Ebola Comes To USA

[Mosfed]

Low grade fever is the beginning point of Ebola. In order to infect other people, the nurse would have to be ill to the point of vomiting, spitting up blood, or having diarrhea, and people would have to come into contact with those fluids. The latter symptoms are when Ebola is contagious and pose a danger to others.

Look in general, I agree with your outlook on the situation and I appreciate your insights here.

But I think if we are learning one thing, it is that we don't know as much about this particular strain as we thought. So I am not sure that here I agree that it was a great idea for the nurse to fly with early symptoms. She followed protocol and I think the CDC might have reacted differently.

but what do I know? Nothing of great value on the subject, that is for sure.

 

[Hawaii Islander]

I whole heartedly agree that the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that I saw being used by the nurses is inadequate. I have said so many times in other conversations. I do believe that I mentioned my concern regarding the equipment and training in this thread and most certainly in other forums. I think health care workers need to have standardized PPE and training to properly handle dangerous infectious diseases in a hospital setting that protects health care workers, patients and the community. The CDC seems to be more aware of the shortcomings in these areas and are working to correct and improve the situation. I still am very wary of anything posted by Breitbart.com. They have been unreliable with their information accuracy in the past.

 

[CTC564]

I whole heartedly agree that the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that I saw being used by the nurses is inadequate. I have said so many times in other conversations. I do believe that I mentioned my concern regarding the equipment and training in this thread and most certainly in other forums. I think health care workers need to have standardized PPE and training to properly handle dangerous infectious diseases in a hospital setting that protects health care workers, patients and the community. The CDC seems to be more aware of the shortcomings in these areas and are working to correct and improve the situation. I still am very wary of anything posted by Breitbart.com. They have been unreliable with their information accuracy in the past.

Classes are scheduled today for a more thorough seminar and fit testing...but it's all "one size fits all" and at 6'4" and 300+ I'm a bit concerned about it fitting me...

On another note, I've heard on local news stations that the Nurses Union in my state is fighting hard against admission of any Ebola patient due to inefficient training/equipment and improper room set up

 

[Febs]

Thats what Puppet Frieden said weeks ago.

Take this for what it's worth, but when you use pejorative rhetoric like "Puppet Frieden," you come across as a conspiracy wing nut. Whatever you have to say would have much more credibility (at least, to non conspiracy theory wing nuts) if you focus more on substance and less on ad hominem.

 

[96tbird]

I admire the nurses "running into a burning building" with the lack of proper protection; call to duty and all that....

However,

Training or no training, are they not watching the news of the last few months, video of African workers all over in ppe, walking through foot baths, assisted disrobing and fluorine sprayed on them?

I have to think that they should recognize, never mind cdc messing up, that they are at risk and should maybe have sequestered themselves after treating Duncan.

It seems we untrained posters at least have that much insight to err on the side of caution; nope nurses jumping in airplanes afterwards for the love of all that is good!

 

[GregC]

Maybe not.
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/279361722.html
"CIDRAP is not saying [Ebola] is airborne", spokeswoman Caroline Marin said.

Now that I have a chance, I'll post the full story and put a couple key parts in bold. Breitbart =

Ebola anxiety spread rapidly on social media Wednesday when inaccurate articles and tweets claimed that University of Minnesota infectious disease experts had determined the deadly virus has become airborne — a claim quickly shot down by the U.
A Twitter user with the name @UnivMinnNews, which uses the U logo but is not an official university account, spread the claim — citing an article in the alternative news site Inquisitr. That story cited a commentary posted on the website of the U’s Center for Infectious Disease Control and Policy (CIDRAP).
The published commentary, however, doesn’t make that claim, U officials pointed out. It only states that “people should understand the potential for a virus to become airborne.” And while it was posted on the CIDRAP website, it was written by an unaffiliated researcher from Chicago.
“CIDRAP is not saying [Ebola] is airborne,” spokeswoman Caroline Marin said Wednesday afternoon. “There is always the possibility that diseases can mutate.”
The false claims spread rapidly on social media, and seemed to stoke fears already heightened by the discovery that a second nurse in Texas became infected at a hospital that treated the first U.S.-diagnosed case of Ebola.
Ebola spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids such as blood and saliva — unlike seasonal influenza, which can be airborne. The current Ebola outbreak is centered in west Africa, where more than 8,000 people have suffered infections and 4,000 have died. CIDRAP’s director, Michael Osterholm, said last week that he doubts there will be widespread transmission of Ebola in the U.S., or cases in Minnesota.

 

[CTC564]

Appreciate you posting the article but my main point was inadequate PPE

 

[CTC564]

Just got back from my training for PPE

None of the gowns fit me
No hoods required (okay)
No neck protection
10 questions unanswered
Presentation was horrifying and completely inadequate

 

[skychief]

The Canadians say they have a vaccine for Ebola now;

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

This is very hopeful news! Godspeed to the Canadians in the testing phase of this vaccine.

In the meantime, lets get the proper respirators distributed to the medical facilities which are charged with hanldling Ebola patients.

 

[INTP]

Just got back from my training for PPE

None of the gowns fit me
No hoods required (okay)
No neck protection
10 questions unanswered
Presentation was horrifying and completely inadequate

This is the same story the nurses in Dallas are telling.

What I don't understand is why protective gear is an issue now. Ebola is not as contagious as many other diseases. So you'd think that there would be gear and procedures already in place for contagious diseases, in general, and that those would be sufficient for preventing the spread of Ebola within hospitals. I get that there is more attention given to it because the mortality rate is so high, and the fear factor is high as well. I just don't understand why existing procedures and equipment suddenly seem to be insufficient.

