CDC: 'Relatively large' number of health workers at risk for Ebola

The Hill ^ | October 13, 2014 | Elise Viebeck

[maggief]

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on Monday said it "would not be surprised" if other healthcare workers at a Dallas hospital are diagnosed with Ebola.

CDC Director Tom Frieden said he did not know how many workers might have been exposed to the virus, but estimated it was a "relatively large number."

"We’re concerned, and unfortunately would not be surprised if we did see additional cases in healthcare workers who also provided care to the index patient," Frieden said. A nurse at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital was found to have Ebola over the weekend. Her case is the first-ever transmission of the virus in the United States.

The CDC said it does not know how the nurse became exposed but is working to find out.

"If we knew there was a specific incident, like a needle stick, that would narrow it down. Since we don't know what the exposure was, we have to cast the net more widely," Frieden said.

Frieden said the CDC is beginning to "rethink" its strategy for controlling Ebola, and called the infection of a nurse “unacceptable.” He also apologized for remarks over the weekend that seemed to suggest the worker was at fault.

"I spoke about a breach in protocol, because that's what we speak about in public health when we talk about what needs to happen," Frieden said.

"Some interpreted that as finding fault with the hospital or the healthcare worker. I'm sorry if that was the impression given. That was certainly not my intention,” he said.

The national nurses union accused Frieden of trying to "scapegoat" the nurse, who has not been identified, who was identified by a family member Monday as 26-year-old Nina Pham.

National Nurses United has repeatedly warned that nurses are not being adequately trained to care for Ebola patients, despite assurances from public health officials that the system is ready to cope with the virus.

With concerns about the virus mounting, President Obama has called a meeting for Monday afternoon with senior members of his administration to dicuss the government's Ebola response.

The president will be briefed on the nurse who contracted the deadly virus and will also receive an update on “broader efforts to ensure the preparedness of our national health infrastructure,” according to the White House.

[Sacajaweau]

duh

[tcrlaf]

“CDC Director Tom Frieden said he did not know how many workers might have been exposed to the virus, but estimated it was a “relatively large number.””

Something major has happened, and they aren’t yet telling us what it was. Probably hoping it won’t end up as bad as it could be, likely.

[ColdOne]

deleting my comment to save the mods the trouble

[maggief]

Let the profiling protests begin. : o /

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/2970110-181/cdc-urges-all-us-hospitals

WASHINGTON — Federal health authorities are telling the nation’s hospitals to “think Ebola.”

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Tom Frieden is urging hospitals to watch for patients with fever or symptoms of Ebola who have traveled from the three Ebola-stricken African nations in the past 21 days. He spoke Monday after a nurse in Dallas became the first person to catch the disease within the United States. She had treated a Liberian man who died at the hospital after bringing the disease from Liberia.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

“This is what fundamental transformation looks like.” —Barack Hussein Obola

[Army Air Corps]

Ping.

[yldstrk]

Duh.

Guess what you persnickety germophobes, this is what you signed up for. Now get out there and deal.

[maggief]

Timely, eh?

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2014/10/13/ad_blames_gop_budget_cuts_for_ebola_outbreak.html

Ad Blames GOP Budget Cuts For Ebola Outbreak

The Agenda Project is a progressive non-profit political organization founded in 2010 by author Erica Payne. This ad, featuring clips of Mitch McConnell, Pat Roberts, and many other Republicans implies that austerity cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and National Institutes of Health are responsible for the 2014 Ebola outbreak. This ad with run in Kentucky and other states leading up to the election.

[txhurl]

I’m having a real hard time believing there is only 1 patient infected by Duncan (prayers for her complete recovery) and that nurse was in complete PPE.

It has been 17 days since Duncan first presented and 15 since he re-presented. I think we need to prepare for hundreds of new diagnoses this week.

[DJ Frisat]

"President Obama has called a meeting for Monday afternoon with senior members of his administration to dicuss the government's Ebola response."

In other words, 'What can we do to stop Ebola, so that it doesn't have a negative effect on my presidency and Democrats' chances on retaining the majority in the Senate?'

This is serious! Stop it before it messes up his golf and fundraising schedules!

[Gamecock]

“I spoke about a breach in protocol, because that’s what we speak about in public health when we talk about what needs to happen,”

The only breach we have had is allowing people from Western Africa into the country.

[urbanpovertylawcenter]

This should be handled by hazmat teams on site in the home of the victims.

Leave the ER for the sick but uninfected. Trauma,Mi, stroke,chf etc.

Only DHS should be exposed.

Their policy their mess!

[jetson]

Something major has happened, and they aren’t yet telling us what it was. Probably hoping it won’t end up as bad as it could be, likely.

Maybe my prediction of five by Oct 15th is more like twenty five.

[GeronL]

now they tell us. lol

[ColdOne]

Yep.

[DoughtyOne]

Unless the CDC has something productive to say, it should remain mum.

This is third grader territory.  It's startling to realize these people are this shallow.


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[DoughtyOne]

Yeap, that’s the breach alright.

[Lurker]

After you.

[clintonh8r]

"Concerned...wouldn't be surprised....etc."

Notice how the language is getting incrementally more ominous with every "press conference", but without actually ringing the alarm bell or laying out a specific plan of action? When it gets really bad they'll be able to say, "Well, we told you so."