Posted on 07/29/2014 10:51:00 PM PDT by kristinn
The Obama administration is urging federal employees to stay home during the summit of African leaders being held in Washington, D.C. next week and to monitor local news for announcement of a possible “closing of the federal government” —ostensibly over traffic issues.
At the same time the administration said the federal government is taking no “additional precautions” to deal with the potential spread of the Ebola virus by those attending the summit.
In a twelve paragraph article on the summit of African leaders hosted by President Obama, the New York Times devotes five paragraphs to the issue of Ebola affecting the summit—an issue the Gateway Pundit has raised in several articles this week.
The Ebola death last week of Patrick Sawyer, a naturalized American citizen who was working for the government of his native Liberia raised worldwide fear as he was able to travel by passenger plane from Liberia to Nigeria with a layover in Togo on his way to an international conference without his condition being noted until he became seriously ill on approach to Lagos.
Leaders and government officials from Liberia as well as the other nations affected by Ebola—Guinea, Sierra Leone and Nigeria are expected to attend the D.C. summit.
From the Times:
“In an email to top officials at federal offices, the nation’s personnel chief urged agencies to let their workers stay at home during the event, which takes place next Tuesday and Wednesday. Traffic is also expected to be snarled on Monday and Thursday as the leaders arrive and leave.
““Agencies should consider encouraging employees who can be spared from their duties to request to adjust their work schedules,” Katherine Archuleta, the director of the Office of Personnel Management, wrote Friday in a memo.”
…”Ms. Archuleta wrote that for now the federal government would remain open Monday through Thursday next week, but she advised federal employees to monitor local news outlets for announcements about potential street closings, disruptions to public transportation or a closing of the federal government.”
…””We believe air travel continues to be safe, and the C.D.C. has stated there is no significant risk in the United States from the current Ebola outbreak,” Edward Price, a spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said in an email.”
…”A spokesman for the C.D.C. said procedures were already in place to stem the spread of Ebola, and flight crews and airline personnel will generally not allow a sick passenger to board a plane.
“The spokesman, Jason McDonald, said, “There are no plans or indications that we’re going to take any additional precautions with the leaders who are coming.””
The White House downplaying of the Ebola threat contradicted State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki who said Monday about the summit, “…we’re taking every precaution…”
State gatherings in our nation’s capital are highly orchestrated affairs and quite common. This event was announced by the White House in January. It is odd for the federal government to suddenly urge its employees to stay home during a normal work week and to be aware for a possible government shut down on short notice.
Sawyer was not a doctor. He was a Liberian government employee.
You may be confusing him with Dr. Kent Brantley, an American who is currently ill with Ebola after being exposed while treating other patients (in full protective garb). Dr. Brantley recognized early symptoms and admitted himself to isolation before becoming ill. He was not traveling and took precautions to shield others from his infection.
Sawyer had been caring for his sister, who died from Ebola.
You are right; he knew he had been exposed and surely knew he was a risk to others. He should never have boarded that plane.
The obvious question of the hour, WHY NOT CANCEL?
Convenient that the President and Congress are “out” of town...yet the State Dept Spokesperson, Jen Psaki, said “traffic” concerns were the “reason” the government “may” close up for the duration of the Summit.
Again, why not cancel? Is it in any way wise to have FLOTUS interact there? And possibly become infected, and I don’t want to think of those reprocussions.
This whole event has a bad, 1970s ABC Movie Of The Week feel to it.
If they were taking every precaution, then this conference would be taking place in Africa, where it should take place.
Why on earth is there going to be a conference on Africa in NY?
For the final time, close the UN and tell them to find a new sand box to play in...
Did you hear that?
The downside of being a Zombie, is that your taxes double...
aint that the truth
Definitely not adequate PPE. (Scroll down to the picture (not the thumbnails) below the video.)
Before symptoms break out, are you generally aware that you have been exposed to a disease?
Ebola can mimic many other diseases in the early stages. And Africa has more than its share of fever inducing diseases.
You think not eh? How often do you handle possibly infectious body fluids?
I am sorry, but I really do not know what point you are trying to make.
I pointed out that not all healthcare workers have been using adequate PPE. It seems that you think this is a debatable point, which is puzzling given that there are plenty of news reports showing inadequate or improperly worn PPE. Many healthcare workers have died.
Unfortunately, even the best PPE cannot eliminate the risk of disease.
As a researcher, I know very well the requirements for working with Ebola in the lab and in the clinic. I certainly can recognize the difference between people who are following proper procedures and those who aren’t.
onset is sudden. Initial symptoms mimic the flu or malaria.
Men who recover from Ebola can transmit the virus thru semen for 7 weeks after recovery.
not ready until sometime late this year or next, Makerere University college of Health Sciences in Uganda, under a grant from Canada, is developing an inexpensive paper strip test (sweat test). Basically the strip will change color.
The WHO also uses a urine test which can be used in field conditions.
Positives to either test could be followed up with serum or skin biopsy analysis.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201310280216.html
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/
Thanks for the links. I did not know about the paper strip test.
Ping...
Someone will cash in on the pay-per-view option...
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