First Ebola Case in the US

[BarryRX]

The CDC has confirmed the first case of Ebola in the US in the Dallas, TX area. Because the world has shrunk, what used to be a self limiting disease confined to remote areas of Africa has become a larger problem.
Here is the story....

CDC confirms case of Ebola in Dallas
Posted: Sep 30, 2014 4:44 PM EDT
Updated: Sep 30, 2014 5:00 PM EDT
By Ashley Slayton - email



(KLTV) -
The CDC has confirmed the first Ebola case diagnosed in the U.S. in the Dallas area.

Health officials had been awaiting test results on a patient at a Dallas hospital.

Officials at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital said the patient is being kept in isolation until preliminary results come back Tuesday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 12 other people in the U.S. have been tested for Ebola since July 27. Those tests came back negative.

Hospital officials said in a statement that the latest patient's symptoms and recent travel indicated a possible case of Ebola. The virus has killed more than 3,000 people in West Africa and infected a handful of Americans who traveled to that region.

Presbyterian Hospital officials say they're following CDC recommendations to keep doctors, staff and patients safe.

Copyright 2014 KLTV. All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[graciegirl]

I saw that on the news Barry and it scares me. I'm sure it scares a lot of people. He had flown to Texas from Africa and showed no symptoms on the plane and for several days afterward.


There is no known cure or prevention and it has killed 90% of those infected and it would take years to produce an effective vaccine it one was proven to work at this time.


I read that anAmerican health person recently infected was effectively treated with a blood transfusion from the American doctor who survived, but that doesn't seem like something that could easily be done.

It is frightening. But I read that it is not spread from person to person in the air but by contact with bodily fluids from someone infected.

[dbussone]

I saw that on the news Barry and it scares me. I'm sure it scares a lot of people. He had flown to Texas from Africa and showed no symptoms on the plane and for several days afterward.





There is no known cure or prevention and it has killed 90% of those infected and it would take years to produce an effective vaccine it one was proven to work at this time.





I read that anAmerican health person recently infected was effectively treated with a blood transfusion from the American doctor who survived, but that doesn't seem like something that could easily be done.



It is frightening. But I read that it is not spread from person to person in the air but by contact with bodily fluids from someone infected.


If I wee one of those who flew on the plane with him I would be very nervous.

[janmcn]

It's a bit disconcerting to learn that this patient went to the hospital with symptoms, after just getting off of a plane from West Africa, and was allowed to walk out of there only to return four days later with full blown Ebola.

[BarryRX]

I would be interested in hearing from any ER nurses out there if any screening is being done when patients come in, such as asking if they have been out of the country in the last 21 days.

[billethkid]

My biggest concern is that we as a country do not have ANY PLANS OR PROGRAMS to protect us in case of any given disaster.

We have adopted and accepted the wait and see method/mode of managing any and all national threats as demonstrated by major events of the recent past.

When I still working and used to travel extensively internationally, I can honestly say the USA is the easiest to get in and out of back then....a cake walk today. At one point in time when there was a flu epidemic I was traveling to Japan. They had a tunnel that all arriving passenger had to go through that was infra red monitored. ANYBODY with an above normal temp was culled from the heard and then medically reviewed before and if allowing entry.

I do not see our country having the courage/sense/ability to take the do what ever it takes to protect it's people.

This type of potential disaster should be treated an an impending eventuality and a plan KNOWN IN ADVANCE what precautions to be taken at what levels of advancement by the disease.

What I have seen and heard is that the disease transfers requires an exchange of bodily fluids! That it is (was) not airborn.

If these are in fact correct one would think the spread of the disease SHOULD be easy to control. And the biggest challenge SHOULD BE nothing more than communication/education to the masses. There should also be some sort of screen at every medical facility in the USA. There should be screening at every entry location into the USA. And with more facts and information more steps to be taken......ALL IN THE NAME OF PREVENTION!

The demonstrated methods of dealing with either national or international crises does not inspire ANY confidence what so ever. In deed, for me anyway, it has made me become suspicious of everything that has been communicated. Why?

Far too many crises do not get resolved....more forgotten than resolved.
Far too many in responsible positions are not qualified to deal with solution and or prevention of major crisies.
Far too many who are responsible are still in their positions even after a major crisies.

A very good litmus test is to review the fence jumper episode most recently.
There was no intervention of any kind by armed guards who witnessed the intrussion. The obvious rule of engagement was wait and see. It should be shocking to everyone to see how far this person was ALLOWED to proceed before being taken down.....by an off duty officer no less.

This has to do with the safety and wll fare of the POTUS and his family and all the others there who run this country. Then to have the head of secret service have the nerve to say I have taken steps to see this never happens again is nothing but amateur incompetence.

