United States National Security Adviser Susan E. Rice (L) and Secretary of State John Kerry sit with President Barack Obama during the Ebola epidemic conference at the United Nations in New York, NY, on September 25, 2014. UPI/Anthony Behar/Pool | License Photo

DALLAS, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- The number of people potentially exposed to U.S. Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan has grown from 18 to 100, and his family has been issued a court-ordered quarantine after violating a civil request to stay in their home.

After a member of Duncan's family violated the request to remain at their Dallas home, city Judge Clay Jenkins, in conjunction with the Texas Department of State Health Services, issued a legally enforceable quarantine, requiring Duncan's family to remain in their apartment while they are screened for the deadly virus.


Meanwhile, the number of people believed to have come in contact with Duncan since he contracted Ebola has more than quintupled since Wednesday, growing from 18 to exactly 100. "Out of an abundance of caution, we're starting with this very wide net, including people who have had even brief encounters with the patient or the patient's home," the Texas Department of State Health Services said in a statement.

"The number will drop as we focus in on those whose contact may represent a potential risk of infection."

"We are stopping Ebola in its tracks in this country," echoed Center for Disease Control Director Tom Frieden.

"We can do that because of two things: strong infection control that stops the spread of Ebola in health care; and strong core public health functions to trace contacts, track contacts, isolate them if they have any symptoms and stop the chain of transmission. I am certain we will control this."