Ebola outbreak - general thread #7

[nrdsb4]

His fiance Ms Troh, was a nursing assistant, maybe she knew just enough to keep them from contracting it???
I don't see how if they were sleeping together... I am happy she's OK. To have the son lose both parents would be heart breaking!

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I'm a positive thinker, and I pretty much assumed Louise at minimum would contract the illness. I hope at some point she feels okay to share her experiences of those days so that we can learn from them.

 

[gngr~snap]

I'm a positive thinker, and I pretty much assumed Louise at minimum would contract the illness. I hope at some point she feels okay to share her experiences of those days so that we can learn from them.

"Mark Wingfield, an associate pastor at Wilshire Baptist Church, told CNN that Troh will not be doing interviews at this time, but plans to write a book about her experience."
http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/19/health/us-ebola/index.html

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[nrdsb4]

"Mark Wingfield, an associate pastor at Wilshire Baptist Church, told CNN that Troh will not be doing interviews at this time, but plans to write a book about her experience."
http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/19/health/us-ebola/index.html

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Well, not exactly what I had in mind...was hoping for a more immediate communication. But I can't say I'm really surprised by that.

 

[chipmunk]

The same thought occurred to me. Is the protocol now to do two tests within 48 hours, or only two tests within 48 hours if the first test is negative?

I'm not sure but I think it should be done twice regardless.

 

[chipmunk]

Dr. Craig Spencer, 33, was hauled off Thursday to Bellevue Hospital in a protective suit with symptoms of the deadly disease. Sources said his temperature was normal when he landed at Kennedy Airport 10 days ago. But it spiked to a 103-degree fever by early Thursday. And he was vomiting, the sources said.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york...ients-rushed-bellevue-fever-article-1.1984941

This really bothers me. An educated, experienced doctor coming back from treating ebola patients should know to be more careful. He must have felt safe without symptoms. But the fact that he suddenly developed a high fever and vomiting means there was no time for him to separate himself from others.

I was understanding of the Dallas cases. But I think our guidelines for isolation will have to be get tougher. It's too unpredictable. Plus as someone else said he should have gotten to a hospital at the very first feeling of unwellness.

 

[chipmunk]

I think the terminology "hauled off" is rather inflammatory rather than "transported by ambulance." I wonder why they made that word choice?

I know but of all people he should have known to isolate himself for 21 days. He was high risk. I do admire him for is courageous work but I am disappointed in his behavior.

 

[mck16]

His fiance Ms Troh, was a nursing assistant, maybe she knew just enough to keep them from contracting it???
I don't see how if they were sleeping together... I am happy she's OK. To have the son lose both parents would be heart breaking!

All posts are MOO

I really don't think Louise knew too much or she would not be sleeping with a man who was sweating so profusely the sheets were wet. Especially since he had just arrived from W Africa. He also threw up leaving the apartment and I am sure it was not the first time. I think she was responsible for many lives being exposed and I am sure she like all of us in the area are thankful none of them contracted the disease. When I think about those children having to go back to school, I am so sad fearing the other children's treatment of them will not be good.

I have heard they are having a very hard time finding a place that will rent to them for housing. Bless those people at the church that are trying to help them. I hope things turn around for everyone so things can return to normal as normal as they can be after a tragedy like this.

So happy for Amber and praying for Nina as well as all the other caretakers. jmo

 

[jjenny]

Where does the idea that Louise and Duncan were sleeping in the same bed come from?
I haven't seen that actually reported anywhere.
Do people just assume it?

 

[mck16]

Where does the idea that Louise and Duncan were sleeping in the same bed come from?
I haven't seen that actually reported anywhere.
Do people just assume it?

This was reported in the very beginning when they were reporting on everyone he had contact with.

 

[chipmunk]

I hope he had his own bowling ball.

Or more so I hope if he used the bathroom he washed his hands before coming out. Or didn't spit on the ball. I do think the risk is low except for his fiancé, very close contacts. But still what was he thinking.

 

[chipmunk]

MSF Protocols for Staff Returning from Ebola-Affected Countries

October 23, 2014

http://www.doctorswithoutborders.or...ocial&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=social

Thank you SStarr33. Very helpful. I no longer feel the doctor in NY did anything wrong. Plus the MSF imply that fever is the key symptom to pay attention to. So him not feeing very well a day or so before doesn't seem to be a concern.

Does anyone have a link to the source that said he was feeling run down for a couple of days?

 

[elfie]

I think the terminology "hauled off" is rather inflammatory rather than "transported by ambulance." I wonder why they made that word choice?

