FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Oct. 20, 2014 Sana Syed – Public Information Officer (214) 846-0519
City, church and private donors help Louise Troh start over
Dallas – The City of Dallas is working with Wilshire Baptist Church and private donors to help Louise Troh and her family start over. Troh, fiancée of Ebola victim Thomas Eric Duncan and her family completed the 21-day quarantine period and have no symptoms of the disease. “We thank all people of kindness who have prayed for us during this time, and we join your prayers now for others who are suffering too,” she said. “We have lost so much, but we have our lives and we have our faith in God, which always gives us hope.”
During the decontamination of her apartment, Troh’s family lost the majority of their belongings. Troh will spend some time over the next week finding a home or apartment of her choice, within her budget. The City is coordinating with the church and local philanthropists to provide Troh with enough funds to carry her through the first six months of a new lease and enough money to purchase new clothes and personal items. Once Troh decides on a new place to live, area non-profits will assist with furniture, linens and kitchenware for the new home. Her son will return to school tomorrow morning.
Today state health officials announced that 43 people who had contact with the first Ebola patient are now cleared from twice-daily monitoring after reaching the 21-day incubation period. No one in the group, which includes health care workers, household contacts and community members has any Ebola symptoms. Health care officials say none are at risk of developing the disease. Among the 43 off the list are three EMS workers who transported Duncan to the hospital on Sept. 28. All three are in great spirits and looking forward to returning to their normal lives. All three have declined media interviews.
An additional group of people are also being monitored for symptoms because they were passengers on one of two Frontier flights that carried one of the health care workers later diagnosed with Ebola. A small group of passengers considered to be at higher risk of exposure has been directed to stay home.
Dallas Animal Services (DAS) also continues to care for Nina Pham’s dog, Bentley. The dog will be monitored for a full 21-day period, similar to people exposed to the Ebola virus. DAS is overseeing Bentley’s care in partnership with the state, Texas A&M University and the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, the Texas Department of State Health Services, the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Centers for Disease Control. The first sample of Bentley’s feces was sent to a lab for testing today.