Nevada health officials address Ebola case identified in Texas
Submitted by editor on Wed, 10/01/2014 - 4:13pm
Carson City – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the first case of Ebola to be diagnosed in the United States is in a person who had traveled to Dallas, Texas from Liberia. The patient did not have symptoms when leaving West Africa, but developed symptoms approximately four days after arriving in the U.S. on Sept. 20.
The person fell ill a few days after arrival and sought medical care at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas on Sept. 26. After developing symptoms consistent with Ebola, he was admitted to hospital on the 28th. Based on the person’s travel history and symptoms, CDC recommended testing for Ebola. The medical facility isolated the patient and sent specimens for testing.
The ill person did not exhibit symptoms of Ebola during the flights from West Africa and CDC does not recommend that people on the same commercial airline flights undergo monitoring, as Ebola is contagious only if the person is experiencing active symptoms.
Even a single case of Ebola diagnosed in the U.S. raises concerns; therefore, Nevada public health officials at the state and local levels have been preparing to respond. The preparations include enhancing surveillance and laboratory testing capacity to detect cases and disseminating up-to-date information to healthcare providers, the general public, international travelers, and other partners.
Key facts to remember:
Ebola is not spread through casual contact or through the air. Ebola is spread through direct contact with bodily fluids of a sick person or exposure to objects such as needles that have been contaminated.
The illness has an average 8-10 day incubation period (although it ranges from 2 to 21 days); CDC recommends monitoring exposed people for symptoms a complete 21 days.
Ebola is contagious only if the person is experiencing active symptoms.
Timely evaluation of symptomatic individuals with a history of travel to affected countries is vital to early detection.
The Nevada DPBH and local health authorities are in regular communication with CDC and closely collaborating with healthcare providers and facilities, and with neighboring states in order to enhance disease surveillance, early detection and control of any potential cases identified in our state. For information on the case definition for Ebola Virus Disease, please visit the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/hcp/case-definition.html.
Please contact your local public health authority if you need further information related to Ebola:
Las Vegas area: Southern Nevada Health District, 702.759.1300
Reno/Sparks area: Washoe County Health District, 775.328.2447
Carson City, Douglas, Lyon County area: Carson
City Health and Human Services, 775.887.2190
Other counties: Rural Community Health Services, 775.687.5162 (business hours) or 775.434.4358 (after hours)
State of Nevada Epidemiology Duty Officer (24 hours): 775.400.0333.
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