On Sept. 30, 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that Eric Duncan, a Liberian national visiting Dallas was diagnosed with Ebola in Dallas, Texas.

Duncan had not shown any symptoms upon arrival ten days earlier but developed them approximately four days later. Three other cases were reported in the following weeks.

Duncan first sought medical care at the Texas Health Presbyterian hospital in Dallas on September 26, where he was prescribed antibiotics and sent home, but returned two days later when his condition deteriorated and was admitted.

By October 2, 80 people were identified as having come in contact with Mr. Duncan. Further, Emergency Operations Centers at the Dallas County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the City of Dallas Office of Emergency Management, Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS), and the Public Health Operations Center (P-HOC), were activated. By October 3, 50 individuals were being monitored, with 10 of them being considered at a high risk.

On October 8, Duncan succumbed to the Ebola virus, sending the nation into high alert with the possibility of an infectious disease pandemic in the U.S.