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Ebola in the US: timeline Ebola in the US: timeline
(about 1 hour later)
20 September20 September
A Liberian man, Thomas Eric Duncan, arrives in Dallas to visit his family after flying from the Liberian capital Monrovia, via Brussels.A Liberian man, Thomas Eric Duncan, arrives in Dallas to visit his family after flying from the Liberian capital Monrovia, via Brussels.
24 September24 September
Duncan begins to feel unwell, according to his family.Duncan begins to feel unwell, according to his family.
25 September25 September
Duncan’s first visit to an emergency room since feeling unwell. Medical records show he has a temperature of 103F (39.4C) when he arrives at Texas Health Presbyterian hospital in Dallas. He is also suffering “severe” abdominal pains.Duncan’s first visit to an emergency room since feeling unwell. Medical records show he has a temperature of 103F (39.4C) when he arrives at Texas Health Presbyterian hospital in Dallas. He is also suffering “severe” abdominal pains.
26 September26 September
Duncan sent home from the hospital with a course of antibiotics – an outcome that hospital chiefs later describe as a matter of “regret”. Edward Goodman, the infectious disease specialist at the hospital, later says the patient’s symptoms were not definitive when he was first seen. A nurse notes that Duncan had recently travelled to Africa. Texas Health Resources, which runs the hospital, initially says the nurse did not share information about Duncan’s travel history with doctors. It later retracts this statement.Duncan sent home from the hospital with a course of antibiotics – an outcome that hospital chiefs later describe as a matter of “regret”. Edward Goodman, the infectious disease specialist at the hospital, later says the patient’s symptoms were not definitive when he was first seen. A nurse notes that Duncan had recently travelled to Africa. Texas Health Resources, which runs the hospital, initially says the nurse did not share information about Duncan’s travel history with doctors. It later retracts this statement.
28 September28 September
Duncan returns to Texas Health Presbyterian in an ambulance and this time he is admitted. He is suffering more abdominal pains, as well as diarrhoea and vomiting. His condition is described as “critical” and he is put in isolation in the hospital’s intensive care unit.Duncan returns to Texas Health Presbyterian in an ambulance and this time he is admitted. He is suffering more abdominal pains, as well as diarrhoea and vomiting. His condition is described as “critical” and he is put in isolation in the hospital’s intensive care unit.
28-30 September 201428-30 September 2014
Staff work in the quarantine unit with their skin exposed, according to the National Nurses United union. The hospital later insists that staff wore the appropriate personal protective equipment as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at the time, including shoe covers and face shields. “When the CDC issued updates, as they did with leg covers, we followed their guidelines,” Texas Health Resources says in statement.Staff work in the quarantine unit with their skin exposed, according to the National Nurses United union. The hospital later insists that staff wore the appropriate personal protective equipment as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at the time, including shoe covers and face shields. “When the CDC issued updates, as they did with leg covers, we followed their guidelines,” Texas Health Resources says in statement.
29 September29 September
Nina Pham, a 26-year-old nurse, treats Duncan for the first time. There are doubts about whether she was wearing protective clothing when she first came into contact with him. Later there are also reports of “inconsistencies” about how she removed protective gear. She is one of 76 healthcare workers thought to have come into contact with Duncan while at the hospital. Pham enters Duncan’s intensive care unit often, according to medical records. She later becomes the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola after contracting it in the US.Nina Pham, a 26-year-old nurse, treats Duncan for the first time. There are doubts about whether she was wearing protective clothing when she first came into contact with him. Later there are also reports of “inconsistencies” about how she removed protective gear. She is one of 76 healthcare workers thought to have come into contact with Duncan while at the hospital. Pham enters Duncan’s intensive care unit often, according to medical records. She later becomes the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola after contracting it in the US.
30 September30 September
US officials announce the first case of Ebola to be diagnosed outside Africa during the current outbreak. At this stage they do not reveal Duncan’s name but say the Ebola patient is being treated at in Dallas. US officials announce the first case of Ebola to be diagnosed outside Africa during the current outbreak. At this stage they do not reveal Duncan’s name but say the Ebola patient is being treated in Dallas.
2 October2 October
Duncan’s girlfriend Louis Troh, and three other family members, are placed under quarantine until 19 October – the end of their 21-day incubation period.Duncan’s girlfriend Louis Troh, and three other family members, are placed under quarantine until 19 October – the end of their 21-day incubation period.
4 October4 October
Duncan is treated with the antiviral drug brincidofovir.Duncan is treated with the antiviral drug brincidofovir.
7 October7 October
Pham cares for Duncan.Pham cares for Duncan.
8 October8 October
Duncan dies in hospital after his condition worsens.Duncan dies in hospital after his condition worsens.
12 October12 October
Pham is diagnosed with Ebola, two days after reporting a high fever. She is placed in an isolation unit within 90 minutes of driving herself to Texas Health Presbyterian hospital and presenting the symptoms.Pham is diagnosed with Ebola, two days after reporting a high fever. She is placed in an isolation unit within 90 minutes of driving herself to Texas Health Presbyterian hospital and presenting the symptoms.
13 October13 October
Amber Vinson, a 29-year-old nurse who also treated Duncan at Texas Health Presbyterian, travels on a commercial flight from Cleveland to Dallas with a raised temperature.Amber Vinson, a 29-year-old nurse who also treated Duncan at Texas Health Presbyterian, travels on a commercial flight from Cleveland to Dallas with a raised temperature.
15 October15 October
Vinson becomes the second US healthworker to be diagnosed with Ebola, a day after being admitted to THP. She is transferred to a bio-containment unit in Atlanta. The National Nurses United union accuses THP of lax safety procedures in Duncan’s treatment. They say he was left in an open area of a Dallas emergency room for hours, and the nurses treating him worked for days without proper protective gear. President Barack Obama admits the US must be more aggressive in monitoring Ebola. Vinson becomes the second US health worker to be diagnosed with Ebola, a day after being admitted to THP. She is transferred to a bio-containment unit in Atlanta. The National Nurses United union accuses THP of lax safety procedures in Duncan’s treatment. They say he was left in an open area of a Dallas emergency room for hours, and the nurses treating him worked for days without proper protective gear. President Barack Obama admits the US must be more aggressive in monitoring Ebola.
16 October16 October
Pham is transferred from Dallas, where she contracted the virus, to a special bio-containment unit in Maryland. Texas Health Resources apologises for initially failing to diagnose Duncan, and for misinforming the public about how this happened.Pham is transferred from Dallas, where she contracted the virus, to a special bio-containment unit in Maryland. Texas Health Resources apologises for initially failing to diagnose Duncan, and for misinforming the public about how this happened.
17 October17 October
Seventy-five staff members from Texas Health Presbyterian hospital, who are thought to have treated Duncan, are urged to sign legal agreements stating they will avoid public transport, not go to areas where large numbers of people congregate, and continue to be monitored twice a day for symptoms.Seventy-five staff members from Texas Health Presbyterian hospital, who are thought to have treated Duncan, are urged to sign legal agreements stating they will avoid public transport, not go to areas where large numbers of people congregate, and continue to be monitored twice a day for symptoms.