It appears Americans will escape the most devastating consequences of an Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Just one person has died of the disease in the United States.

If we have dodged a bullet, good luck rather than preparedness probably deserves the credit. There have been serious failures in our health care network.

As readers already know, the Liberian man who died in a Texas hospital after flying into the United States was not handled properly. He went to the hospital complaining of symptoms consistent with Ebola. He had a high fever. He told hospital personnel he had just arrived from Liberia.

They sent him home. Days later, he was back in the hospital, where he died.

Now it has been reported a worker at the hospital is ill with Ebola. Health care officials, noting she contracted the disease despite wearing protective gear while she treated the Liberian man, blame “a breach of protocol.”

That is health care jargon for not taking adequate steps to protect patients and staff.

Obviously, more needs to be known about how the health care worker contracted Ebola. At the same time, hospitals throughout the United States should be reexamining steps they take in handling any infectious disease. Clearly, relying on good luck is not enough.