After killing at least 3159 people and infecting 6808 others in West Africa, the ebola virus has unfortunately reached the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that one man from Dallas, Texas is now being quarantined after testing positive with the deadly disease. Reports say he was from Liberia and arrived in the US on September 20 but only developed certain symptoms that point to ebola contraction four days after.
Dallas Governor Rick Perry also confirmed that at least five children from four different schools came in contact with the first identified ebola virus victim. Perry said that he has 'full confidence' that Texas medical teams will find a way to prevent a larger ebola virus outbreak.
The first victim, identified as Thomas Eric Duncan, was in Dallas to visit his family and is believed to have had conversation with other people. The CDC, however, assures that the ebola virus outbreak will not spread rapidly in the country.
"I have no doubt that we will control this case of Ebola so that it does not spread widely in this country... we will stop Ebola in its tracks," said CDC director Thomas Frieden.
While the ebola virus outbreak is threatening the country, three companies saw their stocks soar after the confirmation of the disease's arrival. Zacks.com reported that pharmaceutical firms that are working to find the cure for the deadly disease became hot items after the confirmation of the first ebola virus case in the United States.
"The three pharmaceutical companies mentioned on the CDC website, NewLink (NLNK - Snapshot Report) Genetics Corp, Tekmira Pharmaceuticals (TKMR) and Biocryst Pharmaceuticals (BCRX - Snapshot Report) gained 8.78%, 18.67%, and 1.12% respectively on Wednesday. That is because all three of these companies are working towards vaccines for Ebola, and now with the virus on American soil, there has never been a greater focus on finding a way to stop it from spreading further," Zacks.com wrote.
