Obama discusses Ebola case with Dallas mayor

US President Barack Obama and Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings discussed the first Ebola case diagnosed on American soil and the president pledged full support to prevent the disease from spreading.

"The president called to make sure the mayor was getting the resources he needed from the federal government, including the Centers for Disease Control, to treat the patient safely, and control this case so that it does not spread widely," Xinhua quoted a statement issued by White House spokesman Eric Schultz Thursday as saying.

The President pledged that federal agencies would remain in close coordination and reiterated his confidence in America's doctors and national health infrastructure to handle this case safely and effectively, Schultz said.

Obama made the call while aboard Air Force One en route back to Washington from Chicago.

The patient, who was identified as Thomas Eric Duncan, is a Liberian national in his mid-40s.

He travelled to Dallas to visit his relatives and was confirmed to be infected with Ebola Tuesday. The hospital where Duncan is being treated said his condition is serious.