A long discussion to say we have every right to be concerned. And the ONLY valid assumption is under the current methodologies/allowances/permissiveness/wait and see here in the USA is........

there will be a major outbreak of this disease in this country.

I need to be proven WRONG!!!

[Villages PL]

Have no fear, Dr.Tom Frieden, head of CDC, is on top of it. Formerly, he was the head of the New York City Health Department's effort to ban trans fat. :eclipsee_gold_cup:

[janmcn]

Gov Rick Perry said at a news conference today that five young people have been exposed to Ebola in Texas. He never gave their ages or relationship to the patient, but said they were all students and were asked to stay home from school. He said they are all being closely monitored for the disease.

It was also reported that the unknown patient changed planes in Brussels on his way to the US.

[billethkid]

Gov Rick Perry said at a news conference today that five young people have been exposed to Ebola in Texas. He never gave their ages or relationship to the patient, but said they were all students and were asked to stay home from school. He said they are all being closely monitored for the disease.

It was also reported that the unknown patient changed planes in Brussels on his way to the US.

And is anybody concerned about or tracking who the 5 students came in contact with? And those these individuals had contact with?

I do not think the message of has sunk in on those people supposedly in charge who have ONLY one objective...political motivation.
A politician or anybody politically motivated simply does not have the capability or the know how to be pro-active and do what needs to be done.

[Nightengale212]

I would be interested in hearing from any ER nurses out there if any screening is being done when patients come in, such as asking if they have been out of the country in the last 21 days.

I am a VA Primary Care R.N. and a good part of my job is walk-in and telephone triage and no protocol yet has come from the top regarding handling of suspected Ebola patients.

Fortunately I use universal precautions with all patients, but most certainly will be on high alert for patients with vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and asking about travel to West Africa or on flights that had been to West Africa.

[janmcn]

And is anybody concerned about or tracking who the 5 students came in contact with? And those these individuals had contact with?

I do not think the message of has sunk in on those people supposedly in charge who have ONLY one objective...political motivation.
A politician or anybody politically motivated simply does not have the capability or the know how to be pro-active and do what needs to be done.


That is pretty harsh criticism of Governor Perry who is only trying to do his job of keeping the citizens of Texas informed and safe.

[janmcn]

I am a VA Primary Care R.N. and a good part of my job is walk-in and telephone triage and no protocol yet has come from the top regarding handling of suspected Ebola patients.

Fortunately I use universal precautions with all patients, but most certainly will be on high alert for patients with vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and asking about travel to West Africa or on flights that had been to West Africa.


It is now being reported on the news that the patient told the nurse that he was from Liberia when he presented with symptoms, but the doctors who treated him never got that information. How can this happen?

[De Lis]

I would bet that he knew he had been exposed to Ebola before he even got on the plane and that he never told anyone that he just arrived from Liberia. I don't for one moment believe that such information would not be reported immediately.

[Nightengale212]

It is now being reported on the news that the patient told the nurse that he was from Liberia when he presented with symptoms, but the doctors who treated him never got that information. How can this happen?

Having not been there it is hard for me to judge what went down. I will say if the nurse forgot to tell the doctor this patient was from Liberia, when that doctor did their own history that info should have been obtained becaused it is medical school 101 to ask out of country travel questions to all patients that present with vomiting, diarrhea, and fever.

[maddie101]

I would bet that he knew he had been exposed to Ebola before he even got on the plane and that he never told anyone that he just arrived from Liberia. I don't for one moment believe that such information would not be reported immediately.

Yes, he knew

Duncan might have contracted Ebola while trying to save a pregnant woman’s life, reported the New York Times. Duncan helped take the woman, Marthalene Williams, 19, to the hospital by taxi in Monrovia, Liberia. She was convulsing and seven months pregnant. When they arrived, the hospital said there was not enough room for her in the Ebola treatment ward, so they were forced to return home. She died hours later, around 3 a.m. Sept. 20. Two other people who came into contact with Williams contracted Ebola and died, the Heavy added.

I am in Dallas this week, and live near Houston. I am following this for sure.
I can't find information about his family being us citizens or not.

Citizenship aside, I am also curious if they released him prematurely after the initial hospital visit because he didn't have insurance. I am not saying they would release him if they suspected ebola, but maybe they didn't take enough time with him because of no insurance (I am not saying that he did or did not have travelers insurance).

We need to temporarily stop entry of citizens from West Africa. If a USA citizen must travel there for business, they need to be cable to afford a. 21 day quarantine before getting on a plane back until this is resolved. Just my opinion

[janmcn]

I would bet that he knew he had been exposed to Ebola before he even got on the plane and that he never told anyone that he just arrived from Liberia. I don't for one moment believe that such information would not be reported immediately.

