News Release
October 2, 2014
Out of an abundance of caution, Texas and Dallas County
health officials have ordered four close family members of the Dallas Ebola
patient to stay home and not have any visitors to prevent the potential spread
of disease.
“We have tried and true protocols to protect the public and
stop the spread of this disease,” said Dr. David Lakey, Texas health
commissioner. “This order gives us the ability to monitor the situation in the
most meticulous way.”
The local health department had previously instructed the
family to stay home, but a strict public health control order is needed to
ensure compliance. Ebola is not contagious until symptoms appear. The family
members do not have symptoms at this time.
The orders were hand delivered to the family members
Wednesday evening by local health officials. The orders legally require the
family to stay at home and not have any visitors without approval from the
local or state health department until at least Oct. 19. The order is in place
until the incubation period has passed and the family is no longer at risk of
having the disease.
The order requires the family to be available to provide
blood samples and agree to any testing required by public health officials and
to immediately report any symptoms to Dallas County Health and Human Services.
Symptoms include fever above 100.5 degrees, headache, nausea, diarrhea or
abdominal pain.
Texas law allows the state health department and the
local health authority to issue control measures to a person who is ill with,
has been exposed to, or is the carrier of a communicable disease. (Health and
Safety Code §81.083). Control measures by law can include isolation, quarantine
and preventive therapy. If a person does not follow these orders, they can be
enforced by the courts, and the person can face criminal charges.
-30-
State Health Department Media Contact:
Carrie Williams, 512-776-7119, carrie.williams@dshs.state.tx.us
Dallas County Contact: Dallas County Judge
Clay Lewis Jenkins, 214-653-7949, Clay.Jenkins@dallascounty.org
DSHS Press Office on Twitter