Ebola

[flere-imsaho]

Yeah, anyone who's been following the healthcare debate for the past few years knows that the medical profession in general and hospitals in specific are, in general, not close to being well-run organizations, especially when compared to some other industries.

[Breeze]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

As I've watched my social media feed fill up this week with one healthcare pro after another bitching about the CDC and defending the nurse, I've been struck by a simple thought:

The CDC being inaccurate/insufficient/inept with their guidelines to hospitals / healthcare workers AND the nurse in this case royally f'ing up are NOT mutually exclusive.

That point seems to be getting lost on a lot of nurses I know right now.

The person I talked with about this doesn't know specifics about the Dallas facility and the specific way things were handled, but she did say 2 things that were very interesting about how they potentially got infected (even if they followed proper protocols)

1. The method of removing the protective gear is very specific, tedious, and time consuming. Often workers that end up infected do so because they don't take the time to remove their suits correctly. And/or they are careless and they contaminate items in the general area, which are then able to transmit the disease because the person in question didn't realize the area needed to be sterilized.

2. The perviously used and contaminated materials that need to be distroyed are handled incorrectly. This also happens a significant amount of time, and in this specific case she did tell me it was very difficult to even line up the transportation of the waste, as they were required to fill out numerous forms and get permission from government agencies before anything could be moved. I'm sure this caused a large amount of contaminated waste to back up in the facility.

[JPhillips]

According to reports the nurses had plenty of exposed skin at the neck and face area for the three days in between suspected ebola and confirmed ebola. In this case I'm not sure the removal process matters.

[Breeze]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

According to reports the nurses had plenty of exposed skin at the neck and face area for the three days in between suspected ebola and confirmed ebola. In this case I'm not sure the removal process matters.

Ah...missed that report, thanks for the update.

[JPhillips]

This is what I read the nurses were wearing. The face shield and the surgical mask seem to leave a lot of room for contact.

[Arles]

We have a winner....

Post by Media Matters for America.

[Easy Mac]

They're admitting someone in Spain for possible Ebola because he rode in the ambulance the Spanish nurse rode in. Evidently they used it a few times before decontaminating it.

[molson]

Ebola Today: Yale Student Does Not Have Ebola, Neither Does Everyone Who Vomits on the T.

Someone called 911 and reported that there was a woman on the train from Liberia who had Ebola. 0 for 2. Apparently not all black people are from Liberia.

Flu season will be fun this year.

[JPhillips]

FYI: Newburgh still ebola free as of 6:00 pm

[miked]

I'm heading to Columbus for the RU game, should I be afraid of Ebola in Ohio?

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by miked

I'm heading to Columbus for the RU game, should I be afraid of Ebola in Ohio?

Let me look out my front door...



nope. You're good.

[Fidatelo]

Can Ebola survive in 30 below temperatures? What if it finds a toque?

[cartman]

Originally Posted by Fidatelo

Can Ebola survive in 30 below temperatures? What if it finds a toque?

It will get out of control and we'll be lucky to live through it.

[flere-imsaho]

Originally Posted by Fidatelo

Can Ebola survive in 30 below temperatures?

See, and everyone complained about the polar vortex last year. This year they'll be welcoming it!

[Easy Mac]

They're now saying the nurse was feeling ill on Friday, prior to going to Ohio.

"... It was nothing you could point your finger at and say, 'Ah, this is a particular disease,"

How does that statement make sense after reading someone with Ebola.

[molson]

Originally Posted by Easy Mac

They're admitting someone in Spain for possible Ebola because he rode in the ambulance the Spanish nurse rode in. Evidently they used it a few times before decontaminating it.

All four "suspected" Ebola patients in Spain tested negative.

EBOLA IN SPAIN: All four new suspected Ebola cases test negative for virus | In English | EL PAÍS

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Easy Mac

They're now saying the nurse was feeling ill on Friday, prior to going to Ohio.

