DALLAS, Texas– Ebola was over 5,000 miles away from Jackson in Monrovia, Liberia. Now it’s only 400 miles away in Dallas.
It’s the first case of Ebola Virus diagnosed on American soil. The Center for Disease Control confirmed the case Tuesday. CBS reports that the patient has a recent travel history and is under strict isolation in Dallas.
The CDC says the virus is spread directly from infected person to person, is not airborne, and can take up to 3 weeks to show symptoms. There are several ways to prevent getting Ebola, such as avoiding contact with blood, bodily fluids, or anyone known to be infected. You can find more prevention tips here.
The CDC has a list of all known Ebola outbreaks. The United States is not on that list. Dr. Tom Friedan of the CDC recently stated in a press conference that the likelihood of an outbreak in the United States was slim.
“The plain truth is that we can stop Ebola,” says Friedan, “we know how to control it.”
