US monitoring over 80 people who were 'in contact' with America's first Ebola victim

It has been confirmed that none of the 80 people who had direct or indirect contact with Thomas Eric Duncan show symptoms of Ebola.

17:57 03 October 2014

Following news that the Ebola virus has entered the US territory, health officials in Texas, where the first American ebola victim Thomas Eric Duncan lives, say they are monitoring about 80 people who had either direct or indirect contact with him.

They have confirmed that, as yet, none have shown any symptoms of the virus.

Erikka Neroes, a spokeswoman for Dallas County Department of Health and Human Services, told the media on Thursday that the 80 people were asked to report to Texas health officials or the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention if they show symptoms of the deadly virus.

On Wednesday, Health officials ordered four family members to stay at home and to not accept visitors until October 19, when the incubation should be over. Ebola symptoms can take up to 21 days to show up.

Authorities are calling for calm as residents started to panic after news that five students who had close contact with Duncan went to four different schools. Some parents and students were reportedly reluctant to go back to school on Thursday while others took went home early.