The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed the first case of the fatal Ebola virus diagnosed inside the United States.

The infected individual apparently had traveled to Dallas from Liberia, and didn't show any signs of having the condition when leaving West Africa, but developed symptoms about four days after stepping onto American soil on Sept. 20, said a CDCP news release.

The infected individual fell ill on Sept. 24 and sought medical help at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas on Sept. 26, the health agency indicated.

After it was determined the infected individual's symptoms were consistent with Ebola -- based on the person's travel history and symptoms, authorities recommended testing for the disease -- he was admitted into hospital care on Sept. 28.

The medical facility said staff isolated the patient and sent specimens for testing at CDCP and at a Texas lab that's part of the CDCP's Laboratory Response Network.

The CDCP and the Texas Health Department reported the laboratory test results to the medical center to inform the patient, while local public health officials have begun identifying close contacts of the person for further daily monitoring, which will continue for the 21 days after the initial exposure.

"Ebola can be scary. But there's all the difference in the world between the U.S. and parts of Africa where Ebola is spreading. The United States has a strong health care system and public health professionals who will make sure this case does not threaten our communities," Dr. Tom Frieden, the CDCP's director, said in a statement.

"While it is not impossible that there could be additional cases associated with this patient in the coming weeks, I have no doubt that we will contain this."

CDCP authorities advise that people on the same commercial airline flights as the infected individual need not undergo monitoring, since Ebola is only contagious if the person is experiencing active symptoms - and the man in question did not show any signs of having the disease while on the planes.

The CDCP said it understands even a single case of Ebola diagnosed in the United States raises public concerns. That's why, knowing the possibility of diagnosis in the states, the agency has teamed with medical and public health professionals across the country have been preparing to respond.

"We do know how to stop Ebola's further spread: thorough case finding, isolation of ill people, contacting people exposed to the ill person, and further isolation of contacts if they develop symptoms," the agency said in a statement. "The U.S. public health and medical systems have had prior experience with sporadic cases of diseases such as Ebola. In the past decade, the United States had 5 imported cases of Viral Hemorrhagic Fever diseases similar to Ebola...none resulted in any transmission in the U.S."

Anyone who is concerned about possible exposure or wants to learn more information about Ebola may call the CDCP information line at 800-CDC-INFO or visit the agency's Website, at www.cdc.gov.