A Dallas County Sheriff’s deputy has been checked into the hospital after feeling ill after entering the home of an Ebola patient in Dallas.
The Huffington Post has more:
NBC Dallas-Fort Worth reported that the person showing symptoms is an employee of the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, and had been in the apartment Duncan was staying in before he was hospitalized Sept. 28. Duncan passed away Wednesday morning.
WFAA reported that the patient is Sgt. Michael Monnig, and that Monnig went into the apartment unit without wearing protective gear in order to have a quarantine order signed.
The city of Frisco, where this occurred, has released a statement concerning the case:
(October 8) At 12:32 p.m. today, October 8, Frisco dispatch received a call from Care Now, 301 Main Street, regarding a patient exhibiting signs and symptoms of Ebola. The patient claims to have had contact with the Dallas ‘patient zero’. Frisco firefighter-paramedics are in the process of transporting the patient. They are also in the process of examining clinical staff and other facility patrons. That number other people impacted is unknown. No other information is confirmed, available at this time.
Sgt. Michael Monnig, an employee of the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, was taken to the hospital Wednesday amid fears that he had been exposed to the Ebola virus, the sheriff’s office confirmed. Authorities later announced that Monnig was at “minimal” risk, but said they were proceeding “with an abundance of caution.”
Monnig had been in the apartment Thomas Eric Duncan was staying in before he was hospitalized and diagnosed with Ebola, NBC Dallas-Fort Worth reported. Duncan, the first patient to be diagnosed with the virus in the U.S., died Wednesday morning.
WFAA reported that Monnig went into the apartment without wearing protective gear in order to have a quarantine order signed.
Monnig’s son Logan said Wednesday his father had been monitoring his own temperature since last week and had been experiencing fatigue and stomach pain, so he decided to get checked out at a clinic to be safe.
“He spent very little time in the apartment, and he did not come in contact with Mr. Duncan or any bodily fluids,” Logan Monnig told the Dallas Morning News. “We’re just waiting for the facts right now to make sure he’s OK.”
The city of Frisco, Texas, said in a statement on Wednesday that “a patient exhibiting signs and symptoms of Ebola” had been identified. Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas confirmed that a patient was admitted to the hospital’s emergency room after possible exposure to the virus.
“Right now, there are more questions than answers about this case,” a hospital spokesperson said. “Our professional staff of nurses and doctors is prepared to examine the patient, discuss any findings with appropriate agencies and officials. We are on alert with precautions and systems in place. At the same time, we are caring for routine cases which are completely separate in operations.”
This comes in the heels of the death of the Dallas “patient zero” Thomas Eric Duncan from the virus earlier today in Dallas. The U.S. government also announced enhanced health screenings of passengers arriving from West Africa at five American airports.
Just as a reminder, Ebola is not known to be transmitted through the air or water. It is known to be transmitted through contact with bodily fluids such as blood, urine and vomit.
The early symptoms of Ebola are similar to the symptoms of the flu. However, it can also go undetected in a person before symptoms begin to show.
As the story develops, we will bring you more information.
