It is thought a "breach in protocol" is to blame for a health worker in Texas contracting Ebola.

Officials have confirmed the medic is a female nurse. She had been caring for Thomas Eric Duncan at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.

Mr Duncan, 42, who had recently arrived from his native Liberia, died in an isolation ward at the hospital last Wednesday, 11 days after being admitted.

The unnamed nurse, who had been wearing full protective gear, reported having a "low grade fever" on Friday and was then isolated, officials said.

It is the first known case of Ebola being contracted or transmitted in the US.

The worker is likely to have caught the disease because of a breach of care protocol that could have taken place during Mr Duncan's dialysis or intubation, said Dr Thomas Frieden, from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC):

He said all those who cared for Mr Duncan could potentially be exposed to Ebola.

Officials were "very concerned" because the worker followed full CDC precautions, said Dan Varga, the chief clinical officer for Texas Health Resources.

He noted the full protective gear would have included a mask, gown, and gloves.

Officials are now monitoring 18 health care workers, according to Dr Varga.

The hospital worker is believed to be the first person in the US to test positive for Ebola who has not been to West Africa, where the outbreak has claimed more than 4,000 lives.

The care giver's condition was described as "stable" and they are going through a "great ordeal", officials said, adding the person had been considered at "low risk" of contracting the disease.

Airport screening

Earlier, the Irish Medical Organisation said the HSE must do more to ensure Ireland is prepared for a case of Ebola.

The President of the organisation, Professor Trevor Duffy says there is a lot of confusion and concern among GPs and simply issuing guidelines is not enough.

His comments come as JFK in New York has become the first of five airports in the United States to start new health screenings for travellers arriving from West African countries hit by the Ebola outbreak.

Passengers have had their temperatures taken and are being asked to fill out a questionnaire.

The UN's special envoy on Ebola - Dr David Nabarro - says he hopes the spread will be under control in three months time.

Director at the US CDC is Dr Martin Cetron:

The screening measures were put in place after Liberian Thomas Eric Duncan died in a Texas hospital on Wednesday.

His family claim they still haven't been officially informed of his death. Josephus Weeks is the 42-year-old's nephew.

Originally posted at 7:35am