Ebola outbreak - general thread #8

[Detective Klimpt]

As we have seen, there are conflicting stories as to this child's symptoms. I read one of the first articles that came out. Below is an excerpt with the source link. IMO, there had to be some significant ebola-like symptoms or else they would not have called the ambulance nor would the workers worn hazmat suits. Question: Are only HCW's subject to the mandatory quarantine and African visitors exempt? That makes no sense to me. HCW's are more likely to self monitor than the others.

http://nypost.com/2014/10/27/5-year-old-boy-being-tested-for-ebola-in-new-york-city/

A 5-year-old boy who just returned from West Africa was transported to Bellevue Hospital Sunday with possible Ebola symptoms, according to law-enforcement sources.
The child was vomiting and had a 103-degree fever when he was carried from his Bronx home by EMS workers wearing hazmat suits, neighbors said. “He looked weak,” said a neighbor.

 

[Inthedetails]

Neighborhood in the Bronx is Soundview. Noon news report today shows police standing outside building. Comments from neighbors on video report at:

http://7online.com/health/bronx-community-responds-to-5-year-old-being-tested-for-ebola/367827/

 

[Inthedetails]

More reports coming in after the noon hour while awaiting test results.

"He and his family returned to JFK airport Saturday after a trip to Guinea, sources said. He developed signs of an illness about 9 p.m. Sunday so medical crews in hazmat gear took him to Bellevue where he developed a fever about 7 a.m. the next morning, sources and officials said.

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/201...ola-as-doctors-condition-improves-report-says

 

[epiphany]

As we have seen, there are conflicting stories as to this child's symptoms. I read one of the first articles that came out. Below is an excerpt with the source link. IMO, there had to be some significant ebola-like symptoms or else they would not have called the ambulance nor would the workers worn hazmat suits. Question: Are only HCW's subject to the mandatory quarantine and African visitors exempt? That makes no sense to me. HCW's are more likely to self monitor than the others.

http://nypost.com/2014/10/27/5-year-old-boy-being-tested-for-ebola-in-new-york-city/

A 5-year-old boy who just returned from West Africa was transported to Bellevue Hospital Sunday with possible Ebola symptoms, according to law-enforcement sources.
The child was vomiting and had a 103-degree fever when he was carried from his Bronx home by EMS workers wearing hazmat suits, neighbors said. “He looked weak,” said a neighbor.

Prob first report: This morning

October 27, 2014 | 3:30am

Given where the family had returned from, as well as other flu-like/ebola symptoms, IMO--evidently not fever, he was transported to Bellevue.

Using caution.

 

[SteveS]

Worth your consideration.

MY TAKE - An article that looks inside the numbers and concludes that maybe we've already seen the worst of the ebola outbreak, and that WHO may now be cooking the books on the way they're reporting cases. (There's big money for the taking, if you can persuade people that there's a monster out there.)

THE ARTICLE

"Despite World Panic, The Rate Of New Ebola Infections Is Already Slowing Down"

http://www.forbes.com/sites/michael...new-ebola-infections-is-already-slowing-down/

* "Even as [Aylward, WHO's Ebola head] says it’s possible the growth in new cases is declining, he predicts a five to 10-fold explosion within weeks."

* "The fact is that Aylward must know there’s been no increase in new cases at least since early September. Says who? WHO—in its online weekly situation updates."

* "Those last two bars reflect a huge number of “suspected” and “probable cases,” indicating the WHO may be getting desperate to keep the numbers up. Only half the cases in the October 22 report are confirmed. At the very least, cases have hit a plateau—six weeks is no anomaly. And they flattened just before the WHO hit the panic button, insisting among other things it needed a billion-dollar infusion. (Remember this when they inevitably claim their projections proved false only because they made them so with their own super-human actions.)"

* "How can this be? Because all epidemics are self-limiting."

 

[SteveS]

Question: Are only HCW's subject to the mandatory quarantine and African visitors exempt? That makes no sense to me. HCW's are more likely to self monitor than the others.

The dividing line is apparently "known exposure to someone with ebola." If you have been so exposed, they want you to be quarantined, and HCWs are most likely to fall in that category. If you have not been so exposed, to your knowledge, they will educate you and then monitor you twice daily for symptoms, for 21 days.

Any "self-monitoring" is supplemental to the CDC's mandatory twice daily check for symptoms.

Clearly, those being monitored are quite vigilant about their own health and possible symptoms, and who wouldn't be, knowing that if they have been infected, the fastest treatment has the best chance of saving them? I don't think HCWs are unique in that respect.

 

[SStarr33]

Worth your consideration.

MY TAKE - An article that looks inside the numbers and concludes that maybe we've already seen the worst of the ebola outbreak, and that WHO may now be cooking the books on the way they're reporting cases. (There's big money for the taking, if you can persuade people that there's a monster out there.)

THE ARTICLE

"Despite World Panic, The Rate Of New Ebola Infections Is Already Slowing Down"

http://www.forbes.com/sites/michael...new-ebola-infections-is-already-slowing-down/

* "Even as [Aylward, WHO's Ebola head] says it’s possible the growth in new cases is declining, he predicts a five to 10-fold explosion within weeks."

