Texas orders Ebola patient's family to stay home
State and county health officials in Texas have ordered four family members of a man hospitalized in Dallas for ebola to stay at home and not have any visitors until at least October 19.
The local health department had previously instructed the family of Thomas Eric Duncan, a Liberian national who had recently flown to Dallas and has been hospitalized with the virus, to stay home. A public health control order was issued to ensure compliance.
"We have tried-and-true protocols to protect the public and stop the spread of this disease," said Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services Dr. David Lakey. "This order gives us the ability to monitor the situation in the most meticulous way."
The orders -- which were hand-delivered to family members Wednesday evening by local health officials -- legally require that the family must stay at home until October 19 at the earliest. Also, no visitors will be allowed without the approval of local or state health departments.
The family must also provide blood samples upon request, and to immediately report any symptoms of the sickness to Dallas County Health and Human Services.
If a person does not follow health control measures, he or she may face criminal charges.