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Ebola

Ebola466 posts

Ebola is a disease caused by an ebolavirus. Symptoms start two days to three weeks after contracting the virus, with a fever, sore throat, muscle pain and headaches. Vomiting, diarrhea and rash follow, along with decreased function of the liver and kidneys. Victims bleed both within the body and externally. From 1976 through 2013, the World Health Organization reported a total of 1,716 cases. In 2013 an outbreak started in Guinea, spreading to neighboring African countries and infectied doctors, some of who were transported back to the US for treatment. The virus continues to claim victims as it spreads to more countries.

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2 Oct, 2014

More U.S. cases expected

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Health officials say it’s likely more people will travel to the U.S. carrying Ebola. Georgetown University Medical Center infectious disease specialist Jesse L. Goodman:

I would expect that so long as there is such a widespread epidemic in Africa, that even with good screening at the airports, etc., it’s possible there will be additional cases. This is a global public health emergency, and I think this indicates that.

The man identified as the first Ebola patient in the U.S. was incubating the disease when he traveled from Liberia to Dallas on Sept. 19-20, but he showed no symptoms while he was traveling, so his fellow travelers are not at risk.

3 Oct, 2014

Hazmat team arrives

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A Hazmat team from the private company Cleaning Guys arrives at the apartment where Duncan was staying. Louise Troh, her son Timothy Wayne, 13, nephew Oliver Smallwood, 21, and his friend Jeffrey Cole, are among 10 people legally ordered to stay inside. The team plans to dispose of bedsheets, a mattress, and clothes that Duncan brought from Liberia to prevent his bodily fluids from contacting other people in the apartment. Dallas County Fire Marshall Robert De Los Santos:

The family is in good spirits and they are being closely monitored. Our ultimate aim is to move those people out of this apartment but we don’t know when

Hospitalized in DC

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A person who traveled to the U.S. from Nigeria is hospitalized at Howard University Hospital in Washington with possible Ebola symptoms. Hospital spokesperson:

We can confirm that a patient has been admitted to Howard University Hospital in stable condition, following travel to Nigeria and presenting with symptoms that could be associated with Ebola. In an abundance of caution, we have activated the appropriate infection control protocols, including isolating the patient. Our medical team continues to evaluate and monitor progress in close collaboration with the CDC and the Department of Health.

The hospital is unable to reveal more due to privacy reasons.

Treatment at Nebraska centre

Ashoka Mukpo0 Comments

Mukpo’s father confirms that he will be transported to the isolation unit at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha on Sunday, the same facility where Rick Sacra was treated. His mother, Diana Mukpo:

[He is] very, very frightened, but his spirits are relatively good. We intend to go wherever he ends up.

No confirmed cases in D.C.

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The D.C. Department of Health says there are no confirmed Ebola cases in D.C. It is working with the CDC and Howard University Hospital to monitor ‘any patients displaying symptoms associated with the Ebola virus.’

Inmate tested

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An inmate at Cobb County Jail in Atlanta is being tested for the virus. The person was arrested for a DUI overnight and told officials he had recently traveled to Africa after he developed a fever while in custody.

Maryland patient in isolation

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Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Rockville, Maryland, says a patient is in isolation with ‘flu-like symptoms and a travel history that matches criteria for possible Ebola.’ Lab results indicate the patient has another illness.

We are working closely with the Montgomery County Health Department and State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) as well as the CDC to manage this case and to ensure we continue to be prepared to care for patients with Ebola symptoms.

Initial tests negative

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Initial Ebola tests of a prisoner at Cobb County Jail in Atlanta return negative. The area where the inmate was quarantined has been cleaned and the jail has lifted a ban on local agencies bringing in new inmates. Prison authorities are waiting for further test results, and the prisoner has been transfered to another medical facility.

Dallas may file charges

Thomas Eric Duncan0 Comments

The office of Dallas County DA Craig Watkins is considering state charges of aggravated assault against Duncan:

We’re dealing with the issue that he may have knowingly exposed individuals in Dallas County to the Ebola virus. We’ve prosecuted individuals, for knowingly exposing individuals to HIV – which is aggravated assault.

Media restrictions

Liberia0 Comments

Liberia requires journalists to obtain official permission to cover many aspects of the outbreak under new rules aimed at protecting patient privacy. Journalists can be arrested and prosecuted if they fail to get written permission from the health ministry before contacting Ebola patients, conducting interviews or filming or photographing healthcare facilities. Tolbert Nyenswah, assistant minister of health and head of Liberia’s Ebola Incident Management System:

We have noted with great concern that photographs have been taken in treatment centers while patients are going in to be attended by doctors. That is invasion of the dignity, privacy and respect of patients. Ebola patients are no different from any other patients. We should do that (report) under permission so that we don’t just take pictures or send out stories of naked people (in a way) that does not respect their privacy.

Cuban medics

Sierra Leone0 Comments

62 doctors and 103 nurses from Cuba arrive in Sierra Leone after more than two weeks of training with international experts at a Havana hospital specializing in tropical diseases. Another 296 Cuban doctors and nurses will go to Liberia and Guinea after training. Deputy Health Minister Madina Rahman:

We have 165 medical officers, qualified health professionals that are here to help us in the fight against Ebola. As we know we need as much healthcare and professionals as possible. This will make a dent in the fight, we need more if we can get more

Cameraman has ‘low amount’ of virus

Ashoka MukpoNBC0 Comments

NBC says 33-year-old American freelance cameraman Ashoka Mukpo has contracted a ‘low amount’ of the virus and is quarantined in Liberia and will be flown back to the U.S. Mukpo had been on assignment in Monrovia with Chief Medical Editor and Correspondent Dr. Nancy Snyderman and three other NBC News employees. His prognosis is good. Staff note from NBC News President Deborah Turness:

We are doing everything we can to get him the best care possible. He will be flown back to the United States for treatment at a medical center that is equipped to handle Ebola patients. We are also taking all possible measures to protect our employees and the general public.

The rest of the crew, including Dr. Snyder, are ‘being closely monitored and show no symptoms or warning signs’ but will be flown to the U.S. and quarantined for 21 days.

Splashed

Ashoka Mukpo0 Comments

Mukpo’s mother, Diana, says his virus is in the ‘early stages’ and she is optimistic he will be cured.

At one point he was trying to help decontaminate a car. He had most of the protective gear on, but he thinks something might have splashed on his body at that point. That’s one possibility, but really, one doesn’t know fully.

100 cases of Ebola-like symptoms since July

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Hospitals around the U.S. have reported 100 cases of Ebola-like symptoms since July. A CDC official says many hospitals remain unsure about how they are supposed to react when a suspected patient shows up. Atlanta’s Emory University Hospital, which has treated several Ebola patients from West Africa, has provided information and advice to hospitals, many of which are struggling with a lack of awareness about safety protocols and fear among some workers who feel ill-prepared. Washington-area health officials say they are trying to identify gaps in preparedness plans.

Temperature monitors

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Five schools in Dallas are set to install Wello Inc.-made WelloStation temperature monitoring devices to detect fluctuations in students’s body temperatures. Wello Inc.:

The WelloStation measures your body’s core temperature using a patented, non-contact and non-invasive process. An elevated body temperature is the number one indicator of infection. WelloStation quickly screens for fevered individuals so you can either prevent them from entering or perform additional medical checks.

4 Oct, 2014

Emergency supply rush

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Chicago-based LifeSecure supply shop owner David Scott says he has shipped about 50 Extended Infection Protection kits worth $149.95 packages in the last two weeks with sales spiking in the three days since Duncan was diagnosed with Ebola. The kits include respirators, eye protection, gloves and biohazard bags. Scott:

People don’t tend to think about these things until they’re in the headlines, then they panic-buy.

Sales of $124.89 disposable DuPont Co. (DD) Tyvek suits surged 233% in 24 hours to 2:19 p.m. New York time on Amazon.com and DuPont, based in Wilmington, Delaware, says it has tripled production of some items used for Ebola protection and has

worked hard to shift products geographically and made a available a broader range of styles suitable for various treatment levels.

Sales of 3M Co.’s (MMM) particulate respirators, starting at $22, were up 4,004% according to Amazon’s data. Soap.com, a site owned by Amazon, said hand sanitizer sales jumped 20% this week.

CDC: Travel ban would worsen situation

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CDC Director Frieden says a travel ban would make it harder to get supplies to west Africa. African Union aid workers experienced difficulty getting aid to Liberia:

Their ability to get there was delayed by about a week because their flight was canceled and they were stuck in a neighboring country

Newark patient

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ebola-newark-patientCDC officials walk a man believed to be traveling from Liberia off United flight 998 at Newark after he falls ill. A source says the man had been vomiting. He is quarantined with his daughter, who appears to be about 10, at University Hospital.

Critical

Thomas Eric Duncan0 Comments

Duncan has worsened and is in critical condition, Texas Health Presbyterian says. The hospital doesn’t provide other details.

5 Oct, 2014

Treatment boot camp

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International aid workers recruit survivors to give courses to medical workers. Shevan Jacob, a WHO trainer who worked on previous Ebola outbreaks in Uganda and the DR Congo:

We tell the health workers that our role here is to protect and save lives … Many are afraid, they all have lost colleagues to the disease

Training takes two weeks including three days of theory classes, two days in a mock ETU, and working for five days in a real unit with a mentor.