GLOBAL HEALTH EMERGENCY
EMERGING & RE-EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
VIRAL HEMORRHAGIC FEVERS
EBOLA HEALTH EMERGENCY IN CONNECTICUT
EBOLA EPIDEMIC IN WEST AFRICA
SCENARIOS 797, 444, 333, 080, 011
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Ebola Outbreak: Second Texas healthcare worker ‘tests positive’ —Health officials
A second healthcare worker at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital has tested positive for Ebola, the Texas Department of State Health Services announced on Wednesday.
The worker, who was on the team that cared for the Liberian Ebola victim Thomas Eric Duncan, was immediately isolated after reporting a fever on Tuesday, the health officials said.
“Health officials have interviewed the latest patient to quickly identify any contacts or potential exposures, and those people will be monitored.”
Another nurse, 26-year-old Nina Pham, became infected by Ebola virus while caring for Duncan, who died on October 8.
“An additional health care worker testing positive for Ebola is a serious concern, and the CDC has already taken active steps to minimize the risk to health care workers and the patient,” The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a statement.
Ebola Stats
- At least 4,447 people have died from the outbreak, mainly in West Africa, since December 2013, according to The World Health Organization (WHO).
- Most of the fatalities have occurred in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.
- WHO warns the infection rate could reach 5,000 to 10,000 new cases per week by December 2014 if the response remains inadequate.
Ebola in Brief
Symptoms of Ebola include
- Fever (greater than 38.6°C or 101.5°F)
- Severe headache
- Muscle pain
- Weakness
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Unexplained hemorrhage (bleeding or bruising)
Symptoms may appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure to Ebola, but the average is 8 to 10 days.
Recovery from Ebola depends on the patient’s immune response. People who recover from Ebola infection develop antibodies that last for at least 10 years. [Source: CDC]
U.S. Health Emergency
Gov. Malloy declared a “public health emergency” for the state of Connecticut last week and signed an order authorizing the Department of Public Health to quarantine potentially infected individuals/groups.
In Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the respective state health commissioners have the authority to quarantine anyone suspected of exposure to Ebola virus.
Global Health Emergency
WHO declared the Ebola outbreak in West Africa a ‘Public Health Emergency of International Concern,’ under the International Health Regulations on August 8, 2014.
All Other U.S.-Based Outbreaks [sourced from CDC]
- Acute Neurological Illness with Focal Limb Weakness in Children, Undetermined Origin Announced September 2014
- Cilantro – Cyclosporiasis (Texas) Announced September 2014
- Almond and Peanut Butter – Salmonella Braenderup Announced August 2014
- Live Poultry – Salmonella Infantis and Newport Announced May 2014
- Serogroup B meningococcal disease outbreak at University of California, Santa Barbara Announced December 2013
- Serogroup B meningococcal disease outbreak at Princeton University Announced December 2013
- Fungal Meningitis and Other Infections – Multistate outbreak Announced October 2013
Outbreaks Affecting International Travelers
See the Travelers’ Health site for a complete list.
- MERS-CoV Announced May 2014
- Ebola Outbreak in West Africa Announced March 2014
- Avian Influenza A (H7N9) Virus Announced March 2013
Related Links
- Connecticut Declares Ebola Health Emergency, Authorizes Quarantines October 8, 2014
- Ebola outbreak devastating West Africa could spread globally October 1, 2014