Pennsylvania State College

Health officials on Thursday were monitoring 80 people nationwide who may have had contact with the first person in the United States to test positive for Ebola.

That case was confirmed in Texas, but concerns about Ebola have spread throughout the United States, including to York County.

Local hospitals have precautions in place, and some residents expressed their concern, or the absence of concern, on Facebook.

"While the likelihood of the Ebola virus reaching southcentral Pennsylvania is small, at this point, WellSpan is prepared to deal with any such cases," said spokesman Barry Sparks in an email Thursday.

Sparks said WellSpan held a conference call with 25 staff members on Wednesday to discuss the current Ebola situation, information from the CDC website, reviewed procedures for handling infectious disease patients and "emphasized the importance of following respiratory etiquette and the appropriate use of standard precautions in light of the current infectious diseases threat."

Reached by phone, Sparks said Ebola "is an infectious disease and we're used to treating infectious diseases."

Jason McSherry, spokesman for Memorial Hospital, said in an email that "Although the risk (of Ebola) is low, if a patient exhibits symptoms of Ebola, we are prepared to follow infection control protocols established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention beginning with placing the patient in isolation."

According to the CDC, Ebola is spread through direct contact, either through broken skin or mucous membranes, with blood or body fluids like urine, saliva, feces, vomit and semen from an infected person.

It can also be spread from contimated needles and syringes and animals that are infected.

The virus is not spread through the air or water, according to the CDC.

Health workers caring for Ebola patients are at the highest risk of getting sick since they may come into contact with the body fluids of sick patients.

McSherry noted in the emailed statement that Memorial Hospital personnel would be protected by gowns, masks, face shields and gloves in the event of an Ebola case there, and nonessential staff and visitors would be restricted from seeing infected patients.

Diana LaRose, of Hallam, said she has been praying for people she knows in Liberia, including her adopted son, Michael Holder. Holder is the chaplain for Senate of Liberia. He lives on the main street in Monrovia, the country's capital, not far from two Ebola centers.

LaRose said she exchanged emails with Holder earlier this week, and he told her of the panic over the disease.

This is a country that has been through more than a decade of civil war, LaRose said. After several years of peace and an opportunity to try to rebuild, this outbreak happened. "I have no comprehension," she said.

In addition to the sadness she feels for the people of Liberia, LaRose said she is concerned about the spread of Ebola to the United States since there are no restrictions on travel or the issuance of visas.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

One might wonder if the rich "Elite" are underground and laughing at what is happening above ground.  They probably have all been vaccinated and are immune.