Thomas Eric Duncan who is visiting the U.S.A from Liberia is the first Ebola patient  US soil.

Duncan who had come into the USA was staying with his sister in Texas, is said to have been exposed to the Ebola virus  prior to his trip.

Family, friends and others who had contact with the patient are now being monitored for the next 21 days  in order to detect if they too have been infected with the virus.

Texas health officials said that up to 18 people, including five children, had contact with the Ebola patient after he traveled to the United States from Liberia in late September. The children had gone to school early this week but have since been sent home and are being monitored for symptoms.

As of yesterday, 3:39pm Duncan's condition was described as serious.

This morning Dallas health officials reported that they are monitoring a possible second Ebola patient.

Liberia has been most affected by the Ebola virus in West Africa. According to WHO at least 3,358 people have died from the disease in West Africa.

International business mogul and philantropist Donald Trump took to twitter yesterday and urged the American government to stop flights from West African countries into the USA.

U.S. health officials have said the country's healthcare system was well prepared to contain any spread of Ebola, through careful tracking of people who had contact with the patient and appropriate care for those admitted to hospital.