Rick Perry Releases Statement Concerning Second Health Care Worker’s Ebola Contraction

Texas Governor Rick Perry released a statement Wednesday after the confirmation of a second health care worker in proximity to Thomas Eric Duncan contraction of the Ebola Virus on Tuesday, October 14.

The diagnosis of a second health care worker in Dallas reaffirms what a formidable foe this virus is.

 

I am in daily contact with Dr. Brett Giroir and Dr. David Lakey and earlier today spoke with White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough and HHS Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell to ensure state and federal management of this issue is tightly coordinated.

 

This is the first time that our nation has had to deal with a threat such as this. Everyone working on this challenge – from the medical professionals at the bedside to the public health officials addressing containment of the infection – is working to end the threat posed by this disease. These individuals are keeping the health and safety of Texans and the needs of the patients as their most critical tasks. Every relevant agency at the local, state and national levels is working to support these individuals.

 

I have great faith that we will succeed in this important mission; once we have put it behind us we will be the stronger for it and more prepared to meet the kinds of challenges that we as Americans are uniquely prepared to face.”

Governor Perry’s recently formed Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response is meeting Wednesday and includes Vickie Sutton, dean of the Texas Tech University School of Law.

Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control gave a possible timeline for the two health care workers’ exposure from Duncan.

Our investigations increasingly suggest that the first several days before the patient was diagnosed appear to be the highest risk period. That was the 28, 29 and 30^th (of October). These two health care workers both worked on those days.”

President Barack Obama cancelled travel plans to New Jersey today to meet with his cabinet concerning the situation in Dallas and West Africa. The President is expected to make public comments at 4 p.m. Wednesday.