"... It was nothing you could point your finger at and say, 'Ah, this is a particular disease,"

How does that statement make sense after treating someone with Ebola.

Seriously. Stupidity, thy name is Americans.

[BillJasper]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

Seriously. Stupidity, thy name is Americans.

+1

[molson]

I suppose it's theoretically possible, but I can't find any reference to a confirmed case of someone catching Ebola on a plane. The guy who flew into Nigeria that I mentioned earlier puked on a plane with lots of people and nobody caught it. And I again, I think if you apply logic rather than fear, this disease would be far more widespread outside west Africa (especially in nearby regions of Africa) - both this year and every other year, if it was easy, or something more than theoretically possible, to get it on a plane.

Edit: I'm not saying she should have been traveling (especially if she was going with or visiting a boyfriend she was having sex with or who was taking care of her while she was sick), just that I don't think panic is warranted. This disease just isn't moving very quickly or effectively outside of the healthcare provider context, and even there, it's becoming more and more likely that the man who died in Texas more than a week ago now only spread Ebola to two of his healthcare providers, despite the hospital there pretty much not understanding the situation and botching the protocols. You have to assume that in the future, if more hospitals are called upon, they'll be able to do better and reduce that transmission rate from 2 (or 3, or 4, or whatever the final number in the Texas hospital is). And it's also getting less and less likely he spread it outside of the hospital to any significant degree, or at all. And he was symptomatic in a major metro area for some time. His family he lived with hasn't had symptoms.

[Easy Mac]

The strain, it's coming
New York physician tested for Ebola - CNN.com

[panerd]

Did either of the nurses actually end up dying? What happens if you don't die from Ebola do you go back to normal or is your body screwed up for the rest of your life?

EDIT: Not sure why I quoted the earlier post.

[cartman]

Originally Posted by panerd

Did either of the nurses actually end up dying? What happens if you don't die from Ebola do you go back to normal or is your body screwed up for the rest of your life?

One of the nurses is now testing negative for the virus, while the other is steadily improving.

As for the other question, I'm guessing it is like other viruses. Once you've recovered, then you go back to how you were before.

[nol]

You're back to normal. It's just a really, really, really (x100) bad fever.

[panerd]

Originally Posted by cartman

One of the nurses is now testing negative for the virus, while the other is steadily improving.

As for the other question, I'm guessing it is like other viruses. Once you've recovered, then you go back to how you were before.

So at the risk of sounding arrogant won't the United States have a lower death rate because we have a better standard of living and better health care than Africans?

[The Jackal]

Time to move to a cabin in the woods

[Grammaticus]

No way, I saw that movie Cabin in the Woods.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by panerd

So at the risk of sounding arrogant won't the United States have a lower death rate because we have a better standard of living and better health care than Africans?

Yes.

[sterlingice]

Slow down there, skippy! A Doctors Without Borders doctor in Africa caught Ebola?!? THIS WAS UNFORESEEN AND REASON TO PANIC OVER EVERY SINGLE NEWS OUTLET!

SI

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

Slow down there, skippy! A Doctors Without Borders doctor in Africa caught Ebola?!? THIS WAS UNFORESEEN AND REASON TO PANIC OVER EVERY SINGLE NEWS OUTLET!

Oh I'd say it was somewhat foreseen, bordering on the inevitable.

The growing question is the wisdom of allowing the exposed back into the country until the incubation period has passed.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Oh I'd say it was somewhat foreseen, bordering on the inevitable.

The growing question is the wisdom of allowing the exposed back into the country until the incubation period has passed.

So the guy could go bowling.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Logan

So the guy could go bowling.

I'd consider a bowling exemption for Pumpy.

Other than that ...

[cartman]

And now the 2nd nurse has been declared free of the virus. She is slated to be released later today.

[claphamsa]

its mind boggling how much money and effort we are wasting on this nonsense.

what people who dont work in politics dont realize, is how much of the government is paralyzed by the potential political fallout of Ebola, even though there is no threat at all.

