US Healthcare Worker Was Wearing Full Protective Gear When Infected, US Health Officials SayWorker was wearing following correct infection control procedures when infected
By Lilian Anekwe
October 12, 2014 15:21 BST
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A worker in a hazardous material suit removes the contents of the apartment where a man diagnosed with Ebola was staying in Dallas.(Reuters)
The healthcare worker who has become the second person to contract the Ebola virus in the US was wearing protective infection control gear while caring for the first victim of the virus at a Texas hospital, US health officials have confirmed.
The healthcare worker, who is reported to be a female employee at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, cared for Thomas Duncan, who contracted Ebola during a visit to Liberia and died in the hospital on Wednesday.
The nurse had been 'self-monitoring' for a fever or other signs of illness since her contact with Thomas Duncan, according to procedures set out by the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). She reported a fever on Friday.
A US health official told reporters that the employee wore full protective gear when treating Duncan on his second visit to a Dallas hospital.
She had been involved in Duncan's second visit to the hospital, when he was admitted for treatment, and was wearing protective gear as prescribed by the CDC – gown, gloves, mask, and face shield – Texas Health Resources chief clinical officer Dan Varga said at a press conference on Sunday. He added that a "close contact" of the worker has been "proactively" placed in isolation.
No details of the health worker's identity or position at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital were given, at the family's request.
"Health officials have interviewed the patient and are identifying any contacts or potential exposures," a statement by Texas health care services said.
"People who had contact with the healthcare worker after symptoms emerged will be monitored based on the nature of their interactions and the potential they were exposed to the virus."
Some 48 people who have been in contacted with the hospital employee are being monitored twice a day for any signs of infection.
The apartment, surrounding common areas in the apartment building, and a car belonging to the infected health worker have been decontaminated. |
