This could be a critical week for all of the people being monitored after coming into contact with the first Ebola patient diagnosed in the United States.
While all of the high-risk contacts and others who may have had contact with Thomas Eric Duncan are being monitored for 21 days from date of contact, Ebola virus often presents symptoms between 8 to 10 days.
Dr. David Lakey, Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services said Monday, this week will be, "a very important week."
"We need to be prepared in Dallas for what could happen, if one of the family members, God forbid, becomes ill -- we need to be ready," said Lakey.
Lakey says his office has been working with hospitals and emergency managers across the state of Texas to be prepared for any new Ebola cases.
As of Monday, none of the 48 people being monitored have show symptoms, but their temperature continues to be checked twice a day.
Lakey went on to insist knowledge of travel history by health care providers will be important to stopping the spread of Ebola in Texas and across the country.
Duncan arrived in Dallas on Sept. 20 and fell ill a few days later. After an initial visit to the emergency room at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, he was sent home, even though he told a nurse he had been in disease-ravaged West Africa. He returned to the hospital two days later, on Sept. 28, and has been kept in isolation ever since.
Duncan was in critical but stable condition Monday, Texas Health Presbyterian Dallas said, after his condition deteriorated over the weekend. He's not being given an experimental drug, according to the hospital.
