Dallas Hospital issues apology for handling of Ebola cases

The hospital where the first Ebola patient in the United States died issued an apology Sunday.

Texas Health Presbyterian took out full page ads in two Dallas newspapers and apologized to the community and tried to explain what went wrong.

The first Ebola patient in the United States died from the disease there. Two nurses who cared for him contracted the virus.

The hospital's CEO Barclay Berdan admitted two key failures: a lack of communication about Thomas Duncan's travel history and the lack of Ebola education and training prior to Duncan's arrival. He said, "As an institution, we made mistakes in handling this very difficult challenge."

Bonnie Castillo of National Nurses United Sunday said if more people are infected with Ebola, other hospitals could find themselves in the same, unprepared position.

She wants hospitals to stock top grade hazmat suits and require routine practice sessions for caregivers to learn how to put them on and take them off.

"It's all about preparedness," she said.

On Tuesday, California nurses plan to meet with Governor Brown in Sacramento to discuss statewide procedures.

The National Nurses United created an online petition asking congress for a comprehensive, uniform protocol regarding all nurses treating Ebola patients.

"In West Africa, they now term Ebola, nurse killer. This is so critical we get this right," Castillo added. "We in this country should have the ability to contain and eradicate Ebola."

For the 48 people who were exposed to Duncan after he entered the United States, today is the last day of monitoring.

"Thankfully, they're all asymptomatic, and it looks like none of them will get Ebola," said Judge Clay Jenkins of Dallas County.

VIDEO: Quarantine lifted for people who lived with first US Ebola patient

In related news, a lab worker who potentially handled Duncan's specimens and boarded a cruise ship is now back home, symptom free.

The Defense Department announced Sunday that it is creating a 30-person quick strike team to help with future cases.

For full coverage on the Ebola virus, click here.