* "The fact is that Aylward must know there’s been no increase in new cases at least since early September. Says who? WHO—in its online weekly situation updates."

* "Those last two bars reflect a huge number of “suspected” and “probable cases,” indicating the WHO may be getting desperate to keep the numbers up. Only half the cases in the October 22 report are confirmed. At the very least, cases have hit a plateau—six weeks is no anomaly. And they flattened just before the WHO hit the panic button, insisting among other things it needed a billion-dollar infusion. (Remember this when they inevitably claim their projections proved false only because they made them so with their own super-human actions.)"

* "How can this be? Because all epidemics are self-limiting."

How can we believe cases are slowing down when Liberia has banned reporters from ETUs?

 

[wary]

Regarding the self-limiting nature of epidemics:

I can see how a flu epidemic burns itself out. Huge numbers of people catch it, recover, and are immune. Since flu has been rampaging through our populations for hundreds of years, there are probably huge number of people who have a natural resistance to it, even though they may be susceptible to the current strain. And, there are often significant numbers of people who have antibodies from a previous year's infection, good enough to be of some use.

But, the overall number of cases of ebola in this current epidemic is tiny. The number of people who could have antibodies from a previous outbreak is miniscule. We're talking about thousands infected, in an area with a population of tens of millions.

So, I don't know what would cause the current outbreak to self-limit itself in this stage of its development. Can anyone suggest a reason? The only reason I can think of would be if a substantial percentage of the population had genetic resistance. That seems plausible to me, but it's never been claimed to be actually true.

Note that Nigeria limited its outbreak to 21 people, an original case, and the 20 who were infected by him. However, they accomplished it by rigorous contact tracing, isolation, and quarantine. And the fact that one person infected twenty people is a horrific case of what can happen when an original case is not recognized quickly. It also doesn't suggest any natural genetic resistance in the population.

 

[Inthedetails]

De Blasio: ‘Not clear’ child’s symptoms ebola-related

"The child was having some difficulties but it's not clear they were the kind of symptoms that would be related to Ebola," he said. "It may turn out the child was sick with something totally different."

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/artic...-childs-symptoms-ebola-related?top-featured-1

 

[epiphany]

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services’ Center for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement that its policy would be to collaborate with an affected person to establish a quarantine at home for 21 days after the last possible exposure to the virus.

“This protocol for a higher-risk individual will be implemented for the first time when a health care worker who came into contact with Ebola-positive individuals returns soon from New Jersey,” the statement went on, referring to Ms. Hickox. “Under this policy, Maine will make every possible effort to implement an agreed-upon in-home quarantine. We fully expect individuals to voluntarily comply with an in-home quarantine.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/28/n...h-ebola-quarantine-at-home-christie-says.html

 

[epiphany]

Correction: October 27, 2014

An earlier version of this article misstated the location of the tent where Kaci Hickox is quarantined. The tent is in University Hospital, not behind it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/28/n...h-ebola-quarantine-at-home-christie-says.html

 

[faw720]

Nurse Hickox is being handled as if she had the disease. But in fact she tested negative for the virus and shows no symptoms. And now we are hearing the hate directed at this lady along with implications that she is part of some evil agenda.

Here is the screwy part. The NJ quarantine rule does not apply to local health workers like those treating the doctor in Belleview Hospital. It only applies to people like Nurse Hickox who dare to help the people of Africa.

And meanwhile back in Dallas Louise is encountering problems finding a permanent home. So far, no one is willing to rent to her. No link but it's all over the local news. There an awful lot of cruel people in the world. Or maybe it's just a case of people fearing ebola. Humans have a tendency to hate things or people that they fear. Nevertheless, it is a very sad situation.

 

[Inthedetails]

And meanwhile back in Dallas Louise is encountering problems finding a permanent home. So far, no one is willing to rent to her. No link but it's all over the local news. There an awful lot of cruel people in the world. Or maybe it's just a case of people fearing ebola. Humans have a tendency to hate things or people that they fear. Nevertheless, it is a very sad situation.

BBM

Here's a link:
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/nati...Fiance-Unable-to-Find-New-Home-280127682.html

 

[SCHMAE]

And meanwhile back in Dallas Louise is encountering problems finding a permanent home. So far, no one is willing to rent to her. No link but it's all over the local news. There an awful lot of cruel people in the world. Or maybe it's just a case of people fearing ebola. Humans have a tendency to hate things or people that they fear. Nevertheless, it is a very sad situation.

BBM, Really ? I live locally and have the local news on my feed and have seen nothing about this . The last I heard her church was trying to help her to secure a home to own and not a rental.

 

[SCHMAE]

BBM

Here's a link:
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/nati...Fiance-Unable-to-Find-New-Home-280127682.html

Aha, thanks. That is why. That's not local to where Louise lives. Hmmm

""“One larger complex in the area we talked to said we just don’t need any publicity out of this, and she’s welcome to fill out an application, but if she does it will not be approved,” Wingfield said."""

Publicity ?

