Piazzas react to news of Ebola case in Dallas

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed Tuesday the first diagnosed case of Ebola in the United States.
The case is centered in Dallas, where a man recently traveled from Liberia, one of the West African countries heavily affected by the Ebola outbreak.
Tuesday’s news hit close to home for Abbeville Mayor Mark Piazza and his wife Suzanne. The Piazza’s son, Chuck, works in Dallas as an occupational therapist.
“We are certainly concerned about the case,” Piazza said. “I think everyone has anticipated that Ebola would probably show up in the United States, sooner or later. Dallas is a little too close for comfort.
“Having a son who lives in the area, it was really distressing for my wife and me when we heard about it.”
The Piazzas have spoken to their son since the news came out Tuesday.
“He is not too concerned,” Piazza said.
Like many, the Piazzas have watched the Ebola outbreak in West Africa that began late last year.
“My wife is an R.N. and she has paid close attention to it,” Piazza said.
Health officials reiterated in the wake of the Dallas case that the virus is spread only through the direct contact of bodily fluids. Officials also state that the infected person is only contagious once he or she begins to show symptoms.
Health officials placed the Dallas patient in isolation and have reportedly tracked down those who may have come in contact with him. Medical personnel in Dallas who handled the case have also reportedly been placed in quarantine.
The world has watched as the epidemic has grown in recent months. According to the World Health Organization, there have been more than 6,500 confirmed cases in the West African countries of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone as of late last week. The group reports that more than 3,000 have died as a result.
Health officials in the U.S. have said no such outbreak is likely to happen here, as any case would quickly be identified and handled accordingly.
“It’s still a little scary and makes my wife and I uncomfortable to know that our son is in an area where Ebola has been identified,” Piazza said.

An NPR report contributed to this story.