[molson]

Originally Posted by claphamsa

its mind boggling how much money and effort we are wasting on this nonsense.

what people who dont work in politics dont realize, is how much of the government is paralyzed by the potential political fallout of Ebola, even though there is no threat at all.

I think it's an economic threat. If ignorant fears can damage the economy (tanking the stock market, keeping people from traveling), then I guess you should still try to do something about those fears, even though they're ignorant.

[The Jackal]

That's my favorite bowling alley, dangit

[claphamsa]

Originally Posted by molson

I think it's an economic threat. If ignorant fears can damage the economy (tanking the stock market, keeping people from traveling), then I guess you should still try to do something about those fears, even though they're ignorant.

and it doesnt help that people are more interested in scoring political points than telling the truth.

[larrymcg421]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Oh I'd say it was somewhat foreseen, bordering on the inevitable.

I'm pretty sure that was his point.

The growing question is the wisdom of allowing the exposed back into the country until the incubation period has passed.

Because people can just connect through a different country and still get in, but we won't be able to track them. A travel ban would actually make things less safe.

[flere-imsaho]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

Because people can just connect through a different country and still get in, but we won't be able to track them. A travel ban would actually make things less safe.

These people would still have evidence on their passport that they'd been to a restricted travel country though, right?

[cartman]

Originally Posted by flere-imsaho

These people would still have evidence on their passport that they'd been to a restricted travel country though, right?

Not necessarily. Passports don't always get stamped, and the process to share electronic data is spotty at best.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

Because people can just connect through a different country and still get in, but we won't be able to track them. A travel ban would actually make things less safe.

Point of origin, nationality, travel history ... all things that can & should be considered.

Just because we can't stop them all doesn't mean we shouldn't stop the ones we're aware of.

[QuikSand]

The New York Ebola patient is a brave and heroic doctor. Stop criticizing his bowling trip. - Vox

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

The New York Ebola patient is a brave and heroic doctor. Stop criticizing his bowling trip. - Vox

He's a moron. Period. Full stop.

And while he chose to risk his own life for whatever reason, his behavior has put the lives of others at risk.

When I suggested not allowing travelers back inside the country until after an incubation period has passed, he's one example of what I meant.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

The New York Ebola patient is a brave and heroic doctor. Stop criticizing his bowling trip. - Vox

Vox is predominantly run by a bunch of Brooklyn hipsters. Someone there is probably friends with this guy.

[Grover]

I'm gonna create some "2014 Ebola World Tour" t-shirts.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Grover

I'm gonna create some "2014 Ebola World Tour" t-shirts.

You're late

Ebola T-shirts, Shirts and Custom Ebola Clothing

[claphamsa]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

He's a moron. Period. Full stop.

And while he chose to risk his own life for whatever reason, his behavior has put the lives of others at risk.

When I suggested not allowing travelers back inside the country until after an incubation period has passed, he's one example of what I meant.

you also think we should set up gun towers on the mexican border.....

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by claphamsa

you also think we should set up gun towers on the mexican border.....

As would anyone with a concern about the sanctity of our borders {shrug}

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

He's a moron. Period. Full stop.

And while he chose to risk his own life for whatever reason, his behavior has put the lives of others at risk.

When I suggested not allowing travelers back inside the country until after an incubation period has passed, he's one example of what I meant.

Said Jesus.

[RainMaker]

I think a lot of the Ebola stuff is overblown by the media, but it is pretty shocking that someone who worked with Ebola patients can return to this country with no restrictions whatsoever.

This seems like a no-brainer to me. You work with Ebola patients in Africa, you must be quarantined for X days.

Also shouldn't guys like this be charged with a crime for endangering the public?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Said Jesus.

Jesus is not in charge of national security nor public health.

I keep hearing about separation of church & state, here's an area where it makes pretty good policy.