Ebola and other Epidemics, Inadequate Healthcare Threatens Millions

[Fate]

Yeah, that photo is complete overkill. Those kinds of suits are what you'd use to transport a Spanish influenza or SARS patient... but you can't get infected merely by breathing the same air as someone with Ebola.

It's not airborne, but it is transmissable through droplets isn't it?

Space suits aren't required for droplet precautions. Facemask/goggles, mask, gown, gloves, and shoe covers are sufficient.

The proper place for the full body suits is when we have no clue what kind of infection a person has and we suspect it's highly virulent.

[derspiess]

So why did we let someone back in the country who had been in Liberia? Wouldn't you quarantine them by default?

Still no reason to panic, unless maybe we have unruly mobs demanding corpses so the families can "wash" them.

[Eddie Teach]

There's never any reason to panic. Saying world governments should be taking precautions to nip a virulent, contagious disease in the bud is not "panic". Neither is looking at a graph and noting that the disease is spreading.

There's also never any reason to bury one's head in the sand.

[Josephus]

Who's gonna be Randall Flagg?

Me. Seedy will be the bitter ex-cop security guy.

Oooh!  I know what role I'll play!

M-O-O-N

[Tonitrus]

I expect our servicemen going over there will be appropriately outfitted. 

[Caliga]

So Tim was right all along and we should indeed panic about Ebola.  I sorry Tim

Alarming.

[Grey Fox]

Fuck


http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/canada-s-disaster-assistance-team-ill-suited-to-fight-ebola-harper-says-1.2032253

NOTICE:

All Canadians fleeing onto mah lands will be shot. No Exceptions.

Can Ebola survive minus temps?

[derspiess]

I'm doing my residency at that hospital. Thank god I wasn't the on-call resident yesterday. 

Wake derspiess up when there's a case in Ohio.

Sounds like it's about time to cut the CDC's budget.

That's Seedy's shtick.

[derspiess]

There's never any reason to panic. Saying world governments should be taking precautions to nip a virulent, contagious disease in the bud is not "panic". Neither is looking at a graph and noting that the disease is spreading.

So nobody is panicking, then? 

[CountDeMoney]

Sounds like it's about time to cut the CDC's budget.

That's Seedy's shtick.

WHORE VACCINES

[derspiess]

And that's mine

[Fate]

Second ebola case suspected... close family member of the first patient.

Thompson: Associate of Dallas Ebola patient under close monitoring

DALLAS — Due to close contact with a patient diagnosed with the Ebola virus, a second person is under the close monitoring of health officials as a possible second patient, said the director of Dallas County's health department Wednesday morning in an interview with WFAA.

Zachary Thompson, the director of Dallas County Health and Human Services, says all those who've been in close contact with the diagnosed patient are being monitored as a precaution. However, Thompson pointed to one person in particular as a potential second case.

"Let me be real frank to the Dallas County residents, the fact that we have one confirmed case, there may be another case that is a close associate with this particular patient," he said in a Wednesday interview with WFAA. "... So this is real. There should be a concern, but it's contained to the specific family members and close friends at this moment."

The director continued to assure residents that the public isn't at risk as health officials have the virus contained.

Tuesday, the Center for Disease Control confirmed a patient at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas was the first person to be diagnosed with the Ebola virus in the United States. Wednesday morning, the hospital reported the patient is in serious condition.

The patient left Liberia on September 19 and arrived in Dallas to visit relatives the following day, said CDC director Tom Frieden. On September 26, he sought treatment at the hospital after becoming ill but was sent home with a prescription for antibiotics. Two days later, he was admitted with more critical symptoms, after requiring an ambulance ride to the hospital.

"I have no doubt that we'll stop this in its tracks in the U.S.," Frieden said. "But I also have no doubt that — as long as the outbreak continues in Africa — we need to be on our guard."

Local health officials say the patient was in contact with several children before he was hospitalized. Thompson says each of those children have been kept home and are under precautionary monitoring.

The Dallas County school district says they're working closely with health officials.

"DISD is in contact with Dallas County Health Department regarding the Ebola investigation," read a statement from Jon Dahlander, a spokesman with the district. "They are consulting with the County on any additional action that may need to be taken during the course of investigation. This is part of routine emergency operations during a health incident in the county. This is same protocol taken during things like flu and Tuberculosis cases."

More than a half a dozen employees with the CDC arrived in Dallas after news of the confirmed diagnosis broke. The CDC and Dallas County are working together in what they call a "contact investigation." Anyone who has had contact with the patient, including emergency room staff, will be under the observation of health officials for 21 days. If any of those under monitoring show symptoms, they'll be placed in isolation.

Stanley Gaye, president of the Liberian Community Association of Dallas-Fort Worth, said the 10,000-strong Liberian population in North Texas is skeptical of the CDC's assurances because Ebola has ravaged their country.

"We've been telling people to try to stay away from social gatherings," Gaye said at a community meeting Tuesday evening. Large get-togethers are a prominent part of Liberian culture.

Ebola symptoms can include fever, muscle pain, vomiting and bleeding, and can appear as long as 21 days after exposure to the virus. The disease is not contagious until symptoms begin, and it takes close contact with bodily fluids to spread.

The three paramedics who transported the patient are temporarily off duty and among those under observation.

Accompanied by state health director David L. Lakey, Gov. Rick Perry will hold a press conference to address the diagnosis at noon from Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital.

[Syt]

[Admiral Yi]

Quarantine Texas.

[derspiess]

Quarantine Texas Liberians.

FIXED