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Second Texas Health Worker Infected with Ebola


In this photo released via Twitter by the City of Dallas, members of the Fire-Rescue Haz Mat Unit prepare to decontaminate common areas near the The Village Bend East apartment of a second healthcare worker who has tested positive for Ebola, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2014, in Dallas.
In this photo released via Twitter by the City of Dallas, members of the Fire-Rescue Haz Mat Unit prepare to decontaminate common areas near the The Village Bend East apartment of a second healthcare worker who has tested positive for Ebola, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2014, in Dallas.
Second Texas Health Worker Infected with Ebola
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Update: American officials say tests show that a second health care worker in Texas has the Ebola virus. The worker helped care for the first patient in the United States to test positive for Ebola.

The Texas Department of State Health Services confirmed the infection of the health care worker. But it did not identify the worker, who cared for Thomas Eric Duncan at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.

Mr. Duncan was from Liberia. He died of Ebola last Wednesday after being admitted to the hospital for treatment 11 days earlier. He was the first person in the United States to die from the disease.

Texas health officials said the health care worker was put in a restricted area of the hospital after showing signs of the virus.

A few days ago, officials said a nurse who cared for the Liberian man had become infected with Ebola. On Tuesday, the nurse, Nina Pham, said she is “doing well” and wanted to “thank everyone for their kind wishes and prayers.”

Officials believe that at least 75 other health care workers might have come into contact with Thomas Duncan. Doctors are watching those workers for high body temperature or other signs of the disease.

In the News 10-14-14
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The Texas nurse who became the first person sickened with the Ebola virus on U.S. soil says she is "doing well."

Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas released a statement Tuesday from Nina Pham. She said she wants "to thank everyone for their kind wishes and prayers."

Nina Phạm (Family photo)
Nina Phạm (Family photo)

The hospital is the same where Ms. Pham was infected while caring for a Liberian man. He is first person to die of Ebola in the United States.

The hospital's chief said the doctors and nurses involved with Ms. Pham's treatment "remain hopeful."

Ms. Pham received a blood transfusion from Kent Brantly, the American doctor who recovered from Ebola in the U.S. after getting the disease in Liberia.

Meanwhile, a German hospital says a United Nations medical worker who became sick with Ebola virus while in Liberia has died. The UN Mission in Liberia reported last week that tests showed the 56-year-old worker was infected on October 6th. UN officials said none of the 41 people who may have been in contact with the person had shown any signs of the disease.

The World Health Organization says the number of Ebola cases in West Africa is significantly underreported, and is likely two times greater than thought.

WHO Assistant Director-General Bruce Aylward says actual infections could be 1.5 times higher than reported in Guinea, two times higher in Sierra Leone, and 2.5 times higher in Liberia.

Mr. Aylward, spoke to reporters Tuesday in Geneva. He said the official death toll from the Ebola virus has risen to 4,447. Nearly all of these are in West Africa. The number of reported cases is now more than 8,900.

Hong Kong Police Remove Barriers Around Protesters

Hong Kong police used chainsaws and other power tools on Tuesday to remove barriers from a main street in the city’s financial area. Protesters have been living there for over two weeks. They are demanding political reforms.

Police officers remove the bamboo barriers that protesters set up in Central district in Hong Kong, Oct. 14, 2014.
Police officers remove the bamboo barriers that protesters set up in Central district in Hong Kong, Oct. 14, 2014.

Hundreds of police tore down pro-democracy signs and crushed shelters along the Queensway in the Admiralty area of central Hong Kong.

Crowds of protesters, some crying, exchanged words with police but did not resist. Police gave protesters permission to remain, but said they must not block traffic or the transport lines that run through the middle of the street.

Hours earlier, police removed metal barricades at another protest site in the nearby Causeway Bay shopping area. Police said the move was designed to free up traffic.

North Korean Leader Reappears in Public

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has made his first public appearance in more than 40 days. State media photographs showed Mr. Kim carrying a cane.

North Korean lKim Jong Un uses a cane in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang October 14, 2014.
North Korean lKim Jong Un uses a cane in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang October 14, 2014.

The official Korean Central News Agency said Tuesday he visited a housing area and a science center, where he gave "field guidance." The news agency and the country's main newspaper published several pictures of Mr. Kim smiling and leaning on a black cane.

The reports did not say when the photos were taken. They also did not explain why he was carrying the cane.

The disappearance of Mr. Kim led observers to wonder whether he was suffering a serious health or political problem.

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Words in the News

hospital – n. a place where sick or injured people are given medical care

virus – n. a kind of organism that causes disease

contact – v. to meet or communicate with; n. the act of touching or being close to a person or thing

tools – n. instruments or devices designed to help one to do work

barriers – n. things that block or make an action difficult

resist v. to oppose; to fight to prevent

Now, it’s your turn to use these Words in the News. In the comment section, write a sentence using one of these words and we will provide feedback on the use of vocabulary and grammar.

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