Second Texas health worker infected with Ebola
15 Oct 2014
Concerns are mounting after a second health worker at the Texas hospital where the first case of Ebola contamination on US soil occurred tested positive for the disease.
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, like the first case, the second concerned a worker who cared for a Liberian Ebola sufferer who later died at the Dallas hospital.
The second worker reported a fever yesterday and was immediately isolated at the hospital.
"Health officials have interviewed the latest patient to quickly identify any contacts or potential exposures, and those people will be monitored," the health department said in a statement.
The workers had cared for Thomas Duncan, who probably contracted the disease while still in Liberia, and died on 8 October in the US.
The second case comes following the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirming that a Texas health worker had tested positive for the virus.
According to health officials, the worker was wearing full protective gear but was infected with the virus anyway.
According to Dr Thomas Frieden, a breach in safety protocols, possibly while removing protective gear, might have caused them to contract the virus.
.webp)
