First Ebola Case In US Raising Questions

Health officials are tracking down family, friends and anyone else who may have come in close contact with the man who health officials are saying is the first patient to be diagnosed with Ebola in the U.S.

The patient was hospitalized and placed in isolation on Sunday at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital. Officials confirmed he had tested positive for Ebola yesterday. He had flown from Liberia to Dallas on Sept. 19 and started presenting symptoms on Sept. 24.

Meantime, state and federal health officials are urging calm.

Center for Disease Control head Thomas Frieden said he does not believe anyone who flew on the plane with the patient was at risk of being infected, since Ebola isn't contagious until symptoms start presenting.

However, questions are being raised about why the patient — who sought treatment two days before being hospitalized — was given antibiotics and released.

For the latest on the story, Lauren Silverman, the health reporter from KERA in Dallas, joins Here & Now's Robin Young.