Sounds a bit defensive, doesn't it? At least to me. They're (MSF) probably catching flak today for not requesting a self imposed isolation period in their return protocol. I mean really they're between a rock and hard place on that one because finding volunteers would be all the more difficult. The work conditions are so far from ideal that I cut them some slack for going over and trying to make a difference for the better.

 

[chipmunk]

How wonderful that many are now surviving ebola! Presuming that they all have assorted blood types, they may donate blood to new outbreaks for passive immunity.

That is a ray of hope!

 

[gngr~snap]

Thank you SStarr33. Very helpful. I no longer feel the doctor in NY did anything wrong. Plus the MSF imply that fever is the key symptom to pay attention to. So him not feeing very well a day or so before doesn't seem to be a concern.

Does anyone have a link to the source that said he was feeling run down for a couple of days?

"Spencer began to feel sluggish on Tuesday but did not develop a fever until Thursday morning, he told the authorities. At 11 a.m., he found that he had a 103-degree temperature and alerted the staff of Doctors Without Borders, according to the official."
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/10/2...hospital-in-new-york-city.html?_r=0&referrer=

"He began to feel ill on Tuesday but did not develop a fever until Thursday morning, when he informed the authorities."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...-fourth-to-be-diagnosed-with-Ebola-in-US.html

That sounds like 48 hours to me, but really, who knows!

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[Elley Mae]

snippets

Dr. Spencer’s fiancée has also been quarantined at Bellevue. Two other friends, who had contact with him on Tuesday and Wednesday, have been told by the authorities that they too will be quarantined but whether they will isolate themselves in their homes or be relocated was still under discussion, according to a person briefed on the investigation.

Dr. Spencer had been working with Doctors Without Borders in Guinea treating Ebola patients, and completed his work on Oct. 12, Dr. Bassett said. He flew out of the country on Oct. 14, traveling via Europe, and arrived in New York on Oct. 17.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/24/n...-bellevue-hospital-in-new-york-city.html?_r=0

Doctors said that even before the results came in, it seemed likely that he had been infected. Symptoms usually occur within eight to 10 days of infection. Dr. Spencer stopped working with Ebola patients 11 days ago and returned home six days ago.

A health care worker at the hospital said that Dr. Spencer seemed very sick, and it was unclear to the medical staff why he had not gone to the hospital earlier, since his fever was high.

 

[Lyra500]

Just supportive care doesn't seem to be enough. Even if started early. They must have given her some experimental treatment.

I am not sure that can be regarded as accurate.

Just supportive care achieves an average 30% survival rate in West Africa.

In Nigeria they had 20 cases and 8 people died. That is a 60% survival rate. They provided rehydration (at least in part oral rehydration solution) and nutrition and that was it.

I believe early detection and then provision of full sportive care with good fluid replacement and nutrition can definitely be enough. Obviously it is great to have other treatments as well, but if just supportive care was nt effective then the death rate in West Africa would be closer to 100%.

I am at work so cannot search it out, but there was a really good article about one of the doctors in Nigeria who survivied Ebola which described her treatment.

There are also a few short films showing the treatment centres in Liberia ans Sierra Leone. People do survive and those places are pretty basic.

 

[Sonya610]

I'm a positive thinker, and I pretty much assumed Louise at minimum would contract the illness. I hope at some point she feels okay to share her experiences of those days so that we can learn from them.

Oh I am sure she will. During the press conference announcing they had cleared the 21 days the man clearly said she is in mourning and does NOT wish to talk...but "there is a plan" for her to tell her story in the future.

The mention of a plan suggests a contract for a high profile media interview or some such thing.

 

[Sonya610]

Thank you!! As a business owner, I can tell you that if this happened at our business, it would be devestating. Whether there is risk or not it's people's perception. There needs to be a quarentine for returning hcw in my opinion.

Interesting that they name the bowling alley but they do NOT name the "one or more restaurants" that he supposedly visited (or if they did I missed it). I am just darn glad he didn't decide to head on down to the animal shelter to adopt a kitten while he was running all over the city.

 

[1&2&3]

How long had Dr. Spencer been in Liberia? It sounds like he must have gotten infected at the end of his visit. Perhaps glad to be returning and wasn't quite as careful? Just a thought.

Wonder if the television reporter or another survivor can donate plasma? Dr. Brantly has given so much.

 

[RJA00]

I have to agree. I was just reading about another doctor who came from Africa. He self-isolated. He didn't go out. He had relatives bringing food for 21 days.
But we obviously can not count on everybody to be responsible like that.
So we might have to make them.

that was big news for my little town, the doctor I think did it right, stayed home by himself. Made his wife move to his daughters for 21 days

http://www.wbir.com/story/news/heal...a-patients-remains-self-quarantined/13594123/