Ebola outbreak - general thread #8

[SCHMAE]

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

TY and OT , something is making kids very sick in north texas and I wonder if it's that. It sounds about right but with all the ebola talk, no news is reporting.

 

[concernednetizen]

Am I the only one who thinks the 5 yr old is positive? Seems the longer the wait for test results, the more likely the result is positive. At least that seems to be how it is going so far.

 

[faw720]

http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/loca...ise-troh-ebola-church-thomas-duncan/17970051/

Above is the link to the video & story of Wilshire Baptist Church welcoming Louise back. I'm deeply touched that there are people who chose to shown their Christian compassion. Heck, people don't even have to be Christian to show compassion. All that's needed is a kind & loving heart.

 

[CARIIS]

I would have to conclude, in light of the fact that 5 airports that suddenly started with thermometers aimed somewhere on folks foreheads that there are no uniform (Breathalyzer) standards as it relates to margins of error.

Since it was implemented so quickly I doubt there was any instruction given. Would there be a difference if one person is aiming the thing from 18 inches away compared to 6 inches?

Its winter, would there be a difference in skin temperature if the outside ambient temperature, at one airport WA 28 degrees, and the ambient temperature inside that airport is 62 as opposed to an an outside ambian temperature of 89 degrees and inside being being 78?

would there be an irreverent reading if a passenger was running late and just ran, lugging carry on baggage to the other end of an airport. ?

Would there be a different reading if someone went to freshen up and washed their face before getting in line?

Would the last time someone ate influence body temperature?. Would caffine influence body temperature?

Alcohol? Would a smokers temperature be influenced (constrict) blood vessels? Would fatigue impact readings?

Would ones medications influence readings? Would emotional state influence temperature?

Stress? How does this system account for variance in norms?

Would a thermometer that is designed to take a persons temperature be influenced by being aimed at 800 people an hour?

And we are counting on this IMO nonsense as a benchmark screening for Ebola? To determine locking people up againist there will? Silly IMO................meaningless............

HTTP://cannibalization/showroom/infrared-thermometer-professionalization
.http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/08/10/us-thermometers-idUSPAR05104120070810
HTTP://electromechanical/indexing?/Caregiver% EYE-Professional-Infrared – Thermometer/&PG=CTL&CS=HOM&FN=Product Detail&PID=25494&sex=1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_body_temperature
HTTP://technician-tool.com/355TE220...C4AmA&ed_id=VE6vMwAABSF7vruA:20141027204643:s

 

[SteveS]

Am I the only one who thinks the 5 yr old is positive? Seems the longer the wait for test results, the more likely the result is positive. At least that seems to be how it is going so far.

Not particularly. I don't read anything into the fact that a test was done, that takes 12 hours or so to get the results, and that it's only been 6-8 hours since the test was done with no word on the outcome.

In fact, while we wait, the info that has emerged has seemed to point in the exact opposite from ebola - -info as to patient history, likelihood (or not) of being around an ebola victim and being able to be infected, and symptoms.

 

[SteveS]

I would have to conclude, in light of the fact that 5 airports that suddenly started with thermometers aimed somewhere on folks foreheads that there are no uniform (Breathalyzer) standards as it relates to margins of error.

Since it was implemented so quickly I doubt there was any instruction given. Would there be a difference if one person is aiming the thing from 18 inches away compared to 6 inches?

Its winter, would there be a difference in skin temperature if the outside ambient temperature, at one airport WA 28 degrees, and the ambient temperature inside that airport is 62 as opposed to an an outside ambian temperature of 89 degrees and inside being being 78?

would there be an irreverent reading if a passenger was running late and just ran, lugging carry on baggage to the other end of an airport.

Would the last time someone ate influence body temperature?

<snipped the rest of the list>

And we are counting on this nonsense as a benchmark screening for Ebola?

To determine locking people up againist there will?

Silly IMO................meaningless............

There is certainly going to be plenty of error in the airport temp scanning at a distance. That's to be expected, which is why they do it in a variety of ways. But, it's only a screening process, to alert them just in case and is not the criteria under which decisions are being made as to quarantine of an arriving passenger.

The real temp check itself is taken up close and individually. Despite the alarm created by the scanners, they knew fairly soon thereafter that Hickox had no fever. Her quarantine was based on her status as a HCW, not because of a flawed airport temp scan.

 

[faw720]

TY and OT , something is making kids very sick in north texas and I wonder if it's that. It sounds about right but with all the ebola talk, no news is reporting.

I've recently heard about a disease called enterovirus that is making many children sick. From what I've heard, medical professionals are concerned because nearly all of the news is about ebola & very little is being heard about the disease that is much more common & also can be deadly.

 

[Detective Klimpt]

Am I the only one who thinks the 5 yr old is positive? Seems the longer the wait for test results, the more likely the result is positive. At least that seems to be how it is going so far.

Yes, I do, and I await the results with anxiety. It's now 5:35pmEST. Even if they didn't have the results yet, they should have a report on how the child is doing or have found another diagnosis.

 

[CARIIS]

Steve replied to an earlier post of yours ! Oppsss

Fever at airports have resulted in ambulance rides with 14 cop cars(!) Panic in the media! eing tested for ebola! Being put in special rooms with no other hard data. A bunch of false alarms. The airport temp stuff is huge in what follows. Way to IMO many variables to IMO fool the public that this "method: has any validty. And the facts have proven such. They had at one pint 100's of people doing stuff cause they had a elevated temp at an airport !