I'm seriously interested in qualified opinions on this, not just being rhetorical.

 

[sissy kathy]

Puppet Frieden has been a miserable failure as head of the CDC,. Lies, failures, misleading, untruths, poor judgement, et, al,,

He needs to step aside and allow a more worthy candidate to fill the position, imo.

I'm not sure I wanna' change horses in the middle of the stream either. He does need to show some leadership, rather than reassurances.

 

[skychief]

Take this for what it's worth, but when you use pejorative rhetoric like "Puppet Frieden," you come across as a conspiracy wing nut. Whatever you have to say would have much more credibility (at least, to non conspiracy theory wing nuts) if you focus more on substance and less on ad hominem.

I googled CDC Frieden image and this is what popped up

 

[sissy kathy]

Do not use Breitbart.com as a source of information and expect to be taken seriously. Ebola is not an airborne infectious disease like influenza. It is not spread in the same way. Period.

Ok, try this.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16234218

 

[skychief]

I'm not sure I wanna' change horses in the middle of the stream either. He does need to show some leadership, rather than reassurances.

Yes. I honestly believe he's being manipulated by his superiors. Thats the only thing that might explain the unsubstantial, piecemeal advisories that the CDC has been offering. (imo) We just need someone who can dispense with all the rhetoric, be honest and most importantly, plan a strategy. To date, we really haven't seen it.

And shame on him for blaming those poor nurses who contracted the virus due to their lack of adequate protection (proper respirators).

 

[One Drop]

I'd like to thank the recent posters who have chimed in with their knowledge and factual input.

I claim no expertise nor an ability to see into the future, but I do prefer rational fact based analysis to conjecture based on selective cherry picking of unsupported claims from dubious sources.

I also feel for people on the front line who don't feel supported by a system that puts profit ahead of well-being to the point that training and resources are lacking, if that's the case.

 

[Johnny Crab]

Google : Firestone ebola
The hazmat gear used in petrochem(and probably SCBA's), isolating those with ebola, AND preventing incoming folks suspect ENDED their issues in another country.

 

[skychief]

Heres a disturbing illustration of the staggering incompetence and lack of judgement that the CDC has:

Amber Vinson, one the Dallas nurses who cared for T. Duncan, took a commercial flight from Cleveland hours before reporting symptoms of Ebola says that the CDC told her it was okay to fly after she told them she had a fever.

Unbelievable.

"Because at that point she was in a group of individuals known to have exposure to Ebola, she should not have traveled on a commercial airline," said Puppet Frieden, and added "From this moment forward, we will ensure that no individual monitored for exposure undergoes travel in any way other than controlled movement,"

More piecemeal policies from the CDC director. The bumbling gets better and better. Only trouble is, the public's safety is as risk..


http://abcnews.go.com/Health/ebola-nurse-violated-guidelines-flying-commercial-jet/story?id=26206090

 

[Hawaii Islander]

Just got back from my training for PPE

None of the gowns fit me
No hoods required (okay)
No neck protection
10 questions unanswered
Presentation was horrifying and completely inadequate

Report your findings to the CDC. This is not a small problem with a few hospitals. It is a major issue that needs to be addressed. Proper PPE and training (including ongoing regular training drills) are essential to control infectious diseases, and not just Ebola. Private hospitals are working in a premise of protecting profits and public hospitals are working with limited or even shrinking budgets. Proper funding and imposition of strict standards in these areas is required. Hospital administrators must be held accountable to do the right thing for their patients, staff and the public at large.

 

[petrus61]

Report your findings to the CDC. This is not a small problem with a few hospitals. It is a major issue that needs to be addressed. Proper PPE and training (including ongoing regular training drills) are essential to control infectious diseases, and not just Ebola. Private hospitals are working in a premise of protecting profits and public hospitals are working with limited or even shrinking budgets. Proper funding and imposition of strict standards in these areas is required. Hospital administrators must be held accountable to do the right thing for their patients, staff and the public at large.

I think the CDC is only now realizing the scope of the issue. I just listened to a half dozen or more nurses say the same thing in an NPR program. After watching the hearings this afternoon, I'm firmly convinced Mr. Frieden hadn't anticipated something like this happening during his tenure and was rather complacent regarding ebola in general. He simply failed to do his job correctly. Period.

It won't be long before the CDC starts citing budget cuts in the ever shifting blame game. His excuse for the CDC not being in Dallas immediately to directly oversee protocol after learning a patient had been confirmed infected? "We can't be everywhere all the time."

The CDC should have damn well made it a priority to be in THAT place at THAT time.

 

[Hawaii Islander]

I think the CDC is only now realizing the scope of the issue. I just listened to a half dozen or more nurses say the same thing in an NPR program. After watching the hearings this afternoon, I'm firmly convinced Mr. Frieden hadn't anticipated something like this happening during his tenure and was rather complacent regarding ebola in general. He simply failed to do his job correctly. Period.

It won't be long before the CDC starts citing budget cuts in the ever shifting blame game. His excuse for the CDC not being in Dallas immediately to directly oversee protocol after learning a patient had been confirmed infected? "We can't be everywhere all the time."

The CDC should have damn well made it a priority to be in THAT place at THAT time.

The first case was not reported to the CDC immediately. The patient was sent home. The local hospital screwed up initially. It is very hard to point a finger at the CDC while ignoring the facts on the ground. There were specific problems with poor screening procedures, lack of coordination and poor infectious disease protection policies and implementation at the hospital long before CDC was even notified there was a potential Ebola patient being treated.