Dallas Ebola patient to be prosecuted, circle of contact increased to 100

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Liberian officials plan to prosecute the man who brought Ebola to the United States for lying on his health form. His actions may have put nearly 100 other people at risk.

With an Ebola crisis raging in West Africa, passengers leaving Liberia are being screened for fever and are asked if they have had contact with anyone infected.

On the questionnaire obtained by The Associated Press, Thomas Eric Duncan answered `no' to those questions.

Neighbors said Duncan had helped a sick pregnant woman who later died of the disease. Her illness at the time was believed to be pregnancy-related.

Binyah Kesselly, chairman of the board of directors of the Liberia Airport Authority, told reporters Thursday that Duncan will be prosecuted when he returns to Liberia.


Circle of Contact

The Texas Department of State Health Services said about 100 people may have come in contact with Duncan. It's an increase from the 12 to 18 reported on Wednesday.

But, Dallas County Health and Human Services Director Zach Thompson clarified these are not immediate family members. These are friends and others who simply may have been in the patient's or his immediate family members' circle of contact. 

They are being questioned and asked to monitor their own symptoms, but are not being isolated at this point.

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