CDC says others could possibly be infected

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It's 'Not Impossible' Others in US Could Contract Ebola, CDC Head Says

Oct 1, 2014, 10:08 AM ET

By ABC NEWS via Good Morning America

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PHOTO: A police car drives past the entrance to the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas 

CDC Director: We Will Identify Those Who Might Have Been Exposed, Monitor Them

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The country's top medical official who has vowed to stop Ebola "in its tracks" in the U.S., conceded today that it's "not impossible" that others will contract the disease. 

Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said an extensive tracking process is underway in the wake of the first Ebola diagnosis in the United States, with special focus on the patient’s family and health staff. 

“We have a seven-person team in Dallas working with the local health department and the hospital, and we will be identifying everyone who may have come in contact with him and then monitoring them for 21 days,” Frieden said. 

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The city of Dallas, which has activated its Emergency Operations Center on "Level 2: High Readiness," said, "We are currently evaluating 12-18 people that the patient confirmed to have the Ebola virus was in contact with." 

In addition, the three ambulance crew members that brought the patient to the hospital were tested for Ebola. The tests were negative, but the crew members were sent home and will be monitored for the next three weeks, the city said in a statement. 

Frieden believes the disease will be “stopped in its tracks” in this country. 

The unidentified man’s safety, along with the well-being of the medical people treating him, is a primary focus, Frieden said. 

“What we need to do first in this particular instance is do everything possible to help this individual who’s really fighting for their life, and then make sure that we’re doing that, that we don’t have other people exposed in the hospital, identify all those contacts and monitor them for 21 days. It’s not impossible that one or two of them would develop symptoms and then they would need to be isolated,” he said. 

Frieden said he’s confident that passengers who flew on the same plane as the patient did not contract the disease. 

“That was four or five days before he had his first symptoms and with Ebola, you’re not contagious until you have symptoms,” he said. 

Although American Ebola patients have been treated in the United States prior to this diagnosis, they all contracted Ebola in West Africa. Ebola has killed 2,917 people and infected 3,346 others since the outbreak began in March. 

Get real-time updates as this story unfolds. To start, just "star" this story in ABC News' phone app. Download ABC News for iPhone here or ABC News for Android here. To be notified about our live weekend digital reports, tap here.  

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waterboy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Valued Member Joined: January 21 2008 Status: Offline Points: 8170	Post Options Post Reply Quote waterboy Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: CDC says others could possibly be infected Posted: October 01 2014 at 8:18am
	It's 'Not Impossible' Others in US Could Contract Ebola, CDC Head Says Oct 1, 2014, 10:08 AM ET By ABC NEWS via Good Morning America Share 144 Share on email 273 Comments PHOTO: A police car drives past the entrance to the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas CDC Director: We Will Identify Those Who Might Have Been Exposed, Monitor Them Next Video Health Officials on High Alert After First US Ebola Case Auto Start: On \| Off The country's top medical official who has vowed to stop Ebola "in its tracks" in the U.S., conceded today that it's "not impossible" that others will contract the disease. Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said an extensive tracking process is underway in the wake of the first Ebola diagnosis in the United States, with special focus on the patient’s family and health staff. “We have a seven-person team in Dallas working with the local health department and the hospital, and we will be identifying everyone who may have come in contact with him and then monitoring them for 21 days,” Frieden said. First Ebola Case in U.S., But CDC Vows 'We Will Stop It Here' What You Need to Know About the Ebola Virus Face-to-Face With Patients in the Ebola Ward The city of Dallas, which has activated its Emergency Operations Center on "Level 2: High Readiness," said, "We are currently evaluating 12-18 people that the patient confirmed to have the Ebola virus was in contact with." In addition, the three ambulance crew members that brought the patient to the hospital were tested for Ebola. The tests were negative, but the crew members were sent home and will be monitored for the next three weeks, the city said in a statement. Frieden believes the disease will be “stopped in its tracks” in this country. The unidentified man’s safety, along with the well-being of the medical people treating him, is a primary focus, Frieden said. “What we need to do first in this particular instance is do everything possible to help this individual who’s really fighting for their life, and then make sure that we’re doing that, that we don’t have other people exposed in the hospital, identify all those contacts and monitor them for 21 days. It’s not impossible that one or two of them would develop symptoms and then they would need to be isolated,” he said. Frieden said he’s confident that passengers who flew on the same plane as the patient did not contract the disease. “That was four or five days before he had his first symptoms and with Ebola, you’re not contagious until you have symptoms,” he said. Although American Ebola patients have been treated in the United States prior to this diagnosis, they all contracted Ebola in West Africa. Ebola has killed 2,917 people and infected 3,346 others since the outbreak began in March. Get real-time updates as this story unfolds. To start, just "star" this story in ABC News' phone app. Download ABC News for iPhone here or ABC News for Android here. To be notified about our live weekend digital reports, tap here. Share 144 Share