TIME OF EXPOSURE TO SYMPTOMS
Posted on 10/25/2014 3:51:12 AM PDT by EBH
Since the beginning of its operations in West Africa in March to combat the Ebola outbreak, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has put in place stringent protocols to protect its staff from exposure to the Ebola virus and to monitor the health of its returning staff.
MSF has specific guidelines and protocols for staff members returning from Ebola assignments. These guidelines govern the 21-day incubation period of the virus (it can take up to 21 days to display symptoms of possible Ebola infection). A fever that develops during the 21-day period may also be due to something other than Ebola, such as the flu. A fever that develops after the 21-day-period is not due to Ebola.
Until today, out of more than 700 expatriate staff deployed so far to West Africa, no MSF staff person has developed confirmed Ebola symptoms after returning to their home country. While some MSF staff members have been exposed in the field, those exposures were detected and the staff members were immediately isolated and treated. Two international staff members have been medically evacuated. They have fully recovered.
MSF pre-identifies health facilities in the United States that can assist and manage the care of our staff members in the event they develop symptoms after their return home. This pre-identification practice is carried out in coordination with the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and departments of health at state and local levels.
Upon returning to the United States, each MSF staff member goes through a thorough debriefing process, during which they are informed of our guidelines.
The guidelines include the following instructions:
1. Check temperature two times per day
2. Finish regular course of malaria prophylaxis (malaria symptoms can mimic Ebola symptoms)
3. Be aware of relevant symptoms, such as fever
4. Stay within four hours of a hospital with isolation facilities
5. Immediately contact the MSF-USA office if any relevant symptoms develop
These guidelines are consistent with those provided by the CDC to people returning from one of the Ebola-affected countries in West Africa. MSF is also implementing new federal guidelines outlining reporting requirements for people returning from Ebola affected countries.
Our colleague in New York followed the MSF protocols and guidelines since returning from West Africa. At the immediate detection of fever on the morning of October 23, 2014, he swiftly notified the MSF office in New York. He did not leave his apartment until paramedics transported him safely to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, and he posed no public health threat prior to developing symptoms.
While MSF is not in a position to comment on his medical condition or the care he is receiving, the organization sincerely wishes for his swift and complete recovery.
Steps Doctors Without Borders takes to ensure the health and well being of its staff and the community at large:
If returned staff members do not live within four hours of appropriate medical facilities, MSF will ensure they are accommodated appropriately during the 21-day incubation period.
In the unlikely event that a staff person develops Ebola-like symptoms within the 21-day period, he/she is advised to immediately contact MSF and to refrain from traveling on public transportation. Local health authorities are immediately notified.
As long as a returned staff member does not experience any symptoms, normal life can proceed. Family, friends, and neighbors can be assured that a returned staff person who does not present symptoms is not contagious and does not put them at risk. Self-quarantine is neither warranted nor recommended when a person is not displaying Ebola-like symptoms.
However, returned staff members are discouraged from returning to work during the 21-day period. Field assignments are extremely challenging and people need to regain energy. In addition, people who return to work too quickly could catch a simple bacterial or viral infection (common cold, bronchitis, flu etc.) that may have symptoms similar to Ebola. This can create needless stress and anxiety for the person involved and his/her colleagues. For this reason, MSF continues to provide salaries to returned staff for the 21-day period.
Just an FYI before it disappears from their website.
They are soooooooooooooo sure about the 21 days,
and nooooooooo transmission without signs (not symptoms),
but ignore that sex transmits the disease for MONTHS
after “cure”.
Damage control
A link to this thread has been posted on the Ebola Surveillance Thread
It is interesting that to make the curve fit,
some patients in Sierra Leone JUST HAPPENED to have
zeroes ... to make the peaks outside 21 days conveniently
disappear.
So I guess riding subways and going bowling was within recommendations as long as he was within a 4 hour time period to a hospital with isolation?
The World Health Organization publishes reports — one states that (after a quick and simple analysis) that 95% of Ebola cases will arise after infectious exposure within 21 days... And that 98% of Ebola cases will arise after infectious exposure within 42 days... Leaving a few percentage points showing up between 21 and 42 days... And WHO states that an Outbreak / Epidemic is not declared over until 42 days after the last known infection in an area.
How about a self imposed 21 day quarantine prior to leaving west Africa?
Sure looks that way to me.
Notice to the very last paragraph...they shouldn’t go to work and in fact are paid to stay home.
But nothing, nothing about them staying out of the public.
Stunning protocol really. In fact, one might consider lawsuits based on this press release.
Bring Out Your Dead
Post to me or FReep mail to be on/off the Bring Out Your Dead ping list.
The purpose of the “Bring Out Your Dead” ping list (formerly the “Ebola” ping list) is very early warning of emerging pandemics, as such it has a high false positive rate.
So far the false positive rate is 100%.
At some point we may well have a high mortality pandemic, and likely as not the “Bring Out Your Dead” threads will miss the beginning entirely.
*sigh* Such is life, and death...
This literally reeks of stupidity. The virus is IN THEIR BODY, GROWING AND ALIVE whether they show symptoms or not. Maybe they have a strong constitution. Maybe they don't feel sick. But they still have Ebola, a disease that kills more people than it spares.
So basically their advice is "Don't bother being tested or quarantined for Ebola. If you get sick, why gee...then you MIGHT have Ebola...but golly feel free to do practically anything you want unless you feel sick".
Very soft, very subjective and a perfect way to spread the disease.
Thanks for the ping!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.