UTMB checked its supplies and procedures three weeks ago to prepare for a possible Ebola case, he said. Lea said chances were small that Texas would suffer a severe outbreak of Ebola like the one in Africa that has claimed more than 3,000 lives. "People need to understand that in West Africa, health facilities are very limited," Lea said. "They may have a brick building with no running water, no ability to sterilize instruments and many times relatives are caring for loved ones with very little protection or control." Hospitals in the United States have procedures in place that are adequate to contain the virus in a normal hospital setting, he said.