Sally Nuran, manager of the Ivy Apartments responds to questions from reporters during a news conference at the main entrance to the complex, on Oct. 2, 2014, in Dallas. A family who resides there had contact with a man diagnosed with the Ebola virus. Dallas officials have asked the family to remain in their home.DALLAS – Four members of a family the U.S. Ebola patient was staying with were confined to their Texas home under armed guard Thursday as the circle of people possibly exposed to the virus widened, while Liberian authorities said they would prosecute the man for allegedly lying on an airport questionnaire.
The unusual confinement order was imposed after the family failed to comply with a request not to leave their apartment, according to Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins.
Texas State Health Commissioner David Lakey said the order would help ensure the four can be closely watched, including checking them for fevers over the next three weeks.
“We didn’t have the confidence we would have been able to monitor them the way that we needed to,” he said.
The family will not be allowed to receive visitors, officials said.