80 People Exposed to Ebola, Say Authorities

HOUSTON, Texas –The Liberian Ebola patient being treated in Dallas, Texas, Thomas Eric Duncan, reportedly had contact with 80 people while infected. 

Those 80 are currently being interviewed by health officials, Dallas Health Director Zack Thompson told ABC News.

Breitbart Texas obtained a statement from the Texas Department of State Health Services, stating that as of Wednesday night, four of Duncan’s family members were ordered to stay at home. They will be allowed to leave on October 19, if they have not shown any signs of Ebola. 

The family must also be willing to give blood samples and taking other tests as ordered by health officials. At this time, no family members are showing Ebola symptoms. 

12 to 15 additional individuals are currently being watched by health officials for signs of the virus. Several of them are school-aged children, who will be monitored by officials for 20 days after supposedly coming in contact with Duncan over the weekend. 

Chris Van Deusen with the Texas Department of State Health Services told Breitbart Texas, “Only people who have come into direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of the Ebola patient while he was sick are at any risk of infection. If that’s not the case, there is zero chance of infection. Local officials (Dallas County HHS) may have information on the number of people being monitored, though I’ll note that’s different that being quarantined.”

Still, the spread of Ebola may not stop in its tracks as authorities would like to hope. 

Dallas County Health and Human Services Director Zachary Thompson told Politico that a second Ebola case is likely. She said, “Let me be real frank to the Dallas County residents: The fact that we have one confirmed case, there may be another case that is a close associate with this particular patient. So this is real. There should be a concern, but it’s contained to the specific family members and close friends at this moment.”

Follow Kristin Tate on Twitter @KristinBTate.