First Ebola Patient Diagnosed in Dallas, Texas

The first case of Ebola in the United States was diagnosed today in Dallas, Texas according to the Centers for Disease Control.

The unidentified patient traveled to this country from West Africa to visit family.  They were asymptomatic during travel and only became symptomatic after arrival. The patient is currently isolated at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas. Ebola is more contagious once symptoms become evident.

Second Case Now Suspected, up to 18 people exposed:  Read More Here.

During a press conference this evening, the CDC said it had just begun tracking down possible contacts but they were confident their process would be effective.

This patient joins four others that have been treated in the U.S. for Ebola since the outbreak began. The latest patient is the first to be diagnosed on American soil and may have had the opportunity to spread the disease.

Of the four prior patients, all received a diagnosis in West Africa and were then flown to the U.S. for treatment. Patients were hospitalized in Nebraska, Atlanta, Bethesda, MD, and now Dallas. Of the original four patients, only one anonymous patient is still receiving treatment, the other three have recovered and been released.

Sermo has discussed preparedness in the U.S. for exactly such an incident. Physicians in this country need to be on alert for potential Ebola infection. Primary care physicians, family practitioners, pediatricians, and emergency room physicians need to be particularly vigilant.

We have been writing about Ebola extensively on our blog and discussing it in great detail on our Infectious Disease Hub inside the Sermo community. If you are an M.D. or D.O., you can join us inside for further discussion.

How Medical Offices And Hospitals Can Prepare

Dr. Jim Wilson, MD, an infectious disease expert and Vice President at Ascel Bio, offered the following steps for preparedness:

1. Medical facilities that are aware of the potential appearance of Ebola and are prepared for its arrival fare better than facilities that are caught by surprise or are unprepared. The difference could cost the healthcare provider and staff their lives, as well as expose the community they serve to unnecessary risk.
2. Seek education regarding Ebola virus disease clinical and isolation ward management from a highly credible source such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Avoid using mass media outlets or sources of information that do not have direct experience with this pathogen. Fight anxiety and rumor with logic and knowledge.
3. Ensure that your local hospital, in coordination with local public health officials, has begun the dialog regarding exposure risk identification, suspect patient management, and infection control. Ensure that education from highly credible sources is utilized aggressively. Consider tabletop exercises or bedside scenario walkthroughs to reinforce teamwork and infection control protocols.
4. Ask a travel history of your patients, especially if you work in the above-mentioned areas of the U.S.
5. If you identify a returning traveler from any of the countries experiencing an Ebola epidemic, assess the patient for evidence of illness. Contact your local infectious disease specialist or public health official if you have concerns about any patient with a positive travel history.

Travelers from West Africa are most likely to enter through certain key cities.

What do you think about Ebola being on U.S. soil? How prepared is your facility to handle an outbreak? We will update this blog post as we receive more information. In the meantime, if you’re an M.D. or D.O., please join us inside Sermo for further discussion.