Ebola coming to the US

[diggitydot]

My patience with the panic is waning. As usual, the media makes it worse. It is as if they are hoping for someone to have some connection/exposure so they can have something to talk about.

Same here. I'm so tired of the overwrought hyperventilating and fear mongering.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

My particular favorite the panic I know among people who selectively delayed/didn't vaccinate your children. You have GOT to be kidding me.

[PrincessFiona]

Of course, now we have a Yale grad student in quarantine with fever after returning from Africa and according to HuffPo, someone in Miami is being tested for Ebola as well.

[niener]

My patience with the panic is waning. As usual, the media makes it worse. It is as if they are hoping for someone to have some connection/exposure so they can have something to talk about.

God so much this. I got three text messages, two phone calls and a couple of concerned FB messages after an "Ebola scare" being reported by our local news earlier this week ("Don't you let your husband catch Ebola and give it to that baby!!" O....K.... Sure, I'll get right on that). It was the most un-newsworthy story ever. The patient was transferred from county health dept to our hospital and even though the doctor at county health was very clear that it was highly unlikely the woman had Ebola but they felt they needed to cover all the bases, the news basically stalked this woman for hours and gave LIVE UP TO THE MINUTE BREAKING NEWS on the UNCONFIRMED CASE OF EBOLA that was the least Ebola-like case of "Ebola" I've ever heard of. Naturally, the woman did not have Ebola. Not even in the same ballpark. But let's FREAK EVERYONE THE F*** OUT in the meantime. FFS. /end rant

[Sheherezade]

The CDC has said they've fielded hundreds of "possible Ebola" cases every day since this started. I think people are trying to be cautious, but you have to be very restrained to not add to the panic. The decisions of institutions I trust (Solon Schools) to close for such far reaching reasons that defy scientific knowledge makes me think "what do they know that I don't?" That causes panic.

I have been getting texts all day from my other PTO parents that think we need to say something to parents. I have directed them to contact the school administration if they are hearing concerns from parents and the school can decide if there is reason to make a statement and what that statement should be. NOTHING IS HAPPENING. Still, if anyone is saying anything it needs to be official and VERY, very cautiously planned. People are crazy right now. (Well, some people. You guys are cool beans.)

[peggyfromwastate]

My parents are flying back from Atlanta today. They have been on an east coast tour, the main stop being a conference of medical missionaries held by the Samaritans purse. The male doc who had ebola was there, speaking at the conference. My dad is very even keeled. AIDS/HIV hep-c everything else he saw in the ER never bugged him. He was actually concerned flying though. They flew anyway, but he's concerned. There are too many unknowns.

As far as communicable diseases, my dh worked in the health dept pre med and they routinely quarantined towns, neighborhoods, etc for communicable diseases. Like TB, mostly, which is of course easier to catch, but the protocols are there. And should be used.

And I think that nurse was 100% wrong to fly. She knew the risks and the incubation period and who cares what a CDC hotline says, you don't fly. That's ridiculous.

[PrincessFiona]

Do you feel any panic? I'm about to admit to the most awful, ridiculous thing I can think of with regard to this story and how the hype has affected me.

In my Wed. night class, the man who sits next to me is an African man from West Africa. (Really nice guy btw). He is also my discussion partner. His English is so poor that no one can understand him and so I've sort of been his partner since no one else will be.

Last night, I came into class and sat in the back of the room instead of next to him. I just started obsessing about where his family/friends had been, when was the last time he traveled, etc. When it was time to partner up, he looked for me and so I had to move up to the front. I sat a farther distance from him than usual and started realizing that I was probably being totally ridiculous. All of the "news" just has me panicked. I even felt ashamed of myself as we worked together....but when I got in my van to go home, I couldn't help but worry if I hadn't exposed myself.

I know I'm being ridiculous. Please slap me.

Kris

[Thirteen]

Ebola coming to the US

Do you feel any panic? I'm about to admit to the most awful, ridiculous thing I can think of with regard to this story and how the hype has affected me.

In my Wed. night class, the man who sits next to me is an African man from West Africa. (Really nice guy btw). He is also my discussion partner. His English is so poor that no one can understand him and so I've sort of been his partner since no one else will be.

Last night, I came into class and sat in the back of the room instead of next to him. I just started obsessing about where his family/friends had been, when was the last time he traveled, etc. When it was time to partner up, he looked for me and so I had to move up to the front. I sat a farther distance from him than usual and started realizing that I was probably being totally ridiculous. All of the "news" just has me panicked. I even felt ashamed of myself as we worked together....but when I got in my van to go home, I couldn't help but worry if I hadn't exposed myself.

I know I'm being ridiculous. Please slap me.

