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All Hands On Deck in Texas, Possible Ebola in Hawaii

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Thomas Eric Duncan, the Ebola patient hospitalized in Dallas, is in serious condition but he's alert and praying with his family over the phone.

Meanwhile, the effort to keep the deadly virus from spreading is in high gear, with custodians dressed in white hazmat suits scrubbing and disinfecting schools in Dallas.

The move comes after news five children could have been exposed to Ebola after they had contact with Duncan, an African who traveled from Liberia to Dallas.

"We have additional nurses on staff so that if the kids feel like they have a question about their health, or the parents do, they can come in and get their questions answered," Dallas Independent School District Superintendent Mike Miles said Wednesday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigators are on the ground in Dallas, hoping to keep the virus from spreading.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry is in battle mode, warning "this is all hands on deck."

"We understand that and we've got great local partners," Perry said. "Everyone has their marching orders and understands the importance of that good collaboration."

"[Ebola] is substantially more difficult to contract than the common cold," he noted. "We have healthcare professionals and institutions second to none...They will succeed in this very important mission."

Dallas-area hospitals, schools, and entire neighborhoods are on high alert. Investigators want to be sure Duncan did not infect others.

Meanwhile, Texas isn't the only state taking precautions. Medical officials in Hawaii are monitoring a patient for symptoms that may be Ebola.

"The hospital is being very careful as they should be, to take precautions -- make sure the patient is in isolation, and make sure that their people and the public stay safe," Dr. Melissa Viray, with the Department of Health in Hawaii, said.

Meanwhile, CBN's Operation Blessing is in Liberia, working with local churches to educate the public about the disease and has shipped and distributed medical supplies.

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About The Author

Mark
Martin

Mark Martin currently serves as a reporter and anchor at CBN News, reporting on all kinds of issues, from military matters to alternative fuels. Mark has reported internationally in the Middle East. He traveled to Bahrain and covered stories on the aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower. Mark also anchors CBN News Midday on the CBN Newschannel and fills in on the anchor desk for CBN News' Newswatch and The 700 Club. Prior to CBN News, Mark worked at KFSM-TV, the CBS affiliate in Fort Smith, Arkansas. There he served as a weekend morning producer, before being promoted to general