How Ebola Infected Man Possibly Got To DFW
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UPDATE: 4:45 p.m.
According to United Airlines, the CDC has informed carrier the infected man flew on their airline for part of his trip: Brussels to Washington Dulles, Flight 951 and Washington Dulles to Dallas-Fort Worth, Flight 822.
DALLAS, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) - How did the man infected with Ebola get here? That's the question everyone wants to know.
The CDC gave out basic information about the infected patients travel plans in a press conference yesterday. Based on that information the CBS 11 I-Team has been able to narrow down the possible flights he could have been on.
He left out of Liberia – Well, there's only one airport in Liberia. Roberts International Airport in Monrovia.
To date, nearly every single major airline carrier has pulled flights leaving Monrovia based on the Ebola outbreak. We've spoken with British Airways and Delta Airlines, both use to fly out of Monrovia but now don't.
He left on September 19, 2014. That was a Friday. And there are even fewer flights leaving on Friday.
He arrived on September 20, 2014 in the United States. That's a Saturday.
Read the latest on the Ebola diagnosis in Dallas
In order to do a 24-28 hour turnaround, placing him in the US by Saturday before midnight, he would have had to make minimal stops. Flying into a major airport hub would have been essential.
Keeping all that in mind, the CBS 11 I-Team believes there is a good chance the Ebola infected patient left Liberia on Brussel Airlines flight 1247.
We have contacted the CDC about this information; which they would neither confirm nor deny.
"Team on the ground that is doing that work and verifying flight information," Jason McDonald, CDC.
McDonald referred us to a team member on the ground, who we are waiting to hear back from.
We've also contacted Brussel Airlines and got this statement from them:
"Concerning your question, Brussels Airlines has not been contacted by the US Centre of Disease Control about this and we don't have more information related to this case as we are not even aware about the identity of the person. This person had a choice between several transport solutions and airlines. We note that in its official statement the Centre of Disease Control highlights that there is no risk that this person contaminated other passengers as he only developed illness symptoms days after he arrived in the US. For your information: as long as a person has not developed any symptoms, this person is not contagious.
Brussels Airlines is permanently monitoring the situation in the with Ebola confronted countries and is in continuous contact with Belgian and International Health Authorities like the WHO. In addition we take since the beginning of this crisis a number of precautionary measures in order to exclude risks. The WHO and the International Civil Aviation Authorities specifically asked and encouraged Brussels Airlines to continue its flight services to the Ebola-stricken countries in order to assist these countries in their efforts to fight the virus - especially as the risk of contamination is extremely low because it is almost, if not completely, impossible for a passenger with illness symptoms to travel."
Wencke Lemmes-Pireaux, Corporate Communications
(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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