It had to happen and now, pending confirmation by the CDC, it has.
After some scares that turned out to be nothing, a real ebola case has now appeared in a second US city. This time it's New York, the patient, Craig Spencer, is a doctor who returned recently from Guinea, where he treated Ebola patients.
There is every reason to believe that his case will go more smoothly than that of Thomas Eric Duncan in Dallas:
Being the second case to show up is a big help. Doctors, Nurses and other health care people around the country are keenly aware that ebola can show up on their doorstep.
The Federal government has issued regulations that funnel all traffic from West Africa through 5 airports. That allows for more screening, and for hospitals near those airports to be prepared for ebola patients.
The CDC has learned a thing or two about ebola in real world America.
With any luck, the public has kept up with the health care system. The outbreak in Dallas, with clear mistakes made on the ground, has not resulted in any deaths beyond the original victim.
This is a disease that can be controlled. It is not a raging wildfire.