Ebola Update
Third case of Ebola in Texas: Second Dallas hospital employee tests positive for virus
A second health care worker has tested positive for Ebola, the Texas Department of State Health Services announced October 15. The unidentified employee at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital was part of the team of people who cared for Thomas Eric Duncan.
The first person diagnosed with Ebola in the United State, Duncan died October 8. Four days later, a 26-year-old nurse Nina Pham tested positive for the virus.
The latest patient reported a fever October 14 and was immediately placed in isolation at Texas Health Presbyterian.
She received a blood transfusion from Dr. Kent Brantly, an Ebola survivor, and is now listed in good condition.
The identity of the health care worker diagnosed on October 15 has not yet been released. Officials say the latest patient reported a fever October 14 and was immediately placed in isolation at Texas Health Presbyterian.
"Health officials have interviewed the latest patient to quickly identify any contacts or potential exposures, and those people will be monitored," reads a statement from Texas Department of State Health Services. "The type of monitoring depends on the nature of their interactions and the potential they were exposed to the virus."
Dallas police officers and Mayor Mike Rawlings conducted on-scene notifications about the second Ebola case in a four-block radius from the patient's northeast Dallas apartment.
City officials distributed fliers at Bend East in The Village apartment complex, located at 5454 Amesbury Drive and the Dallas Fire Rescue Hazmat team worked to decontaminate the area. A state contractor will be used to decontaminate the patient's apartment.
The infection of health care workers has sparked increased concern about Ebola's spread. Both of the latest patients contracted the disease despite wearing gloves, face shield and a protective gown.