White House: No Ebola travel restrictions

The Hill ^ | October 1, 2014 | Elise Viebeck

[jazusamo]

The White House said Wednesday it will not impose travel restrictions or introduce new airport screenings to prevent additional cases of Ebola from entering the United States.

Spokesman Josh Earnest said that current anti-Ebola measures, which include screenings in West African airports and observation of passengers in the United States, will be sufficient to prevent the “wide spread” of the virus.

The chances of a U.S. epidemic are “incredibly low,” he said.

“The reason for that is that it is not possible to transmit Ebola through the air. ... The only way that an individual can contract Ebola is by coming into contact with the bodily fluids of someone who is exhibiting symptoms.”

The comments were made after federal health officials confirmed that a man with Ebola traveled to the United States from Liberia on Sept. 20. He is now being treated in isolation in a Dallas hospital as public health workers trace his contacts.

Earnest said President Obama has “strong confidence” in the man's medical care and the measures currently in place to prevent Ebola's spread.

“We've provided guidance to pilots, flight attendants and others who are responsible for staffing our transportation infrastructure to ensure that if they notice individuals who are exhibiting symptoms ... that the proper authorities are notified,” Earnest said.

“In light of this incident, the administration has taken the step of re-circulating our guidance ... to make sure people are aware there is an important protocol that should be implemented.”

It is difficult to spot Ebola cases unless the person is already exhibiting symptoms, such as fever, vomiting or reddened eyes.

West African countries are screening travelers for elevated temperatures, but it is possible to be infected and not show signs for several weeks.

[MarMema]

This recent arrival proves that their screening system doesn't work, as most of us already knew.

Healthcare professionals in full gear came down with ebola. I wonder how they think residents of Texas with no gear are going to be protected after exposure.

This is really just the most amazing thing to witness in my life. A quarantine would be so easy to have done.

[bamahead]

This is by design...

How else do you expect Obama to be able to declare a National Emergency and suspend elections in November?

He needs this outbreak to keep Dems in control of the Senate.

[556x45]

His signature looks like Big O...he even knows it.

[Terry L Smith]

The queer-In_charge cannot get his assigned job of wrecking America accomplished, because too many upright Americans are standing in his way.

So, I believe that it is his intent, to import this deadly disease, with him hoping to eradicate, we the upright Americans.

[Jim Noble]

No restrictions, but we sure are getting ready for the rush to the exits from the death zone!

In case you are wondering what it's all about, here's a quote from Ezekiel Emanuel, M.D., PhD., published this very day:

Ezekiel Emanuel, M.D., PhD in JAMA, 1 October 2014. p. 1297: "...there are obligations of global justice to combat Ebola and strengthen health systems and infrastructure in affected countries in the longer term. Advocates of so-called cosmopolitanism - a key position in the philosophical debate about global justice - argue that national borders have no significance and that all people, regardless of where they live, are entitled to the same education, health care services, and other social resources..."

[Ray76]

Bookmarked. For later reference to show intentional disregard for public health.

[Blue Jays]

I am hopeful for a cold, snowy, and ice-covered winter to blanket the country for months.
Even if only to help reduce amount of unnecessary person-to-person contact.
President Obama is a horrendous excuse for a chief executive.

[VTenigma]

Ezekiel Emanuel, M.D., PhD in JAMA, 1 October 2014. p. 1297: “...there are obligations of global justice to combat Ebola and strengthen health systems and infrastructure in affected countries in the longer term. Advocates of so-called cosmopolitanism - a key position in the philosophical debate about global justice - argue that national borders have no significance and that all people, regardless of where they live, are entitled to the same education, health care services, and other social resources...”

I can’t even articulate how disturbed I am at this evil individual.

[Jim Noble]

I can’t even articulate how disturbed I am at this evil individual

Be disturbed that he's important.

[null and void]

The game of Ebola Roulette continues...

*click* spin *click* spin *click* spin…BANG!

Eeeee-bolllll-aaaaaa ping!

Bring Out Your Dead

We’re gonna need

a bigger cart!

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...

[null and void]

ping

[Delta Dawn]

Look for the UN to hold it’s meetings in Switzerland for the next couple of years...

[firebrand]

There is quite a lot of corruption in Africa, as there is in any poor region. How hard could it be for someone whose family is infected to get a visa? Even if they were asking about that, which they probably aren’t.

[jazusamo]

Yes, the corruption in Africa is a huge factor for anyone that has a few bucks.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Let’s have them all jump the fence and live at the White Hut.

[Mr. K]

How much do we trust the CDC?

Probably a little more than most government agencies, but it’s still THE GOVERNMENT

Will the head of the CDC say what Obama wants him to say?

[FamiliarFace]

Yes, absolutely the head of the CDC will say whatever Obama gives permission to say. It is a very PC entity, and has been from the get go.

When I was a young biology major at Emory in the 70’s, I thought working there would be a dream job. As I worked my way up the ladder through lab jobs at the Med school, I learned otherwise. Even though there are some very good scientists there, politics is there, too, as in most any organization. A friend of mine worked there, and he was pretty stressed out most of the time. He was in his mid 40s and a very nice guy, but you could feel the stress every time we talked about how his work was going.