HOUSTON, Texas — The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) was not actively monitoring anyone who came in contact with Thomas Eric Duncan, the Liberian man who brought Ebola into the U.S., subsequent to September 28. The health care worker who tested positive for Ebola after caring for Duncan was only “self monitoring” for symptoms.
Only 48 individuals who may have come in contact with Duncan prior to his being admitted to the hosptial were being monitored by health officials. That group of 48 did not include people who came in contact with Duncan after he checked into Dallas’ Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital on September 28.
CDC Director Tom Frieden said at a press conference, “The 48 contacts identified were individuals who had contact with the patient up to the day he was isolated [at the hospital]. Those 48 are the only people that he may have had contact with [Duncan] before he became isolated. From September 28 through October 8, the date he passed away, that’s the period when there may have been additional contacts given that this individual may have been infected.”
Those who cared for Duncan at the hospital were not being monitored by health officials because the Liberian was in isolation and all health care workers were wearing protective gear.
At this time it is unclear if the newly infected health care worker had committed a breach of protocol while caring for Duncan.
Follow Kristin Tate on Twitter @KristinBTate.
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