Who should or shouldn't be quarantined? (i.e., concerning Chris Christie's NJ quarantine rules)

10/29/2014 | Laissez-Faire Capitalist

[Laissez-faire capitalist]

Even though Amber Vinson has been declared Ebola-free, and has left Emory University Hospital, if this nation is to quarantine those (be they symptomatic or asymptomatic) who came into contact with someone like Thomas Duncan, then should those who have come into contact with Amber Vinson (be it on day 1 to the day she left the hospital) be quarantined?

If Kaci Hickox is "obviously ill," per Chris Christie, then she would obviously be symptomatic according to Chris Christie. If she is symptomatic, then Chris Christie would not only have to quarantine her, but anyone who came into contact with her.

[grania]

I think everyone she had contact with in OH was monitored, and she went to the hospital after she returned to TX. If I remember correctly, it was over 100 people.

[Laissez-faire capitalist]

But should those she had contact with at the hospital also be quarantined?

[grania]

should those who she had contact with...

Whatever it takes to stop the spread of Ebola. Err on the side of caution. The problem now is the insanity of not keeping those potentially with Ebola out of the US and of the federal government refusing to protect us against worst case scenarios.

People would feel much more secure if we trusted the government.

[slowhandluke]

Then governors in the US would than have to quarantine everyone (be they at that point asymptomatic or symptomatic) that came into contact with someone like Hickox or Vinson, even if someone like Hickox or Vinson was asymptomatic, too.

Yes, pretty much we have to do what was done back in the smallpox days. That's the point of stopping air traffic, so we don't have to get silly here because we let things get out of hand by letting these folks wander around.

When somebody got smallpox, everybody in the house was quarantined - symptoms or not.

The bit about not being infections while asymptomatic is a guess by the doctors. I doubt very much you only come infectious at the first symptom, likely it's some hours before.

Letting exposed but asymptomatic folks wander around until they vomit on the subway is not a good idea. That's why we should strive to keep the number of exposed folks in the USA to zero. How in the world are we going to help Africa if we are consumed with fighting it here?