Rockwall County Office of Emergency Management Notice

In the interest of public health and awareness, it has been brought to the attention of Rockwall County health officials and partner agencies that there are five residents of the county being monitored for the Ebola virus. The Texas Department of State Health Services does not release information as to the identity or address of these individuals to local officials. All five are currently under monitoring protocols by the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

What has been revealed to county officials concerning these individuals is as follows:

• All five live in Rockwall County. Local and county officials do not know the specific city in which each resides.
• One is a health care worker that works at Presbyterian Dallas and is said to be low risk.
• Four others were on a commercial flight this week with a patient that later tested positive for Ebola. Passengers are said to be low risk at this time.

Representatives from Rockwall County, city officials, Rockwall ISD and Royse City ISD are working together to monitor the situation, educate, and protect the safety of our healthcare workers, first responders, students, and residents.

Additional information is being provided by the Royse City ISD regarding a healthcare worker living in Collin County within the Royse City School District who is being monitored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). See Important Information at https://www.rcisd.org/. This individual is not among the five individuals noted above living in Rockwall County.

The best protection from the virus is to practice careful hygiene. For example, wash your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and avoid contact with blood and bodily fluids.

Officials from all cities in Rockwall County, the Rockwall County Office of Emergency Management, Rockwall ISD and Royse City ISD will provide additional information as it becomes available. For up to date information regarding the Ebola virus please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at: https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/