I have a co-worker who’s sib is a HCW at Texas Health Presby.
Sib’s 2nd hand report —
CDC took over the labs there and removed all the test equipment that tested Thomas Duncan for Malaria “...for decontamination.” (Both HCW and I suspect HazMat disposal is more likely.)
The entire lab area is now CDC territory with no Texas Health Presby local med-techs allowed in.
The local HCW are “freaking out” despite public face of professional competence the hospital management, Dallas politicos and CDC are putting out in their “Risk Messaging.”
People talking about HCW walking out if local Dallas HCW get Ebola seem spot on, from what I have gathered from the co-worker.
>Double Face Palm<
The United States has no plans to restrict travel from African countries hard-hit by the Ebola virus epidemic, the Obama administration said Monday.
At the same time, the president’s chief spokesman said the U.S. won’t absolutely rule it out.
‘A travel ban is not something that we’re currently considering,’ White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters.
‘We feel good about the measures that are already in place,’ he insisted.
‘Our experts continue to be confident that the medical infrastructure that we have in this country is sufficient to prevent an Ebola outbreak from occurring,’ Earnest said.
He continued Monday to project confidence, which some have interpreted as reassuring while others see it as complacency.
Still, he adopted a never-say-never attitude when pressed on the subject.
‘This is something that we regularly assess and re-assess, and – so I wouldn’t rule out any changes in the future,’ he said.
Earnest explained that a back-and-forth flow of aviation traffic is needed in order to fight the Ebola outbreak from an ocean away.
‘We’re relying on the commercial transportation system to move supplies and personnel into the region,’ he said.
‘So we don’t want to obstruct one of the core components of our strategy.’
[snip]
‘There are extensive screening measures on the ground in west Africa where this outbreak has occurred,’ he said, adding that ‘there’s guidelines and guidance and training that has been given to flight crews.’
‘There also is a protocol in place for Customs and Border Patrol officers who are manning our ports of entry,’ Earnest added, ‘to be on the lookout for individuals, again, that may be exhibiting symptoms of Ebola – in other words, that are contagious with Ebola.’
But health officials said Sunday that they are considering the approval of new measures designed to provide the U.S. with one extra firewall, such as checking the body temperature of everyone who enters the U.S. from an affected nation.
Thanks for your report.
I would hardly blame the HCWs. I haven’t seen any photos of the HCWs attending Duncan. Are they in full PPE or mask, gloves, and gown, as the revised CDC guidelines recommended?
Just wondering.
Good for them. Perhaps if they push back against the idiocy spouted by the CDC and Obama administration, something actually effective will get done.
There are protocols for decontaminating equipment that has been used with level 4 agents. The equipment is even still usable afterwards.