His family member said on the Today Show that they were the ones that called the CDC to get this man the attention he needed. Now it is being reported that he was throwing up on the street, and that as many as 80 people could have been infected.

[graciegirl]

His family member said on the Today Show that they were the ones that called the CDC to get this man the attention he needed. Now it is being reported that he was throwing up on the street, and that as many as 80 people could have been infected.


I am, because I am old, of the opinion that now is the time to do a lot of things to prevent an epidemic.

This is a very dangerous situation and one that no one is prepared for. I said several months ago that we needed to shut some doors.

If a black man with a foreign accent appeared in the emergency room in Texas, this would have been a good time to jump to conclusions or profile or ask some questions given the recent epidemic in Africa..

[janmcn]

I am, because I am old, of the opinion that now is the time to do a lot of things to prevent an epidemic.

This is a very dangerous situation and one that no one is prepared for. I said several months ago that we needed to shut some doors.

If a black man with a foreign accent appeared in the emergency room in Texas, this would have been a good time to jump to conclusions or profile or ask some questions given the recent epidemic in Africa..


Definitely the Dallas hospital is taking some blame in this case. If a large hospital in one of the largest cities in the country can't handle these cases, how would smaller hospitals in smaller cities react? It is very scary.

The best advice is stay off of airplanes, trains, cruise ships, or anywhere where large crowds gather, and don't use public restrooms.

[kittygilchrist]

I would bet a small percentage of the US population could put Liberia in the right continent on a blank world map.
But then that is cynical, and I do geography as poorly as anybody.

[billethkid]

what is blatantly obvious is theat even the most basic of preventative actions have not been formulated or communicated or put into effect.

There is no excuse....none at all. Those who are elected to represent and protect the USA and it's citizens have known of this potential for months. Given the exponential rise of infections in Africa it was obvious the next things that could happen....

The wait and see approach to protecting America is going to get many of it's citizens NEEDLESSLY put into harms way.

Inexcuseable incompetence! However the politicians are somewhat comforted by the usual lack of outrage and demand from we the people.....hence it is politics as usual.....we are fine let's get on with the important stuff and get re-elected.

How many have contacted their representatives including Obama and ripped them a new :censored: for sitting on their :censored: doing nothing?
I fully expect the black SUV's or helicopters to show in my yard any day now!

[RedChariot]

I would be interested in hearing from any ER nurses out there if any screening is being done when patients come in, such as asking if they have been out of the country in the last 21 days.

That ER Dr and staff dropped the ball when they discharged him when he first presented there. That allowed 2 more days of exposure.

[janmcn]

what is blatantly obvious is theat even the most basic of preventative actions have not been formulated or communicated or put into effect.

There is no excuse....none at all. Those who are elected to represent and protect the USA and it's citizens have known of this potential for months. Given the exponential rise of infections in Africa it was obvious the next things that could happen....

The wait and see approach to protecting America is going to get many of it's citizens NEEDLESSLY put into harms way.

Inexcuseable incompetence! However the politicians are somewhat comforted by the usual lack of outrage and demand from we the people.....hence it is politics as usual.....we are fine let's get on with the important stuff and get re-elected.

How many have contacted their representatives including Obama and ripped them a new :censored: for sitting on their :censored: doing nothing?
I fully expect the black SUV's or helicopters to show in my yard any day now!


It is unclear what the federal government can do to protect people here, since there is no vaccine available for Ebola. The president just last week issued orders for 5000 military to be sent to Liberia to build hospitals and try to stop the disease where it started, and authorized millions of dollars to be spent to stop the spread of this disease.

[graciegirl]

It is unclear what the federal government can do to protect people here, since there is no vaccine available for Ebola. The president just last week issued orders for 5000 military to be sent to Liberia to build hospitals and try to stop the disease where it started, and authorized millions of dollars to be spent to stop the spread of this disease.


Stop it, how? It may already be too late. We need to do something real drastic RIGHT NOW.

[Rags123]

It is unclear what the federal government can do to protect people here, since there is no vaccine available for Ebola. The president just last week issued orders for 5000 military to be sent to Liberia to build hospitals and try to stop the disease where it started, and authorized millions of dollars to be spent to stop the spread of this disease.

1. I understand there are in excess of 13,000 people from Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberaia with VISA's to visit our country. There are a number of African countries that bar folks from those countries to enter. The WH press secy says the President will NOT stop visitors from coming here.

