Ebola outbreak - general thread #8

[oh_gal]

She was the first person quarantined under these new rules, so I don't see how she should have known. How do they mimic self-contained room by using a tent? Does this tent have a negative air flow? I doubt it. How is she going to take a shower in that tent? Do they expect her to sit there for 3 weeks without shower?
They've quarantined people who had contact with Mr. Duncan in his apartment for first four days. Then they were moved to a regular house in a gated community. The rest of Mr. Duncan's contacts were quarantined in their apartments.
They are quarantining Dr. Spencer's fiancée in her apartment.
Why does this nurse have to sit in a tent?

I lived for 10 years with no running water (not my choice) -- it's not going to kill her not to take a shower -- there are other ways to get clean (sponge baths, etc.).

I've seen pictures of this set up. It doesn't look "pretty" -- I'll give her that.

As far as testing negative for Ebola...I'm glad she's (at this point) negative. I'm wondering, though, is it possible she *could* test positive within the next 21 days, or has she been back in America for 21 days, and in all that time has tested negative? If there is still a chance she could test positive, then I see the value of a mandatory quarantine, until the 21 days has passed.

ETA: I guess it no longer matters; she is going to be released today.

 

[SStarr33]

NY & NJ loosen Ebola quarantine rules after pressure from feds

http://nypost.com/2014/10/27/cuomo-and-christie-say-aid-workers-can-serve-quarantines-at-home/

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/27/n...tcore-iphone-share&smprod=nytcore-iphone&_r=0

Facing fierce resistance from the White House and medical experts to a strict new mandatory quarantine policy, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said on Sunday night that medical workers who had contact with Ebola patients in West Africa but did not show symptoms of the disease would be allowed to remain at home and would receive compensation for lost income.

WTH, who is paying for that? Hickox was required by CDC to quarantine at home anyway.

 

[SteveS]

I keep seeing headlines that NJ has loosened their mandates, but then when I read the articles it's all about NY's revisions. Despite the headlines, it looks to me like NJ (where Hickox is being held) has not relented at all. Am I missing something?

 

[SStarr33]

I keep seeing headlines that NJ has loosened their mandates, but then when I read the articles it's all about NY's revisions. Despite the headlines, it looks to me like NJ (where Hickox is being held) has not relented at all. Am I missing something?

I posted story above.

 

[SStarr33]

She has been released:

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/eb...ses-nurse-quarantined-suspected-ebola-n234661

 

[epiphany]

https://twitter.com/GovChristie


Governor Christie @GovChristie · 25m 25 minutes ago

"Because she had symptoms, she was subsequently transferred to University Hospital..." (cont) @NJDeptofhealth


Governor Christie @GovChristie · 24m 24 minutes ago

“The patient was initially found to have no symptoms, but later developed a fever.” @NJDeptofhealth


Governor Christie @GovChristie · 26m 26 minutes ago

"...under their own laws on her treatment when she arrives.” @NJDeptofhealth


Governor Christie @GovChristie · 25m 25 minutes ago

“Health officials in Maine have been notified of her arrangements and will make a determination..." (cont) @NJDeptofhealth


Governor Christie @GovChristie · 25m 25 minutes ago

“She will remain subject to New Jersey's mandatory quarantine order while in New Jersey.” @NJDeptofhealth


Governor Christie @GovChristie · 26m 26 minutes ago

"...that transport will be arranged via a private carrier not via mass transit or commercial aircraft.” @NJDeptofhealth
Governor Christie @GovChristie · 25m 25 minutes ago

“After consulting with her, she has requested transport to Maine..." (cont) @NJDeptofhealth
Governor Christie @GovChristie · 25m 25 minutes ago

“…she is subject to a mandatory New Jersey quarantine order.” @NJDeptofhealth


Governor Christie @GovChristie · 25m 25 minutes ago

"Since the patient had direct exposure to individuals suffering from the Ebola Virus in 1 of the 3 West African nations..." @NJDeptofhealth

 

[SStarr33]

Could more have been done for Thomas Eric Duncan?

OCT. 27, 2014 1:57 AM EDT

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ab78.../could-more-have-been-done-thomas-eric-duncan

 

[SCHMAE]

Nurse who threatens to SUE is being released early from quarantine ......................
WFAA-TV
Just now ·
In a sudden reversal, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Monday that the state will release the quarantined American nurse who had been confined in a hospital isolation tent upon arrival from West Africa despite showing no signs of Ebola.
STORY: http://bit.ly/1zdAevb

I wonder what other health care workers think about this .

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

New Jersey Releases Nurse Quarantined for Suspected Ebola

By Maggie Fox

The nurse forcibly quarantined in New Jersey after she came home from treating Ebola patients in West Africa will be released Monday, state officials said. Kaci Hickox has been held against her will in a tent outside a New Jersey medical center since she was taken off a flight, flushed and distraught, Friday. Hickox has hired a lawyer and spoken out publicly against her quarantine...

