If this keeps up for a long period of time there will be an attrition of physicians, nurses, X-ray, lab personal, orderlies, even the foodl services personal. If I let my imagination get away from me I believe this could rapidly overwhelm the health care industry. If it fizzles things will settle down. The problem is physicians and nurses and others will see 'cold-like' symptoms in many diseases, but you only need one of the real thing to exact an unforgiving price. Even if we learn to treat with a high degree of survivability, people are not going to want to put their families at risk. They will not be willing to constantly be on edge and put their children and spouses at potential risk. This type of constant stress will exact a toll.
That’s one of my fears with this ebola disease, also. The health industry is already claiming nurses are not prepared for this.
It doesn't happen like that.
There is a single source for testing - the CDC. And their capacity is very small. They only accept submissions from State Health Departments, and they can refuse - and often do.
Most of these "suspected Ebola cases" are Africans with malaria. If they're not from the Hot Zone and they don't have a contact or exposure history, CDC will not OK the testing.
At one point earlier in September, they had 600 requests for testing and had approved 4.
The degree to which this is being mismanaged is astonishing.
Allowing this one crummy Liberian to get to Texas, and publicizing it, GUARANTEES hundreds or even thousands of copycats. And screening at departure, even if it is not corrupt (TIA, bru) will not catch the ones who are incubating the disease, who are the ones who will be rushing for the exits.
I accept that ONE hospital can, with perfect execution, handle ONE patient safely. It is a certainty that, with what is about to happen, safety will break down.
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?