2. Many, especially after the recent press, will try to come here for medication and care and will do it with whatever means possible. Insuring our borders are secure against this most recent threat would help.

Quick to react to some things.

[maddie101]

I read, I watch the new, I am educated. I hear the "scientific" fact that there is zero chance of getting it when no symptoms are showing.
1. What about a us citizen returning with no symptoms. He is excited to see his wife and they have sex the next morning. He leaves for the office and starts to get chills and fever on the way to work. Does that one hour really give her 100% chance of not being exposed if his symptoms turn out to be Ebola?
2. A West African citizen comes to USA to see a relative. His young nephew skins his knee playing and the uncle wants to take his mind off the boo boo, they start to play basketball and the man's sweat gets on the ball and then the hands of the young boy. Two hours later, the man goes into convulsions and is taken away by ambulance. If this man has Ebola, is this young boy really safe by two hours?
3. A woman returns from helping ebola patients in west Africa. The next week she returns and gets a sad phone call and is crying. Her husband wipes away her tears. He did not know he had a tiny paper cut. She starts to make dinner and gets chills. She starts to sneeze and the next morning other symptoms appear. Is he really sAfe by 30 minutes?
I can't believe it is 100% impossible to not get Ebola if symptoms are not showing. These hypothetical scenes would worry the crap out if me and they are all possible scenes with so many people exposed in these countries. Citizens or not, there needs to be a quarantine period before coming to / back to the USA from certain countries

[billethkid]

It is unclear what the federal government can do to protect people here, since there is no vaccine available for Ebola. The president just last week issued orders for 5000 military to be sent to Liberia to build hospitals and try to stop the disease where it started, and authorized millions of dollars to be spent to stop the spread of this disease.

It is very clear what can be organized and done to better protect the people.

The basics....have yet to be addressed.

I am not interested in the political maneuvers like sending troops to Liberia.

I am talking about the complete lack of an organized...BASIC...screening to be utilized.

[janmcn]

It is very clear what can be organized and done to better protect the people.

The basics....have yet to be addressed.

I am not interested in the political maneuvers like sending troops to Liberia.

I am talking about the complete lack of an organized...BASIC...screening to be utilized.


This is never going to happen, so all anyone can do is to take personal responsibility and stay off of airplanes, cruise ships, trains, public restrooms, and any other places where large crowds gather. This is true not only for the Ebola outbreak, but also because of the threats ISSL is making.

[kittygilchrist]

I read, I watch the new, I am educated. I hear the "scientific" fact that there is zero chance of getting it when no symptoms are showing.
1. What about a us citizen returning with no symptoms. He is excited to see his wife and they have sex the next morning. He leaves for the office and starts to get chills and fever on the way to work. Does that one hour really give her 100% chance of not being exposed if his symptoms turn out to be Ebola?
2. A West African citizen comes to USA to see a relative. His young nephew skins his knee playing and the uncle wants to take his mind off the boo boo, they start to play basketball and the man's sweat gets on the ball and then the hands of the young boy. Two hours later, the man goes into convulsions and is taken away by ambulance. If this man has Ebola, is this young boy really safe by two hours?
3. A woman returns from helping ebola patients in west Africa. The next week she returns and gets a sad phone call and is crying. Her husband wipes away her tears. He did not know he had a tiny paper cut. She starts to make dinner and gets chills. She starts to sneeze and the next morning other symptoms appear. Is he really sAfe by 30 minutes?
I can't believe it is 100% impossible to not get Ebola if symptoms are not showing. These hypothetical scenes would worry the crap out if me and they are all possible scenes with so many people exposed in these countries. Citizens or not, there needs to be a quarantine period before coming to / back to the USA from certain countries


You know what you are talking about. Thanks.

[sunnyatlast]

Isolation of the existing Ebola patients is the only way to contain this epidemic.

Our government is not likely to isolate them using our troops there, or bar their entry into the U.S. Thru ports and airports. It's politically incorrect and morons would scream "racism" if a black man or Muslim from Africa or the Middle East were barred from entering the country as the ISIS strategy depends upon.

The enabling of terrorists to enter and quietly embed themselves across the country, waiting to detonate simultaneously in the next 9-11, nationwide, will continue. Ebola in the mix for petrifying and terrorizing defenseless citizens makes it more delectable to them.

[De Lis]

He worked for FedEx and soon as he received his non-immigrant "visitors" visa, he quit his job, got on a plane, because now he had a U.S. son. He had every intention of being an overstay and was just waiting for his amnesty.
Our gov't stopped direct flights from Liberia a while back, so this guy simply went through Brussels (with a 6 hour layover), then to DC (with a 3 hour layover), and then on to Texas. He won't be the last now.