Health Officials say the second Texas health care worker with Ebola visited family in Akron last week.
In a conference call with reporters, the Ohio Health Department's Dr. Mary DiOrio said the department is working to identify whom she may have come in contact with between October 8 and October 13 and whether those people need to be quarantined.
DiOrio said there is no quarantine now. "That is a tool that we might have to implement, but at this time it is something that we're going to be working with the health departments as we do the investigation to see whether or not that will be recommended in the situation."
DiOrio also says the department is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to identify people on the return flight to Dallas who may have been exposed to the virus. She flew Frontier Airlines direct from Cleveland to Dallas flight 1143 October 13.
She says, "As we begin the investigation we may end up needing to work with additional health departments so we're going to reach out to other health departments around the state to inform them of the situation because we will be identifying all close contacts and that may involve more health jurisdictions as well."
From a CDC news release:
On the morning of Oct. 14, the second healthcare worker reported to the hospital with a low-grade fever and was isolated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirms that the second healthcare worker who tested positive last night for Ebola traveled by air Oct. 13, the day before she reported symptoms. Because of the proximity in time between the evening flight and first report of illness the following morning, CDC is reaching out to passengers who flew on Frontier Airlines flight 1143 Cleveland to Dallas/Fort Worth Oct. 13. CDC is asking all 132 passengers on Frontier Airlines flight 1143 Cleveland to Dallas/Fort Worth on October 13 (the flight route was Cleveland to Dallas Fort Worth and landed at 8:16 p.m. CT) to call 1 800-CDC INFO (1 800 232-4636). After 1 p.m. ET, public health professionals will begin interviewing passengers about the flight, answering their questions, and arranging follow up. Individuals who are determined to be at any potential risk will be actively monitored. The healthcare worker exhibited no signs or symptoms of illness while on flight 1143, according to the crew. Frontier is working closely with CDC to identify and notify passengers who may have traveled on flight 1143 on Oct. 13. Passengers who may have traveled on flight 1143 should contact CDC at 1 800-CDC INFO (1 800 232-4636).