 

[lonetraveler]

I find it appalling that some of my colleagues will tantrum when they return from caring for ebola patients simply because of quarantine. I feel that we know the risks when we volunteer and should care just as deeply for our own countrymen. Thus far, most of our friends and acquaintances have served in Haiti or South America doing plastic surgery, OB and internal medicine. Only one is returning from West Africa soon. If I were going, I would be responsible enough to store a 21 day supply of food for my return (dry or frozen goods) and prearrange for someone to drop off fresh produce at the end of my driveway upon my return. I further believe our government can compensate salaries for the 21 day quarantine for these heroes.
Further, I will not judge any one of my colleagues for not volunteering to care for ebola patients. I work with single parents of autistic children or young children with no one else in the picture (some are grandparents taking care of grandchildren). There are enough of us who are willing and able. A neighbor said she had no problem with people coming back unquarantined so I offered that they should go to Mexico or somewhere else for a vacation. Just an arbitrary choice. "Oh no, she exclaimed, we couldn't do that to Mexico!" But we can do that to our countrymen? MOO and not interested in vitriol.

I deeply appreciate your "common sense" approach as a health care worker yourself. It's puzzling that a health care worker would have a "hissy fit" over being in quarantine upon arrival from direct contact with Ebola patients. This proved to me that we can not trust returning HCW to voluntarily quarantine themselves in their homes and not travel all over the city on public transportation, eat and play in public areas. I think that it is very prudent to be pro-active instead of reactive. There is no telling what costs have incurred trying to trace all contacts of the HCW all the way back to the flight over here to every single place they have been. I think it would be much easier and more economical to monitor the HCW in one location for the 21 day period, whether that is in controlled isolation or in their home. That said, I think that there should be steps taken to ensure they do not leave that location until the time period has expired and they are not infected with the virus. JMO.

 

[murphy3k]

http://www.wmcactionnews5.com/story...ts-to-possible-ebola-case-in-memphisCommunity reacts to possible ebola case in Memphis

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC) -

The patient currently being tested for ebola is resting comfortably in isolation at Methodist University Hospital, but first arrived at Methodist South in Whitehaven.

As tests happen inside, people outside of the facility are speaking about how they feel.

Shay Jones was recently released from MUH for an unrelated illness, and was shocked to hear someone is being tested for ebola.

Ebola scare: Doctors establish alternate diagnosis

Doctors at Methodist University Hospital have successfully isolated a patient who tested negative for the Ebola virus.

Methodist University Spokesperson Mary Alice Taylor says they established a primary alternate diagnosis, meaning the patient could be sick with another illness that causes similar symptoms. The patient is in stable condition in an area separate from the main hospital on the MUH campus.

http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/27017813/possible-ebola-case-at-methodist-university-hospital

This patient tested negative for Ebola per local news.

Doctors collected blood samples and quarantined the patient as a precaution, but that person tested negative for Ebola and does not have the deadly virus. Hospital officials say the patient didn't meet all the screening guidelines for Ebola, but they wanted to test that person just in case.

http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/story/2...-central-waiting-on-results-of-possible-ebola

 

[musicaljoke]

O/T somewhat. Many pages back, someone sourced a HCW out of Canada I believe, talking about a really bad virus going around and said that people should be worried about THIS virus and not ebola. IIRC it was not the entero virus, but if anyone remembers seeing that or you posted it, please do so again. TIA

Chikungunya. A year ago there were no cases ever in the Americas. This year there have been 700,000 cases already. Jamaica has declared a state of emergency.

There is no vaccine.

http://www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/

http://www.pri.org/stories/2014-10-...ncy-try-stop-spread-painful-chikungunya-virus

 

[winnnancy]

I deeply appreciate your "common sense" approach as a health care worker yourself. It's puzzling that a health care worker would have a "hissy fit" over being in quarantine upon arrival from direct contact with Ebola patients. This proved to me that we can not trust returning HCW to voluntarily quarantine themselves in their homes and not travel all over the city on public transportation, eat and play in public areas. I think that it is very prudent to be pro-active instead of reactive. There is no telling what costs have incurred trying to trace all contacts of the HCW all the way back to the flight over here to every single place they have been. I think it would be much easier and more economical to monitor the HCW in one location for the 21 day period, whether that is in controlled isolation or in their home. That said, I think that there should be steps taken to ensure they do not leave that location until the time period has expired and they are not infected with the virus. JMO.

Excellent point. IIRC military members sometimes have staging/decompression areas before they return home from a deployment. This way people can be cleared before they even arrive back home and all of this nonsense .

 

[nomoresorrow]

I'm really sorry to post and run but, I just home from classes at the University Of Maine campus in Presque Isle - which is just over an hour south from Fort Kent, and KH's case was being discussed by the professor and students in my last class. A vote was taken as to how many students felt KH should be required (and all HCW after treating Ebola patients...) to be quarantined for 21 days under observation, versus self-monitoring. Interestingly, the class unanimously voted the former. I hope her boyfriend owns his own home because if he's renting off-campus, you can bet there will be more news to follow... Gotta go but I'll check back later when i can.

JMO ~