Today there is another suspected Ebola case in Dallas. Considering that the first Ebola patient was not immediately tested and quarantined upon becoming ill with symptoms after a recent trip from Africa, this comes as a very unwelcome development. There are now 18 individuals currently quarantined who have recently been in close association with the initial victim. We should be very concerned that this virulent genie may now be out of the bottle.

From Politico:

“Dallas County’s health director said Wednesday morning that a second case of Ebola — afflicting a person close to the first patient — is quite likely. But nobody is sick at this time, although they are being monitored.”

“Let me be real frank to the Dallas County residents: The fact that we have one confirmed case, there may be another case that is a close associate with this particular patient,” said Dallas County Health and Human Services Director Zachary Thompson. “So this is real. There should be a concern, but it’s contained to the specific family members and close friends at this moment.”

The director says we should be concerned. Really? I believe that is quite the understatement. Regardless of the warnings from CDC to medical professionals as reported here August 15, 2014 from the NY Times, it doesn’t appear the medical staff at this particular Dallas emergency room were at all prepared for a possible Ebola case on American soil. They certainly weren’t following any protocol for such a potential or taking any precautions:

“The patient, a man, walked into a Dallas emergency room September 26. Although his symptoms could have indicated Ebola, among other diseases, no one at the hospital asked him if he had recently traveled to countries where the virus is present, a source close to the case told CNN.

The man, who had just flown from Liberia to the United States, didn’t offer the information either, the source said, and he then left the hospital. A spokesman for Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital says it’s investigating whether the patient was questioned about his travels.

Regardless, two days later, on September 28, the man returned to the facility, where it was determined he likely had Ebola and was isolated. He tested positive for the Tuesday, health officials said.”

So, the hospital sent this patient home even though the CDC had provided strict guidelines to the medical community to follow regarding individuals exhibiting Ebola-like symptoms. Aside from the contact the first confirmed Ebola patient had with an unknown number of people including family, children, the people who lived in his apartment complex, and let’s not forget those medical professionals, hospital patients, their visitors, and hospital workers this man was in proximity to while apparently symptomatic, I’m sure this is all under control. Oh, I forgot to mention those courageous paramedics who had to retrieve the now very ill (and contagious) individual and rush back to the same hospital. I’m sure we have nothing at all to be concerned about. From CNN:

“Paramedics who transported the patient to the hospital have been isolated, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings’ chief of staff said. They have not shown symptoms of the disease so far, Frieden said.

The ambulance used to carry the patient was still in use for two days after the transport, city of Dallas spokeswoman Sana Syed said.”

As far as the second person who is “most Likely” infected with Ebola, the diagnosis is not yet confirmed at this time. However, due to the highly infectious nature of this disease and the number of people who have now been exposed to it, I am afraid we will see more than two potential Ebola cases. Why do I have the sinking suspicion that the CDC and the medical community are not at all prepared for a possible Ebola outbreak?