Second Health Care Worker Contracts Ebola Virus in Dallas, WHO Warns Outbreak is ‘Unprecedented’
A second health care worker who cared for Thomas Eric Duncan has contracted the Ebola Virus and has been quarantined within Texas Health Presbyterian in Dallas, according to health officials.
ABC News reports a sample was sent to the state public health laboratory in Austin late Tuesday night and was later confirmed to be the Ebola Virus.
Dallas Count Judge Clay Jenkins said the woman was isolated within 90-minutes of her diagnosis.
Sky News reported on an announcement from the United Nations concerning the continuing outbreak in West Africa.
According to the article, the United Nations and World Health Organization are stressing that significant steps must be taken with 60-days of October 1 to contain the spread of the virus. Steps include the admittance of 70 percent of the infected to treatment centers and the safe burial of 70 percent of infected remains.
United Nations Special Coordinator on Ebola Anthony Banbury said in a press conference that member nations of the U.N. could not afford to lose the fight against Ebola, saying:
Ebola got a head start on us. It is far ahead of us; it is running faster than us, and it is winning the race.
Back in Texas, troops from Fort Hood and Fort Bliss are mobilizing to deploy to Liberia in West Africa to help contain the spread of the virus. More than 500 troops from the 36th Engineer Brigade, 1st Medical Brigade and 85th Civil Affairs Brigade will be deployed by the end of October.
According to a press release from Governor Rick Perry’s office, the troops will not be in contact with the patients themselves. Instead, they will be constructing new treatment facilities to house the infected.
Governor Perry released a statement Wednesday morning stating America is prepared to face this challenge
This is the first time that our nation has had to deal with a threat such as this. Everyone working on this challenge – from the medical professionals at the bedside to the public health officials addressing containment of the infection – is working to end the threat posed by this disease. These individuals are keeping the health and safety of Texans and the needs of the patients as their most critical tasks. Every relevant agency at the local, state and national levels is working to support these individuals."