Ebola outbreak over in Dallas, but other Texans still being monitored

DALLAS — Six weeks after the deadly Ebola virus was diagnosed here, health officials on Friday declared Dallas’ outbreak to be finally over.

Monitoring of an unidentified hospital staffer who handled infected waste on Oct. 17 ended Thursday night. That person is the last of 177 people to be pronounced healthy after having contact with at least one of three Texas Ebola patients. Those in the group — which included health care workers, patients' families, first responders and even a dog — have all reached the 21-day mark, the longest incubation period.

“Thanksgiving comes early,” Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said in a written statement. “It’s a time to reflect on the sacrifices of our hometown heroes and the city, county, and school district employees that worked so hard, along with our state and federal partners, to keep us safe during the Ebola crisis.”

Dallas became ground zero on Sept. 30 for the Ebola scare that has seized the nation’s attention. That’s when Thomas Eric Duncan, a Liberian citizen visiting family in Texas, became the first Ebola patient to ever be diagnosed with the virus in the United States. Officials believe Duncan, 42, had the disease when he flew to Dallas on Sept. 20.

“It’s been a challenge, and there have been moments of frustration throughout this difficult process,” Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said in a statement on Friday. “I’m proud of the citizens of Dallas for learning the facts about Ebola and staying calm.”

Ebola is highly contagious for those who come in contact with a symptomatic person. Duncan’s diagnosis launched a widespread public health investigation to learn who Duncan had been near during his time in Texas. His family, friends and the ambulance crew who rushed the vomiting Duncan to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital were immediately quarantined. The scare even prompted a citywide alert for a homeless man who had ridden in the same ambulance after Duncan. Police eventually tracked him and put him in protective clothing before taking him to a hospital.

“We reached this point through teamwork and meticulous monitoring, and we’ll continue to be vigilant to protect Texas from Ebola,” Dr. David Lakey, the state health commissioner, said in a written statement about Friday’s all-clear.

Duncan died after 10 days of intensive care at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, becoming the country’s first recorded death from the disease.

Texas Health Presbyterian has apologized for mistakes in how it initially handled Duncan's case. On Friday, the hospital said it was grateful for Dallas' all-clear, but continues to remember and honor Duncan.

“We emerge from this experience both humbled and empowered with a new strength of purpose,” the hospital said in a written statement. “We will continue to share our learnings with the healthcare community nationwide.”

Former President George W. Bush visited the hospital on Friday to show his support.

“The last five weeks have been a trying time for the city and residents of Dallas and especially the people of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas,” Bush said in a written statement.

[Related: NYC doctor with Ebola playing banjo in hospital]

Within days of Duncan's death, two nurses who had cared for him fell ill and were diagnosed with Ebola. Nina Pham, 26, and Amber Vinson, 29, were flown to hospitals with specialized treatment units and were discharged late last month after being declared Ebola-free.

Pham was reunited with her dog, Bentley, in an emotional reunion last week. The King Charles spaniel spent three weeks in quarantine while being monitored for the virus.

Health officials said they continue to be on guard for travelers returning to Texas from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, where the disease has killed nearly 5,000 this year. Fifty people have been recently identified as having returned to Texas from those high-risk areas. A nurse residing in Central Texas, who cared for Ebola patients in Sierra Leone, is considered to be at “some risk” of exposure and has agreed to stay home during the incubation period.

“We’re happy to reach this milestone, but our guard stays up,” Lakey wrote.

Jason Sickles is a reporter for Yahoo. Follow him on Twitter (@jasonsickles).