U.S. Ebola Patient Traveled From Liberia To Brussels, Then To Dallas Via D.C.

News outlets report on details of the U.S. Ebola patient’s travel path from Liberia to Dallas and the low risk he posed to other travelers.

Associated Press: Man with Ebola virus flew roundabout trip to U.S.
“…Details of the man’s 28-hour trip from western Africa emerged Wednesday. He flew on two airlines, took three flights, and had lengthy airport layovers before reaching Texas on Sept. 20…” (Koenig/Mayerowitz, 10/1).

The Hill: Ebola patient arrived in U.S. via Brussels
“The U.S. patient recently diagnosed with Ebola flew through Brussels on his way to Texas, Canada’s top health leader said Wednesday. The Canadian official’s statement raises alarms for Europe and increases pressure on the U.S. to release more details on the infected patient’s path from Liberia…” (Ferris, 10/1).

The Hill: U.S. Ebola patient flew United Airlines from D.C.
“The first person to be diagnosed with the deadly Ebola virus in the U.S. flew on a pair of United Airlines’ flights last month, the company confirmed on Wednesday. The company said the Ebola-stricken passenger traveled on its Flight 951 from Brussels to Washington’s Dulles International Airport and then connected to its Flight 822 to Dallas…” (Laing, 10/1).

The Hill: CDC: ‘No risk’ to passengers who shared flight with Ebola patient
“The Centers for Disease Control is saying that there was no risk of catching the Ebola virus to passengers who shared a recent commercial airline flight with the first confirmed U.S. patient, according to a Dallas Morning News report…” (Laing, 10/1).

New York Times: Man in U.S. With Ebola Had Been Screened to Fly, but System Is Spotty
“As he was preparing to leave Liberia for Dallas two weeks ago, Thomas E. Duncan, the man confirmed to be the first Ebola case in the United States, was checked at the airport for signs of the disease. He was determined to have no fever and allowed to board his flight, American officials say. … But the system has its limits, relying on the traveler to reveal whether he or she has been exposed…” (Wald/Mouawad, 10/1).

Reuters: Liberia says U.S. Ebola case showed no symptoms before travel
“The man who is being treated for Ebola in the United States after travelling to Texas from Liberia showed no signs of fever or symptoms of the virus when he left the country on Sept. 19, the Liberian government said on Wednesday…” (10/1).

Washington Post: Texas Ebola patient traveled through Dulles International Airport
“According to officials at United Airlines, the man who has the first case of Ebola to be diagnosed in the United States flew from Brussels through Dulles International Airport and then on to Dallas-Fort Worth on Sept. 20. The airline emphasized that the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there is ‘zero risk of transmission’ on any flight, since the man did not develop symptoms until several days after he completed his trip…” (Aratani, 10/1).

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