CDC confirms preliminary Ebola diagnosis for Dallas healthcare worker

DALLAS, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- Update 10/12/2014 12:19 p.m. EDT:

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed the latest Ebola diagnosis of a Dallas healthcare worker. CDC officials have interviewed the female health worker and are blaming to her contraction of the deadly disease on a "breach of protocol," although they cannot confirm where or how the breach occurred.

"It is deeply concerning that this infection occurred," CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden said during a press conference on Sunday. "We are assessing her possible contacts from the moment she discovered symptoms."

Original story follows:

A second Ebola case has been diagnosed in the United States, as preliminary tests for the deadly disease have come back positive for a healthcare worker in Dallas who cared for Liberian Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan.

Duncan, the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola in the United States, died last week. The hospital confirmed that the newly diagnosed patient wore protective gear at all times while caring for Duncan. The worker remains unnamed due to requests for privacy made by the family.

The beta Ebola patient, like all workers that cared for Duncan, were on a self-monitoring regimen -- taking their temperatures twice daily. Upon an initial elevated temp reading, the worker admitted herself to the hospital and was immediately quarantined.

"We knew a second case could be a reality, and we've been preparing for this possibility," Dr. David Lakey, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, said in a statement released by the agency. "We are broadening our team in Dallas and working with extreme diligence to prevent further spread."

The preliminary diagnosis and test results are currently being reviewed by the CDC in Atlanta. If confirmed, the diagnosis would be the first case of Ebola contracted in the United States. Though Duncan was diagnosed in Texas, he contracted the disease while in Liberia.

"The health care worker is a heroic person who provided care to Mr. Duncan," Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said at a press conference. "We expected it was possible that a second person could contract the virus. Contingency plans were put into place."