Kris

I think a healthy dose of information, in addition to being educated about potential transmission, doesn't make you a paranoid jerk. It's possible there could be visiting friends or family that are asymptomatic, etc.

To compare "paranoia", we've had a few people test positive for ChikV here, and I'm "not allowed" to go outside at dawn or dusk anymore with the kids...

Back to topic -- There was also cautious mention of "not going anywhere" for the holidays... Even telling extended family to stay put (for their own health and well-being).
I can't say that we are panicking, but I can say we are watching cautiously and are enjoying living in a small-ish location right now.


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[Sheherezade]

Oh, I know. I've got the low level panic thing going on. I think that's normal. I keep trying to battle it with logic. I've read up on the virus itself because that makes me feel more empowered. If things are as they have been, it's wet virus that's the concern. They've had virus live for 6 days at room temp in a wet environment (droplet, blood, dead body). Dry surfaces like a counter or a doorknob? Or even skin? Hours. It's destroyed by everything -- household chemicals, etc. There is no risk from a patient flying on a plane or walking around a store unless she's dripping blood. Still, I'm wondering if this isn't the prelude to some bad, epidemic movie where three months from now we are all boarding up the houses.

So see? I can panic, too. I don't blame you for your fear. It's ridiculous, of course. I'd probably have felt the same way though and fought the same issues.

I need more info on details about these nurses. It's the nurses and the unknown HOW that's got me crazy. The CDC and the hospital doc have very few answers. I'm watching the hearings.

Both nurses were ICU nurses and both wore PPU when they cared for him. So... it's just provider error, right? I think that's the most common way that providers get it in Africa - removing the PPUs.

[niener]

Do you feel any panic? I'm about to admit to the most awful, ridiculous thing I can think of with regard to this story and how the hype has affected me.

In my Wed. night class, the man who sits next to me is an African man from West Africa. (Really nice guy btw). He is also my discussion partner. His English is so poor that no one can understand him and so I've sort of been his partner since no one else will be.

Last night, I came into class and sat in the back of the room instead of next to him. I just started obsessing about where his family/friends had been, when was the last time he traveled, etc. When it was time to partner up, he looked for me and so I had to move up to the front. I sat a farther distance from him than usual and started realizing that I was probably being totally ridiculous. All of the "news" just has me panicked. I even felt ashamed of myself as we worked together....but when I got in my van to go home, I couldn't help but worry if I hadn't exposed myself.

I know I'm being ridiculous. Please slap me.

Kris

See honestly this is another thing I"m really worried about with this news fearmongering mess, is creating yet another fear about another ethnic group that creates another stereotype and another prejudice.

I used to have a bunch of coworkers all from Kenya. Getting to and from Kenya was very expensive, time-consuming and just plain difficult. They didn't go home often. The medical missionaries I know (i.e. the unassuming white dudes) spent way more time in Africa than my African friends.

[Pollyanna]

Unfortunately Frieden is not the type of guy that makes folks feel comfortable. I know nothing about him but the American people need someone that appears to know what's going on and have everything together. He's just not that guy. I'm not advocating that he should be replaced just noting that his type of leadership (or lack thereof) is not helpful in this situation.

So far not too much crazy going on around here. There was supposed to be a conference call or something yesterday at the hospital but it was canceled. Dh is curious about the guidelines and protections because in OB its all fluid and lots of it.

I think there needs to be healthy concern. It seems we will have groups of, "oh relax, it's not a big deal" and the opposite extreme of "bar the doors, my third cousin twice removed bought a shirt made in West Africa". Both groups create problems.

I found Frieden's point about our porous borders humorous. Yep, that's a huge issue and Ebola just makes it more obvious. Hard to enact a travel ban when your borders are basically wide open.

[Sheherezade]

Yeah -- I'm kind of glad that we are in the situation we are in here. There's just enough crazy that my DH's hospital is issuing plans and procedures and basically doing real life prep for this. Still, I don't think there's a real risk. It's just close enough that they have to be serious and answer a lot of questions.

[diggitydot]

The nurses who cared for the now-deceased ebola patient in TX actually didn't wear any protective gear until after his positive ebola test results came back. Two days worth of contact with the man and his bodily fluids sans appropriate gear. It's a miracle there aren't more positive results in the people who cared for him during that time.

[medpedspouse]

Kris, how does Thomas feel about it? My lack of worry is that I look to the ID docs and do not see any concerns other than the usual precautions. What I do see that they are mostly concerned about is trying to keep up with their normal patient load PLUS all the additional ebola scare consults, the multiple infection control meetings and the constant interviews/press conferences.

[scrub-jay]

Yet. I think there will be a third. Not sure why, just a gut feeling.

I agree. I'm hoping not, but from the stories rolling out, I'm expecting more.