Texas health care worker tests positive for Ebola, becoming second US case
Newly infected health care worker wore full protective gear when caring for first victim
A Texas health care worker has tested positive for Ebola even though she wore full protective gear while caring for an Ebola patient in hospital who later died, health officials said yesterday.
Dr Tom Frieden, head of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, said the diagnosis showed there was a clear breach of safety protocol and all those who treated Thomas Eric Duncan were now considered to be potentially exposed.
The worker wore a gown, gloves, mask and shield while she cared for Duncan during a second visit to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, said Dr Daniel Varga of Texas Health Resources, which runs the hospital.
Frieden said the worker has not been able to identify a specific breach of protocol that might have led to her being infected.
Duncan, who arrived in the US from Liberia to visit family on September 20, died on Wednesday. Texas health officials have been closely monitoring nearly 50 people who may have had contact with him.
