UK Health Radio – Medical News Update On the Hour - Family moved out of Texas Ebola flat

UK Health Radio – Medical News Update On the Hour

Family moved out of Texas Ebola flat

The BBC have reported that in the latest development in the Ebola crisis, the occupants of a flat in Texas where a man lay sick for days with Ebola have been moved from their home.

Thomas Duncan, who caught the virus while he was in native Liberia, is now in a serious condition in hospital. This is the only Ebola case recorded so far in the US.

The flat in Dallas where he lived before being isolated is being cleaned by hazardous materials specialists and the four people living there have been moved to a private home offered by a volunteer.

Louise Troh, thought to be Mr Duncan's girlfriend, her 13-year-old son and two nephews have been confined to the flat under the orders of health officials. A worker with the Red Cross brought them emergency supplies to their flat

The family was driven away from the home in a police car, after officials failed to find shelter for them. Various hotels, rental flats and other accommodation options had refused to offer them accommodation, before a private residence was offered. "No one wants this family,'' said Sana Syed, a Dallas city spokeswoman.

Fear of this deadly disease is understandable as more than 3,431 people have died in four West African countries in what has become the world's worst ever Ebola outbreak.

Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby said the US could deploy as many as 4,000 troops to West Africa to help contain the outbreak.

Although Mr Duncan is the first person to be diagnosed within the US, four other Americans have contracted the virus in Liberia.

Mr Duncan's diagnosis was confirmed on Tuesday, 10 days after he arrived in the US to visit relatives and friends.

As well as the four who shared his flat, Texas health officials have identified another six people who had contact with Mr Duncan as higher risk.

Mr Duncan, a courier driver, is believed to have taken a sick patient to a clinic in Liberia.

Authorities there have accused him of lying on an Ebola questionnaire prior to leaving the country and say they plan to prosecute him upon his return.

On Friday, Howard University hospital in Washington DC said another patient had come in with symptoms "associated with Ebola".

He was being kept in isolation while he was tested for the disease. He had recently travelled from Nigeria.

Amanda Thomas

UK Health Radio – Medical News Update On the Hour

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