As the Ebola epidemic in West Africa expands, more cases could require treatment at U.S. hospitals far from the specialized centers that have handled patients so far. But the challenges even these medical centers have encountered show the steep learning curve others face. (Update:Second health-care worker in Texas tests positive for Ebola).

Treating Ebola takes money, space, aggressive care and obsessive vigilance to prevent doctors and nurses from getting infected, say infectious disease doctors at such specialized hospitals...