Dallas Nurse Becomes First Transmitted Ebola Case In U.S.

A Dallas, Texas nurse has reportedly tested positive for Ebola after treating Liberian national Thomas Eric Duncan, who died of the disease last week.

Although the nurse, who reportedly had "extended contact" with Duncan in the hospital, wore a mask, gloves, gown and shield while working with the patient, health officials say she violated a hospital protocol that caused her to get the disease.

The nurse is from Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, where Duncan passed away last week after organ failure due to Ebola. She tested positive in the preliminary blood tests for the disease.

"At some point, there was a breach in protocol, and that breach in protocol resulted in this infection," Dr. Tom Frieden, the director of the CDC, said at a news conference Sunday. "The (Ebola treatment) protocols work. […] But we know that even a single lapse or breach can result in infection."

The CDC has addressed this situation, but has said the virus is not expected to spread beyond the nurse.
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"This development is understandably disturbing news for the patient, the patient's family and colleagues and the greater Dallas community," the CDC said in a statement.

"The CDC and the Texas Department of State Health Services remain confident that wider spread in the community can be prevented with proper public health measures, including ongoing contact tracing, health monitoring among those known to have been in contact with the index patient, and immediate isolations if symptoms develop," the CDC said.