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/eb...ses-nurse-quarantined-suspected-ebola-n234661

 

[epiphany]

State health officials say the 33-year-old has been 'symptom free' for 24 hours. But Hickox denies she ever showed symptoms of Ebola after returning from Sierra Leone and blasted the policy instituted by Gov. Chris Christie.

http://www.nydailynews.com/life-sty...ased-n-quarantine-officials-article-1.1988481


Governor Christie @GovChristie · 33m 33 minutes ago

"Because she had symptoms, she was subsequently transferred to University Hospital..." (cont) @NJDeptofhealth


Governor Christie @GovChristie · 33m 33 minutes ago

“The patient was initially found to have no symptoms, but later developed a fever.” @NJDeptofhealth

https://twitter.com/GovChristie

 

[oh_gal]

Nurse who threatens to SUE is being released early from quarantine ......................
WFAA-TV
Just now ·
In a sudden reversal, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Monday that the state will release the quarantined American nurse who had been confined in a hospital isolation tent upon arrival from West Africa despite showing no signs of Ebola.
STORY: http://bit.ly/1zdAevb

I wonder what other health care workers think about this .

They will possibly use it as a model for future behavior. In this instance, the whole "squeeky wheel gets the grease" saying proved true.

 

[oh_gal]

I asked this earlier upthread --maybe someone with an advanced knowledge of how this virus works could answer:
She may be showing no symptoms now, but *could* she show symptoms in the next few days? I feel like that's a stupid question...as in, 'heck, no...if she could show symptoms in the next few days, they'd never have released her from quarantine!'

The way I understand it, and I could be mistaken, she just returned from the field. So....isn't she still capable of showing symptoms?

Thanks for any info!

 

[SteveS]

Sounds to me like they're making up and figuring out the policy as they go along. Not that there's anything alarming about that, it's to be expected that there's going to be a certain degree of trial-and-error when dealing with a brand new situation.

 

[SteveS]

She may be showing no symptoms now, but *could* she show symptoms in the next few days?

Of course.

For 21 days after she was exposed to someone who had symptoms, she is at risk of coming down with ebola (ie, of having symptoms and testing positive). But until symptoms show up in her, there is no risk of her infecting someone else, and "keep from infecting someone else" is supposedly the point of the quarantine.

The current protocol is that, for 21 days, all who enter the US from those WAfrican nations are monitored in person, twice daily, for symptoms. Just to be sure.

 

[Inthedetails]

Williamsburg Locals 'Not Worried' About Ebola After Infected Doc's Visit

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/201...worried-about-ebola-after-infected-docs-visit

 

[oh_gal]

Of course.

For 21 days after she was exposed to someone who had symptoms, she is at risk of coming down with ebola (ie, of having symptoms and testing positive). But until symptoms show up in her, there is no risk of her infecting someone else, and "keep from infecting someone else" is supposedly the point of the quarantine.

The current protocol is that, for 21 days, all who enter the US from those WAfrican nations are monitored in person, twice daily, for symptoms. Just to be sure.

(above, bbm)
But isn't the minute you exhibit symptoms, one minute too late? In that case, I understand the thinking behind the quarantine. If someone is in quarantine and they develop a fever, then no one has been exposed.

 

[Inthedetails]

The patient, who the New York Post identified as a 5-year-old boy who lives in The Bronx, developed a fever about 7 a.m. Monday, according to the Health and Hospitals Corporation.

Officials expected to know if the boy was infected with Ebola by about 7 p.m., HHC said.

BBM.

Child Tested for Ebola as Doctor's Condition Remains Stable, Officials Say
http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/201...ola-as-doctors-condition-improves-report-says

 

[epiphany]

The patient, who the New York Post identified as a 5-year-old boy who lives in The Bronx, developed a fever about 7 a.m. Monday, according to the Health and Hospitals Corporation.

Officials expected to know if the boy was infected with Ebola by about 7 p.m., HHC said.

BBM.

Child Tested for Ebola as Doctor's Condition Remains Stable, Officials Say
http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/201...ola-as-doctors-condition-improves-report-says

Just jumping off your post

City Department of Health officials said “as a further precaution” a team of so-called “disease detectives” is now tracing all of the young boy’s contacts “to identify anyone who may be at potential risk.”

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york...ted-ebola-bellevue-hospital-article-1.1988468

 

[SteveS]

(above, bbm)
But isn't the minute you exhibit symptoms, one minute too late?

No, of course not. It's not like "the first presence of any symptoms" somehow zaps everyone in the vicinity or who wanders by with ebola.

From what we have seen in US cases, the first symptom is the fever.

But the only way to get Ebola is to have someone vomit on you, bleed on you, share spit with you, have sex with you or get fecal matter on you when they have a high viral load, and do so in a way where it gets into your blood. That's based on data going back to 1975 from outbreaks in the Congo, Uganda, Sudan, Gabon, Ivory Coast, South Africa, not to mention current experience in the United States, Spain and other nations.

Plus, is there even a high enough viral load (yet) at that first sign to transmit the disease? From what we've seen so far with these cases being played out where we can observe the process, it sure doesn't look like it.

 

[SStarr33]

Just jumping off your post

City Department of Health officials said “as a further precaution” a team of so-called “disease detectives” is now tracing all of the young boy’s contacts “to identify anyone who may be at potential risk.”

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york...ted-ebola-bellevue-hospital-article-1.1988468

Does it seem too soon to start that if the kid had no contact with Ebola?

ETA, hopefully he was not on the bus with the Mali toddler:scared: