Ebola coming to the US

[MrsC]

Really though, is Ebola going to come here through this situation or through any commercial flight originating from Africa or carrying anybody that has been in the affected area recently?

Exactly! They're US citizens so they deserve to be treated here IMO. I'm sure they're taking every precaution. I would fight to get DH home if he was ill.
It's kind of horrible to think that the CDC is crying out for volunteers to help with the outbreak, then when someone contracts it, they're on their own.

[scrub-jay]

CDC issued a level 3 travel advisory (closed borders) finally to/from impacted countries.

[scrub-jay]

The needs of the few over the needs of the many? My DH said he'd refuse transport, he would absolutely not want to be patient 0 for a US outbreak. He would refuse to bring it home, closer to our children. The decision to volunteer to treat this disease in particular is one that most physicians & virologists take very seriously. During the discovery of Ebola in 1976, one of the CDCs top docs was infected and remained in the country to be treated. He was fortunately one of the lucky 10%.

[scrub-jay]

Exactly! They're US citizens so they deserve to be treated here IMO. I'm sure they're taking every precaution. I would fight to get DH home if he was ill.
It's kind of horrible to think that the CDC is crying out for volunteers to help with the outbreak, then when someone contracts it, they're on their own.

Is the CDC crying out for volunteers? I haven't read that. The CDC stated they don't believe transporting gravely ill patients is a good decision and that it may be more harmful than beneficial.

[Pollyanna]

The needs of the few over the needs of the many? My DH said he'd refuse transport, he would absolutely not want to be patient 0 for a US outbreak. He would refuse to bring it home, closer to our children. The decision to volunteer to treat this disease in particular is one that most physicians & virologists take very seriously. During the discovery of Ebola in 1976, one of the CDCs top docs was infected and remained in the country to be treated. He was fortunately one of the lucky 10%.

I agree. Like I said, my initial gut reaction was to get my family home BUT after I sit and really think about what that could mean to the entire country I would say stay. I also think that the care may possibly be better where they are.

[scrub-jay]

T&S brings up a very good point about that too. WHO is funneling $100 million into containing the outbreak. A few months ago, I read about a fairly successful Ebola treatment that was in animal trials. I'm going to look into that deeper tonight, there's a big difference between mice & primates. In other news, Germany is also taking a few patients and naturally the EU is upset as well.

[Pollyanna]

Germany is also taking a few patients and naturally the EU is upset as well.

Okay, I'm just going to say, WTF? You don't transport a deadly virus, you just don't. The first step in containment to me would be not to fly these folks all over the world for treatment. What is going on?

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Ebola actually shouldn't be that contagious though now that I think about it. Yes, it's scary but it's just bodily fluids so theoretically it should be pretty easy to stop the spread. If it was airborne, this would be a different thing.

[MrsC]

Is the CDC crying out for volunteers? I haven't read that. The CDC stated they don't believe transporting gravely ill patients is a good decision and that it may be more harmful than beneficial.

They are. DH has seen ad's looking for Critical Care docs to go over there. Don't get me wrong, if my husband was ill, there is no way he'd want to come back here.
I'm a huge advocate for the needs of the great. Realistically though, how many people can continue to think that way knowing their loved ones would have a far greater chance of survival here under strict quarantine.
If they stop people who are ill from coming here, those who've been exposed will be more likely to hide it and put more people at risk.
Of course I understand the logic behind not letting Ebola carriers in, you just can't let families make these decisions. If they want to keep it out, they need to get all the aid workers out of there and put a travel ban in place. That means it spreads even further. It's not as black and white as everyone thinks.

[scrub-jay]

Ebola coming to the US

I'm not surprised they're asking for volunteers. I'm not sure that people have a "far greater chance of survival here under strict quarantine" though. We don't have a cure and there are no treatments that have been shown to be effective.

Also, the same group bringing the two infected workers back to the US are pulling all of their aid workers out, as of last Tuesday. Peace Corps are pulling their people out too.

[Pollyanna]

Either way, I have great respect for the folks that risk their lives doing missionary work. Truly amazing.

[scrub-jay]

Either way, I have great respect for the folks that risk their lives doing missionary work. Truly amazing.

Word.

[MrsC]

Either way, I have great respect for the folks that risk their lives doing missionary work. Truly amazing.

Absolutely.

[SoonerTexan]

I disagree that you wouldn't have a greater chance of survival here. I'd wager blood transfusions and other treatments are going to go a hell of a lot better in a high tech US ICU vs an understaffed African hospital. I know the virus can't be cured, but wouldn't the complications would be managed better here?

Where are the ID doc wives?

[scrub-jay]

Ebola coming to the US

Unless of course, we can fast-track the potential cure (or vaccine?) that's in trials! Then the politics really start.