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One of the 76 health-care workers who made contact with the first Ebola patient in the United States says she's "doing well." Nina Pham, the 26-year-old Dallas nurse who contracted the Ebola while treating Thomas Eric Duncan is in stable condition, according to her statement released by Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital. Pham recently received a blood transfusion from Dr. Kent Brantly, who survived Ebola with medical help in the United States. She will have all health-related costs covered by the hospital, it announced on Twitter.
CDC Director Thomas Frieden said Tuesday that Duncan had 48 potential contacts, all of whom are two-thirds of the way through Ebola's incubation period so they are at low risk. Frieden said that 76 health-care workers had "some level of contact" with Duncan but that doesn't mean they are potentially infected like Pham. (One man who came into contact with her, and her dog, are currently being monitored.)
The CDC said a special team was deployed to Dallas 48 hours ago to ensure the virus is contained. A single site manager will oversee health-care workers, including how they put on and take off protective gear. Two nurses from Atlanta's Emory hospital will train nurses. Finally, the CDC suggests limiting the number of personnel who directly treat an infected patient. A rapid-response team from the CDC will head to any hospital with an Ebola patient within hours, Frieden said.