First Case of Ebola in the United States Diagnosed in Dallas, TX

Yesterday afternoon, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the first case of Ebola diagnosed in the United States is a patient who was admitted Sunday into Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas in Dallas, Texas.

Before the news was official, I had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Tom Frieden, Director of the CDC, and had a very informative discussion regarding the logistics of the case and the next steps the CDC is taking for containment and prevention. Since we have knowledge of the source of transmission, I have asked Dr. Frieden to thoughtfully reassess the risk of travel from Liberia in order to mitigate the threat of a future outbreak.

I am confident that the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, the Dallas County Health and Human Services, the Texas Department of State Health Services, and the CDC will be thorough in their investigation of this case, provide the most effective care for the patient, and work diligently to prevent the spread of this disease to protect the people of North Texas and the United States.