Shutterstock

Ebola has officially come to the United States, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is attempting to contain Americans’ anxieties along with the spread of the potentially deadly virus.

On Tuesday, the CDC confirmed that a man who recently returned from Liberia to the U.S. has tested positive for Ebola and is being treated at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas. As has been the case in Africa, those with whom the man came in contact, including health care professionals, may need special attention (via NBCNewYork):

The Dallas Fire-Rescue ambulance crew who transported the infected man to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital has been isolated to be evaluated for Ebola symptoms, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawling said, NBC 5 has learned.

According to CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden, the patient showed no symptoms of the virus when he left Liberia on Sept. 19 and arrived in the U.S. a day later.

He didn’t begin developing symptoms of the virus until Sept. 24 and sought care on Friday. He was hospitalized the following Sunday and placed in isolation.

The CDC is also charged with the task of tracking down others who may have crossed paths with the now-quarantined patient after he became symptomatic and before he was isolated.

CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden reported that the patient arrived in the U.S. from Liberia on Sept. 20, started developing symptoms on Sept. 24 and was hospitalized on Sept. 28. “I have no doubt that we will control this importation or this case of the Ebola so that it does not spread widely in this country,” Frieden said Tuesday, adding that there is a chance that the first patient might have infected others while claiming that “there is no doubt in my mind that we will stop it here.”

— Posted by Kasia Anderson

Wait, before you go…

If you're reading this, you probably already know that non-profit, independent journalism is under threat worldwide. Independent news sites are overshadowed by larger heavily funded mainstream media that inundate us with hype and noise that barely scratch the surface. We believe that our readers deserve to know the full story. Truthdig writers bravely dig beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that tells you what’s really happening and who’s rolling up their sleeves to do something about it.

Like you, we believe a well-informed public that doesn’t have blind faith in the status quo can help change the world. Your contribution of as little as $5 monthly or $35 annually will make you a groundbreaking member and lays the foundation of our work.

Support Truthdig