Okay...I am not part of the CDC or the Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas but I AM pretty sure that
"After expressing concerns that their necks were exposed even as they wore protective gear, the nurses were told to wrap their necks with medical tape, the union says." (direct quote)
Is NOT Ebola Protocol...
And now CDC Director Tom Frieden is admitting:
Mistakes were made.
-Ya think?
Pretty steep learning curve there, Mr. Frieden
So another healthcare worker infected with Ebola in Dallas and more to follow...and not a peep about the four people who were in the apartment with Mr. Duncan (patient zero/now deceased- here) since October 6th...and hearing strains of our former President's lament in his voice as he talks about
"...following contacts is hard work..."
And they have started screening incoming flights...the illusion of "doing something" even though Duncan himself would have passed the screening, as he was not symptomatic, when he arrived in The States.
Instead of attempting to fix the problem they are spending inordinate amounts of time trying to affix blame...and sugar-coating and downplaying the risks. At least they have stopped saying it can't happen here.
Is this a bad time to say I told you so?
Kudos for the Nurse's Union who has stepped up and revealed what most of us have suspected all along...that they are basically making protocol up as they go along.
And about that goddamn dog...
A survey done in 2005 reports
"These findings strongly suggest that dogs can be infected by Ebola virus, and that some pet dogs living in affected areas were infected during the 2001-2002 human Ebola virus outbreak," the study concluded.
It also pointed out that noticeable symptoms of Ebola did not develop in any of the dogs in the study, which supports the notion that they were asymptomatic. However, this does not mean that the dogs cannot transmit the disease. Even dogs exhibiting no symptoms of Ebola "may excrete infectious viral particles in urine, feces and saliva for a short period before virus clearance", which has been observed in other animals, according to the study."
And "Excalibur" (the dog in Spain) was humanely euthanized instead of taking the chance that an infected pet might spread the virus further. Despite 400,000 protests.
In many parts of the World, lest we forget, cainines are simply referred to as "lunch".
But not here. No, here...like so many other things we have been arrogant about concerning this outbreak...here we have spirited "Bentley" the exposed Spaniel off to an undisclosed location. All the while looking down our noses at Spain rudely and shaking our judgemental heads.
"How horrible of them to put her dog down."
Somehow, I can see these people trying to save the rats during the Bubonic Plague. Although to be completely fair...it was the fleas on the rats who were spreading the plague...not the actual rats themselves.
And is it just me, or have they got a lot of people in an undisclosed location now? I immediately think of Dick Cheney who spent the greater part of the Bush Presidency there, as well. When he wasn't shooting friends in the face, that is.
For the record...I think both dogs should have been send to a CDC lab to continue the research that was started in 2005. Whether or not house-pets can be a carrier of Ebola in a nation where HSUS estimates there are 83.3 million pet dogs might just be a handy thing to know for sure.
Because I don't want to hear Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings...or the CDC Director come out in a month or so and say (again)
"...mistakes were made..."
And Governor (Goodhair) Rick Perry?
Well he is out of Country right now...attempting to act all Presidential and shit...although I suspect part of the reason is to put some distance between him and the Ebola flap and the 2016 Primaries, myself.
~sigh~
You see, everyone listened to Tom Frieden...and President Obama...and a great many other talking heads. They told us how exceptional we were and how this was something that couldn't happen to us and there was nothing to worry about...instead of encouraging us to be prepared...really prepared months ago.
Talking of preparedness was met with derision and scoffs of
"Panic" and "Chicken Little"
Ask any Liberian and you will see...the sky has already FELL in their part of The World.
Let's try to make sure it doesn't fall here, as well.
West Africa- The Numbers
March 24th, 2014- 59 dead and 86 confirmed cases.
April 8th, 2014- 101 dead and 171 confirmed cases.
May 5th, 2014- 157 dead and 235 confirmed cases.
June 29th, 2014- 399 deaths and 635 confirmed cases.
July 31st, 2014- 729 deaths and 1,323 confirmed cases.
Aug. 28th, 2014- 1,552 dead and 3,069 confirmed cases.
Sept. 27th, 2014- 3,083 dead and 6,553 confirmed cases.
October 14, 2014- 4,447 deaths and 8,914 confirmed cases.
Educate yourself...don't be a statistic.