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There's a petition on a website to have nurse Kaci Hickox's license revoked for refusing quarantine after working directly with Ebola patients in West africa.

Well apparently I don't fit that generalization. I can't help how you interpret things. And why do people keep saying there is this irrational fear. I have not heard of one healthcare worker quitting their job because of the threat of ebola, I have not heard of people flocking to local grocery stores cleaning the shelves in preparation for some apocalyptic disaster, I have not heard one story of people standing outside the CDC or WHO demanding more be done, I have not heard of one person canceling their trips because of Wbola. In fact, I think there were still concerts being held in Africa amidst the Ebola crisis. There may be some outliers, but that's with everything. So what "fear" are people being consumed by. If you're basing it on discussion boards, you may be interpreting wrong again. Maybe what you interpret as fear is actually growing concern.

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Their is an abundance of misinformation on the internet about this disease ...

Yes, and you are adding to it and helping spread it ...

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How do you know they weren't quarantined? I can't find literature that states they were not quarantined.

Oh good grief. It took me about three clicks of the mouse to find it.

From the Doctors Without Borders web site on protocols for returning health care workers:

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.
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Good grief no one is threatening her. Get a life. It would be quite detrimental to her "cause" if she ended up developing ebola.

Nonsense. Her cause is simply that she is not a public health threat WHILE ASYMPTOMATIC. She has never insinuated that she is incapable of getting ebola. She has acknowledged that possibility and has stated that she will of course follow the protocols set in place by MSF which includes immediate self-isolation, notifying MSF, and waiting in place for further instructions.

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Yes, and you are adding to it and helping spread it ...

To be fair, one could say that you are doing the same.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
Good grief no one is threatening her. Get a life. It would be quite detrimental to her "cause" if she ended up developing ebola.

If she develops symptoms for ebola THEN she is contagious and will be quarantined...ONLY THEN does she pose any sort of risk to another human. How is that detrimental to standing up for her rights as a citizen in the USA in the here and now?

This is going beyond ignorance and right into willful stupidity and fear. Nursing professionals ought to know better.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
To be fair, one could say that you are doing the same.

*********, her comments are NOT perpetuating fear that is based in NOTHING but knee jerk irrational emotional REACTION, but some that might seem familiar to you are doing exactly that.

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Am I the only person that knows science changes. Diseases change. Biology changes. There is no, and I repeat NO, scientific proof that MSF's protocol for returning workers is best practice. What they offer is a suggestive practice. They suggest you do those things to be safe, so why is it wrong for our local leaders to do the same.

Here is a link regarding quarantining:

The quarantine period for Ebola virus

That seems like scientific evidence to me. If I'm not mistaken, Nigeria DID quarantine contacts as well. Especially after one broke quarantine (like kaci) and ended up infecting a doctor, who in turn infected his wife and others.

If this disease is so hard to catch, why are we treating people in hazmat suites? Be for real. I can treat AIDS with gloves, and TB with an N95, gown, and gloves. Why do I need a hazmat suit? Why do I need to be deconimated afterwards? Why do they suggest working in pairs for safe removal of PPE? Why must we cremate their remains? Why is all this necessary for a disease that is "not easy to catch" or "not as bad as we're making it?" Why should people NOT be worried if this disease is such a walk in the park?

This is not rocket science. Why aren't the troops complaining? What makes her so special that she feels like she can do whatever she pleases after leaving a hot zone, and our troops are doing it in a Luke warm zone.

FACTS THAT ARE KNOWN:

1. It can kill you quickly

2. It is communicable

3. It has a well documented INCUBATION PERIOD.

Everything else from testing, to modes of transmission, to viral shedding, to contagious period are ALL debatable because of lack of sufficient research.

I'm not going to live in a bubble and I'm not going to quit my job, but I expect the same respect and regard for my health as I show my patients and others. I may only have seasonal allergies, if I sneeze and cough, I'm still going to cover my mouth out of respect for others. I'm not infectious, BUT YOU DONT KNOW THAT. If I SUSPECT my children are sick, I keep them at home so that others are not affected.

As as I stated before, this woman initially read that she had a fever. The governor thought he was doing what was best. This, apparently, is not something leave to chance.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
Am I the only person that knows science changes. Diseases change. Biology changes. There is no, and I repeat NO, scientific proof that MFS's protocol for returning workers is best practice. What they offer is a suggestive practice. They suggest you do those things to be safe, so why is it wrong for our local leaders to do the same.

Here re is a link regarding quarantining:

The quarantine period for Ebola virus

That seems like scientific evidence to me. If I'm not mistaken, Nigeria DID quarantine contacts as well. Especially after one broke quarantine (like kaci) and ended up infecting a doctor, who in turn infected his wife and others.

If this disease is so hard to catch, why are treating people in hazmat suites? Be for real. I can treat AIDS with gloves, and TB with an N95, gown, and gloves. Why do I need a hazmat suit? Why do I need to deconimated afterward? Why do they suggest working in pairs for safe removal of PPE? Why must we cremate their remains? Why is all this necessary for a disease that is "not easy to catch." Why should be people NOT be worried if this disease is such a walk in the park?

This is not rocket science. Why aren't the troops complaining? What makes her so special that she feels like she can do whatever she pleases after leaving a hot zone, and our troops are doing it in a Luke warm zone.

FACTS THAT ARE KNOWN:

1. It can kill you quickly

2. It is communicable

3. It has a well documented INCUBATION PERIOD.

Everything else from testing, to modes of transmission, to viral shedding, to contagious period are ALL debatable because of lack of sufficient research.

I'm not going to live in a bubble and I'm not going to quit my job, but I expect the same respect and regard for my health as I show my patients and others. I may only have seasonal allergies, if I sneeze and cough, I'm still going to cover my mouth out of respect for others. I'm not infectious, BUT YOU DONT KNOW THAT. If I SUSPECT my children are sick, I keep them at home so that others are not affected.

As as I stated before, this woman initially read that she had a fever. The governor thought he was doing what was best. This, apparently, is not something leave to chance.

You forgot some facts:

There are no documented cases of transmission by casual contact.

There are no documented cases of transmission by ANY sort of contact including intercourse with an asymptomatic individual.

or maybe you prefer to ignore those important details because they don't justify the fear and overreaction?

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Didn't I just say transmission was debatable because of lack of research? Or did you choose to IGNORE that?

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
Didn't I just say transmission was debatable because of lack of research? Or did you choose to IGNORE that?

what does that statment mean to you?

does it mean to you think that maybe ebola is airborne? does the statement make you more afraid?

Is there debate amongst the credible experts and scientists about the transmission or just amongst the fearful?

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Well here's a quote and link from one study:

Risks to handlers and abattoir workers by droplet/aerosol exposure and penetrating lesions of the skin are also present and are a potential source of introduction of virus to the human population.

Link:

Jnl Inf Dis

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