The nurse, who attended Thomas Duncan, the first patient in the United States died last Wednesday in in Dallas Texas hospital, tested positive for Ebola virus. The “patient zero” had contracted the virus during a stay in Liberia, the African nation that presents, now, the largest number of cases of recorded infection . On his return from Africa, the man had charged with the first symptoms of fever but, having gone to the emergency first aid, had not been hospitalized.
Only with the worsening of the disease had been placed in strict isolation and followed by a fifty health professionals with a specific security protocol to avoid other infections. The security measures were not sufficient to avoid the second case of infection: the nurse. The director of the Center for American Prevention and
Control of Diseases (CDC) in Atlanta, Thomas Frieden, has warned people that this first contagion in American territory is due to a “Violation of the established protocol in dealing with patients suffering from Ebola. “In
particular – continues – would not have been complied with safety procedures during intubation for kidney dialysis to U.S. ‘patient zero’ the Liberian Duncan.
“The Director pointed out that, in the coming days, there is the risk of new infection cases. Frieden explained that the nurse assisted Duncan since he was hospitalized in sep 28,and she had a “prolonged contact” with the patient on several occasions, although she had always wear gloves, mask and protective suit. A few days ago she felt ill due to a slight fever; when the preliminary test performed in Austin was positive for Ebola, even though with a low level, she was placed in isolation. Now her condition are defined as stable and her apartment decontaminated by special units. The CDC has now opened an investigation to try to understand what further health care professionals that followed Duncan, might have been infected. “We are evaluating other potential exposures to virus – said the director Frieden – It is possible that other individuals have been exposed. “Few hours ago a colleague nurse – which is not revealed the identity – has been put in isolation. The virus, which has already caused 4,000 deaths in West Africa, is causing alarm in Europe and South America.
Translation provided by Pietro Ferrari