Hi There, Captain Trips
Let's start things off with a
picture, shall we? Notice the complete lack of any bioprotective gear on the guy cleaning up the Ebola-laden vomit ejected by Patient Zero on his way to the hospital?
Sigh. OK, I used to think the US had one of the best public health programs in the world. All that stuff about immunizations, handwashing, treating TB, clean water supplies - you know the drill. But after seeing the way the Ebola case has been mishandled I am beginning to wonder. Read the following (lifted from the Ace of Spades site, and MAJOR props to blogger tmi3rd for his info on the case):
The patient's quarantined girlfriend Louise told CNN on Thursday that she had not been told what to do with the soiled linens used by Mr Duncan when he was ill and had not been given food.
The woman has been legally ordered to stay inside her Dallas apartment with her 13-year-old child and two nephews, who are both in their twenties, as they came in direct contact with Mr Duncan.
...
The quarantined family members of Ebola sufferer Thomas Eric Duncan had tried to escape their Dallas apartment after being told they had to stay inside because they were at risk, having been around Mr Duncan while he was contagious...
It also appears that Mr Duncan did not mention his close contact with a severe case of Ebola to his partner Louise, with whom he has one child.
So, yeah. That apartment is LOADED with infected bodily fluids and the local health department (and/or CDC) is telling them to stay in there. I don't see that working out real well. The family is understandably terrified and has already left the apartment once. Why doesn't the city move them to a clean, isolated area?
Go read
Ace, who's all over this story. You won't get better info anywhere.
Labels: Critiques, Medicine, Science?
posted by Dr. Alice at #
Dr. Alice, much has occurred since your Oct 2nd posting, all of which might have been predictable, given the incredibly lacklustre handling of potential victims, as pointed out in your article. Even now, some two weeks later, there seems to be a distinct lack of forthrightness in the government's efforts to inform the public. Is it politics, a desire to avoid panic or sheer ignorance that is motivating their behaviour? Perhaps it's all three. Regardless, it's an astounding example of why so many people have little faith in their government.
Syd
