Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson Issues Statement on the First U.S. Case of Ebola in Dallas, TX

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                           

[Dallas, TX] – (Thursday, October 2, 2014) – Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson issued the following statement regarding the first U.S. case of Ebola in Dallas, TX:

“Tuesday afternoon, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that a patient at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas represents the first case of Ebola diagnosed in the United States. CDC Director Tom Frieden has done an excellent job of explaining the patient’s current condition and providing a detailed outline of how the CDC has been mobilized to not only treat the patient, but to reassure the public that an outbreak in our country is highly unlikely. Presbyterian Hospital Epidemiologist Edward Goodman and Dallas County Health and Human Services Director Zachary Thompson assured us yesterday that an emergency plan has been in place for months in the event of an Ebola case.

Currently, CDC and Dallas County health officials are monitoring a handful of family members for possible symptoms. All Dallas Fire Rescue Paramedics involved in the patient’s transportation to Presbyterian Hospital have tested negative for the virus and will be closely monitored for the next 21 days to ensure their safety. News broke yesterday that five Dallas ISD students at four schools in northeast Dallas could have been in contact with the patient but have not shown any symptoms of the virus. Those students are being monitored, and the correct public health precautions are in place.

I would like to reiterate that Ebola only becomes infectious once the patient is exhibiting symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, and nausea. Each passenger traveling from West African countries affected by outbreak of the Ebola virus is medically screened for Ebola symptoms before they are cleared to board an aircraft. The patient in question was not exhibiting symptoms until four days after arriving in the U.S., and there is no risk that fellow passengers could have become infected. While an Ebola case in the U.S. is frightening, I would like to take this opportunity to assure you that the U.S. has the public health infrastructure to ensure that the virus is contained and does not spread. I am confident that the CDC, Dallas County health officials, and Presbyterian Hospital are working collaboratively to treat this patient and stop this virus in its tracks.”

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U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is the ranking member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas, which includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Kessler Park, Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, South Dallas & South Oak Cliff; all of Cedar Hill, DeSoto, Duncanville, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Ferris, Glenn Heights, South Grand Prairie, Oak Lawn, Ovilla, Uptown/Victory Park and West Dallas.