Dallas County Could Declare Ebola Disaster
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM/AP) — Dallas County commissioners have scheduled an emergency meeting for Thursday afternoon, when they will consider issuing a disaster declaration after Ebola has left a man dead and two nurses infected.
The proposal says Dallas County "has the potential to suffer widespread or severe damage, injury, loss or threat of life resulting from the Ebola virus."
County Judge Clay Jenkins says the declaration could include public travel restrictions on medical personnel exposed to Ebola. The measure could also mean more government assistance.
On Wednesday, the CDC announced that the latest diagnosed healthcare worker -- Amber Vinson -- traveled with a "low grade" temperature from Cleveland to Dallas, one day before her diagnosis.
CBS News reports that Vinson contacted the CDC about her 99.5 degree temperature before flying. Because her temperature was below 100.4, she was instructed to fly.
"I don't think that changes the level of risk of people around her. She did not vomit, she was not bleeding, so the level of risk of people around her would be extremely low," said CDC Director Tom Frieden.
Officials insist that the remaining 75 healthcare workers who treated Thomas Duncan at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital will not be allowed to fly. The CDC will work with local and state officials to accomplish this.
Complete Coverage Of Ebola In North Texas
Duncan was diagnosed while visiting Dallas from Liberia. He died Oct. 8 at Presbyterian Hospital.
Two nurses who treated Duncan contracted Ebola and remained hospitalized Thursday. Vinson was transported by plane on Wednesday to Emory Hospital in Atlanta for further treatment.
Dr. Daniel Varga, the Chief Clinical Officer and Senior Executive Vice President for Texas Health Resources, is expected to apologize on Thursday for the hospital's mistakes at a U.S. Energy & Commerce Committee hearing.
(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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