

Not sounding good.... CDC hopping on a plane to Dallas, already starting contact tracing, and more "detail that will be communicated out to the public" later today.    Certainly a different feel than all the other "not Ebola" patients.

By Judy Wiley

Star-Telegram

The Texas public health lab in Austin is testing a specimen from a Dallas patient for Ebola, and hopes to have results later Tuesday afternoon, a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of State Health Services said.

Carrie Williams, director of media relations, said in an emailed update, “At this point, all precautions are being taken as if this was an Ebola case.”

Erikka Neroes, public information officer for Dallas County, said the county will release the results for the patient at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, whether they are positive or negative.

She said she could not confirm that a team from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control is coming to Dallas, but confirmed that a team is mobilizing. Williams said the CDC also is conducting testing for Ebola.

The patient came to the hospital on his or her own, according to Dallas County Health Director Zachary Thomas. He said in an interview with media partner WFAA that the patient had traveled to Africa.

In the current outbreak — the world’s largest ever, which began in West Africa — Ebola is fatal about 50 percent of the time. It has killed more than 3,000 people.

David Magana, spokesman at DFW Airport, said the county, the CDC and other public health agencies look into travel routes, adding, “We take our lead from the health agencies” with respect to any kind of screening.

Dallas-Fort Worth Airport has no direct flights to and from Africa, so if the patient were flying, he or she would have had to make a connection elsewhere.

Williams’ email says the state and local health departments are coordinating with the CDC.


Tarrant County monitoring

The Tarrant County Public Health Department is monitoring the situation closely, a spokeswoman said.

“In any of these scenarios, we are ears up. We are listening. We are making phone calls to get the best information we can,” said Kelly Hanes, Tarrant County Public Health spokesman. “We are not passively sitting here by any means.”

Hanes added that the patient in Dallas is “in the best place they can be, for their safety and our safety as well.”

The patient, who has not been identified, is being kept in strict isolation at the hospital, according to a statement released Monday by the hospital.

The statement says officials at Texas Presbyterian are following CDC recommendations to keep doctors, staff and patients safe.

Ebola has killed more than 3,000 people across West Africa and infected a handful of Americans who have traveled to that region, including Dr. Kent Brantly, who did his residency at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth. Brantly, who survived, was doing missionary work in Liberia when he was infected.

The National Institutes of Health recently admitted an American doctor exposed to the virus while volunteering in Sierra Leone. Four other patients have been treated at hospitals in Georgia and Nebraska.

Star-Telegram reporters Monica Nagy, Susan Schrock and Andrea Ahles contributed to this report.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/09/30/6162320/cdc-team-mobilizing-to-come-to.html#storylink=cpy

Before they announce the first positive in the USA (if it is positive) they will set up damage control first, send out communications, and prep those who need to know (city-state etc;) so they can appropriately respond to the ensuing media rush.

woow... i also think this will be the news of the day, we probably waited for a month now, and always hoped we were wrong... USA i really hope for your best and that the test turns out negative... anz of us here is near that place? just asking...

Oh no...not good at all

We're going to have simultaneous outbreaks. It was my thought with regard to containing it. If we lose containment, we go to defcon 5

No longer suspected, actually confirmed.

mwseatx wrote: Sorry, I see someone else already has noted that it has been confirmed.

Don't worry mwseatx,  double posting is the norm.  It is unavoidable when people are excited and we would rather have the news twice than not at all.

Albert wrote: I was going to mention earlier as tests were pending, it dawned on me that no reports whatsoever from WHO, CDC, all media, no news, was coming out of W Africa.  Something else had their attention.  I would have mentioned that early, but had to eat a tuna melt with some old guy at the bar at lunch.  Lucky for us that they're all 3 days ahead.

Lol. I was following my dad in a Walmart handy cart trying to copy paste and post the first news out but got a ticket for texting while driving and waterboy beat me to it by seconds. Yeah I actually did get griped at for texting while maneuvering through a crowded Walmart in an electric cart. My dads cart had a low battery so I got him a spare.

Roger that one oneflu.

Elver, I would say the person probably infected a couple others and we're probably dealing with a possible small isolated outbreak.   Probably a long ride from family members at home along with the folk in ambulance.

" One way to check is see when flight was booked, was it a long planned journey to see relatives, flights booked over 3 weeks ago etc. However if it was recent or last minute booking, then I would er on side of contact and trace passengers that used toilet, and in seats close by. By just taking word of patient they may leave a possible contamination train to speed away."

Hazelpad, from the way the news stories here are presenting this, the person has family both in the U.S and Liberia, it appears to be a long-planned journey, and the various agencies involved in this have tracked down most of the contacts. The persons family is also under watch.

Just remember what is on the 1st page of the Hitch Hiker's guide to the Galaxy in big letters: DON'T PANIC!

Also good that he was visitor and not resident which cuts out work contacts, ie imagine they worked at a McDonalds, or was a doctor/dentist, or a hairdresser.

mamabear4 wrote: Hopefully they ground the plane and clean it properly. How long will it be on surfaces?

I've read that Ebola can survive on surfaces 7 to 10 days, but I'm not sure that they know this for sure. It seems to be speculation.

Does anyone have any credible information about how long it survives on surfaces?

He took an ambulance to the hospital the second time?
Assuming the relatives have some brains, and do not live under a rock, do you think they would have offered a drive the first time?
Or would they have called a cab?

Personally, I wouldn't put a driver and his future fares at risk... but I'm fairly certain some others would.

Elver,

They're betting the farm on zero transmission before symptoms.

Problem is often the first symptoms are headache and sore throat. Who would know aside from the patient?

Albert wrote: Which airport/country are the flights coming from in Africa?

There are 3 major U.S. airlines that carry people out of W. Africa into at least a dozen airports. Delta was the largest carrier, but they said they weren't going to transport anyone after the end of August. The other two are United & I think Continental. Many flights go via Air France; W. Africa, to France, to the U.S.

Delta is still a connecting airline.

If they don't stop air travel, then it is only a matter of time before we have patient 2, 3, 5, or 1,000! It really is that simple.