Not particularly. I don't read anything into the fact that a test was done, that takes 12 hours or so to get the results, and that it's only been 6-8 hours since the test was done with no word on the outcome.

In fact, while we wait, the info that has emerged has seemed to point in the exact opposite from ebola - -info as to patient history, likelihood (or not) of being around an ebola victim and being able to be infected, and symptoms.

 

[CARIIS]

[
When I checked out accuracy info:
fidgety kids can ruin the reading by moving their heads and the jury is still out on their accuracy,
pointing an inch away from the forehead. I have yet to see any video in an airport of them one inch away from a forehead!

"There is a lot of mixed data out there. More research is needed,"
pharmacist....says definitely the ear is more accurate than the forehead thermometer which makes sense and also more accurate than a temp taken under the arm.

Infrared thermometers that take a person's temperature with a sweep of the forehead may not be as accurate as old-fashioned measures,
journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, cast doubt on the ability of temporal scanners to diagnose fevers or heat-related illness.


With the thermometers being used in this clip I looked up the brand (35 secs in)
HTTP://YouTube/watch?v=2C4Tso3nvI4.


Displayed Accuracy:

• From 96.8/102.2ºF ±0.4ºF
  
• rom 71.6/96.7ºF ±0.5ºF

• From 102.3/108.5ºF ±0.5ºF

Caregiver Professional Infrared Thermometer. US $35
Bio Med Technician may fine tune calibration (trainnig needed))

Who is calibrating these things that are zapping houndreds of people an hour - for an insturment that is made to take a persons temp once in a while

The ones they use are 35 bucks. R200 Non-Contact Forehead is $99.

HTTP://cannibalization/showroom/infrared-thermometer-professionalization
.http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/08/10/us-thermometers-idUSPAR05104120070810
HTTP://electromechanical/indexing?/Caregiver% EYE-Professional-Infrared &#8211; Thermometer/&PG=CTL&CS=HOM&FN=Product Detail&PID=25494&sex=1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_body_temperature
HTTP://technician-tool.com/355TE220...C4AmA&ed_id=VE6vMwAABSF7vruA:20141027204643:s

 

[Sweet Fox]

Am I the only one who thinks the 5 yr old is positive? Seems the longer the wait for test results, the more likely the result is positive. At least that seems to be how it is going so far.

Nope, you're not the only one. The child may very well have Ebola. I just heard the new lax CDC guild lines. What a joke!!!

 

[Detective Klimpt]

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.

The above was your reply to a question I posted. Maybe I didn't pose the question clearly or maybe I just don't understand your reply. Let me pose the question another way. For non-HCW's coming into the country, such as visitors like Duncan or that family with the currently sick 5 year old...are they under any kind of quarantine? I'm thinking they are not, and that is where I think there is big problem. I think anyone coming in from those countries need to be quarantined. Actually, I'd like to see the quarantines done on the other end.

 

[Detective Klimpt]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/27/uk-health-ebola-australia-idUSKBN0IG29P20141027

:cheers:

 

[Sweet Fox]

Confirmed - Negative results for the 5 year old

 

[SteveS]

The above was your reply to a question I posted. Maybe I didn't pose the question clearly or maybe I just don't understand your reply. Let me pose the question another way. For non-HCW's coming into the country, such as visitors like Duncan or that family with the currently sick 5 year old...are they under any kind of quarantine? I'm thinking they are not, and that is where I think there is big problem. I think anyone coming in from those countries need to be quarantined. Actually, I'd like to see the quarantines done on the other end.

I did answer your question, but perhaps it didn't register.

The answer is, "Maybe." The criteria is ""known exposure to someone with ebola."

If yes, they are placed in the high risk category and get quarantined for 21 days.

If no, they are placed in the low-risk category and tracked and monitored, with twice-daily checks for symptoms, for 21 days.

No one simply walks off the plane, having been in one of those countries recently, and is then allowed to disappear to parts unknown without further repeated followup.

Re Duncan, he wasn't treated like that because the rules have been changed since he came. For the kid, he was presumably on a watch list and being monitored twice-daily for symptoms if he had entered since the current rules were put in place.

 

[Inthedetails]

Confirmed - Negative results for the 5 year old

Great news! Here's a link:
http://online.wsj.com/articles/5-year-old-boy-being-tested-for-ebola-at-bellevue-1414416800

 

[SteveS]

Confirmed - Negative results for the 5 year old

And there it is.

Thanks for the update.

 

[Inthedetails]

Great news! Here's a link:
http://online.wsj.com/articles/5-year-old-boy-being-tested-for-ebola-at-bellevue-1414416800

Oops...that link requires subscribing. Here's another:
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york...ted-ebola-bellevue-hospital-article-1.1988468

 

[oh_gal]

Thank goodness!!! I'm glad for the little guy!

 

[SteveS]

More Variability in temps

When I checked out accuracy info:

fidgety kids can ruin the reading by moving their heads and the jury is still out on their accuracy,

<snipped>
[etc]

Yes, the airport mass temp scans are imprecise and can be inaccurate. But they know that and use it accordingly. Since it's only intended to give a rough "heads up" and is not the means by which they ultimately determine if an entering person has a fever, what is your issue with it?