Nursing and the Ebola Virus

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For those of us in unaffected countries, are you concerned about the ebola virus spreading? Would you care for ebola patients? I live in an area with a very high density of African immigrants and come into contact with these individuals regularly. We have a lot of African immigrants who bring back tuberculosis from their home countries and at my unit we end up caring for them. We take care of a lot of rare infectious diseases. I was reading an article and it dawned on me how plausible it would be for me to encounter this virus. And I admit, it's terrifying and I might refuse that assignment. Many healthcare workers in Africa are dying because of caring for the ill.

Specializes in MCH,NICU,NNsy,Educ,Village Nursing.
I agree. And did they not wash their hands, as a poster said that's all it takes to eradicate the threat of transmission of Ebola? Do we think the doctors and nurses didn't have soap? There are pieces that are unknown to this entire sequence of events with those two that were infected.

As another poster mentioned a while back, there are other issues involved. Cultural norms for handling bodies post mortem, fear of the medical system, true ignorance, etc. all factor in to how this virus spreads. It is possible that doctors and nurses did indeed run out of soap. To us it sounds ridiculous, but often in those areas things run out and replacement not planned for in advance. As far as PPE goes, it would also be possible that the same equipment that would be disposable here is used numerous times there. Yes, and American doctor/nurse would know better, but that may have been all that was available. Yes, Samaritan's Purse and SIM would be responsible, perhaps, to provide said equipment. But again, the demand could far exceed the supply. Or, could have been confiscated by someone else (been there, had that happen).

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Specializes in ER.

The Scariest Virus: Ebola Is Back, and It's Worse Than Ever - Pacific Standard: The Science of Society

"All it takes to contract Ebola is to be in contact with an infected person or bodily fluids, even sweat or saliva. It can take up to three weeks for someone who’s been infected to begin to suffer symptoms, according to the World Health Organization. The CDC, working to control a panic, emphasized at its Monday press conference that sufferers may not be contagious until that point—but who hasn’t ignored flu-like symptoms and gone out in public?"

In this thread, if nothing else, the threat of Ebola should cause worry. For the head of the CDC to say "we're not worried" is ludicrous.

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Specializes in L&D, Women's Health.
Why wear hazmat suits?

I did mention this earlier. In countries where Ebola originated, it would be most prudent to wear hazmat suits. In the US, I can only imagine the uproar from the medically uneducated populace if the health care workers were seen transporting the two patients in routine PPE when all they have seen on TV are people in hazmats. I already saw some comment about the news people covering the transport from the ambulance to the hospital not wearing hazmat.

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Specializes in L&D, Women's Health.
So it's the new STD?

I would think so if it's viable in semen for 8-12 weeks.

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Specializes in L&D, Women's Health.

Fortunately, CDC isn't the only agency researching and disseminating medical information on Ebola, for those who don't trust CDC.

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Specializes in NICU.

I feel like so much info is contradictory. It's not that contagious, it's highly contagious. Full PPE is required, routine PPE is enough, Hazmat suits are needed. I've read that Biosafety level 4 precautions are required to study Ebola. That uses negative pressure rooms, positive pressure suits, UV rooms, showers, decomnation of the air and water, etc. Of course the media will sensationalize the danger and the experts seem to downplay it. This is what bothers me and makes me skeptical of knowingly bringing ebola pts here.

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As another poster mentioned a while back, there are other issues involved. Cultural norms for handling bodies post mortem, fear of the medical system, true ignorance, etc. all factor in to how this virus spreads. It is possible that doctors and nurses did indeed run out of soap. To us it sounds ridiculous, but often in those areas things run out and replacement not planned for in advance. As far as PPE goes, it would also be possible that the same equipment that would be disposable here is used numerous times there. Yes, and American doctor/nurse would know better, but that may have been all that was available. Yes, Samaritan's Purse and SIM would be responsible, perhaps, to provide said equipment. But again, the demand could far exceed the supply. Or, could have been confiscated by someone else (been there, had that happen).

The situation in West Africa is grim because of poverty. Additionally, there are very real cultural differences at play--people infected with the virus go into hiding and seek out traditional healers due to suspicion of Western medicine. I heard a report 2 days ago that the "quarantines" are not really effective (minimally guarded houses where infected people stay which are open to visitors not always wearing protective gear, etc). If people have different beliefs about what the virus is and how transmission works, you are going to have a problem with containment. If you have minimal resources to enact containment protocols that we all know to be justified,these measures won't be in place. Medical personnel are at a HUGE .risk over there--they can't enforce containment on their own, unfortunately they at some point will get exposed. It is really sad and I honor them for what they are doing. I dont believe we are "introducing" an apocalyptic bug by bringing infected people to American hospitals. I don't have any doubt that the virus will be contained in the very controlled environment. As far as how significantly the virus is spreading in West Africa, however, if it isnt contained, the globe is small, planes fly, yes it will spread. We need to be vigilant, especially on the frontlines, but even in primary care. Ebola on the radar. Not what you expect to walk in the door, but it's a zebra that can't be missed.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Same applies even if one doesn't.

OK, even if someone had absolutely no one in his/her life that loves him/her, that doesn't mean that individual is expendable.

Happy now?

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Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.
I did mention this earlier. In countries where Ebola originated, it would be most prudent to wear hazmat suits. In the US, I can only imagine the uproar from the medically uneducated populace if the health care workers were seen transporting the two patients in routine PPE when all they have seen on TV are people in hazmats. I already saw some comment about the news people covering the transport from the ambulance to the hospital not wearing hazmat.

So the hazmat suite worn by the ambulance AND the patient were simply for public consumption?

The CDC, WHO, our government, the Graham organization, were simply pandering to our worst fears? Just so we'd all feel safe????

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If I were your manager, I would send you packing, and report you to the BON in case I could get your license in trouble. I recall seeing people flatly refuse to care for AIDS patients back in the day, and I still don't understand why they weren't fired and stripped of their licenses on the spot.

I think one of the main differences between this and when AIDS started is that AIDS was new and nobody knew how it spread. I also think it should be up to the healthcare provider if they want to provide care. You don't know if they have kids or anyone to risk spreading the disease too. I would be more worried about spreading the virus to my family and friends.

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Preventing panic when it is unfounded is reasonable.

We agree on this.

Suppressing real information is altogether another issue.

I’ve not identified any truth or scientifically proven fact that’s being suppressed. I’m not sure what you believe is hidden from us but I’m reasonably sure that your fears are unfounded. Since I sincerely believe this it follows that I think that preventing panic is indeed the reasonable thing to do.

KNOWING they say that it is in human secretions and saliva is a secretion and humans can and DO sneeze, cough, etc. Then logic leads you to the conclusion that it is airborne. Period.

Is still don’t think that you fully understand the difference between droplet spread and airborne transmission, what airborne transmission really means and why it’s alarmist and completely inaccurate to say that the Ebola virus is transmitted that way. I’ve obviously failed to explain it properly, I hope someone else can do a better job of it.

If they knew HOW to contain it, don't you think

the efforts to prevent the transmission would have already occurred?

They do know how and the efforts have been and are still taking place even as we sit here and write.

The HOW: Identify patients, isolate and provide care. Locate persons the patients have been in contact with after they got sick. Educate the public on disease transmission and prevention. Use suitable PPE/follow infection control protocols strictly. It’s not rocket science but due to factors mentioned several times before in this thread and the other Ebola virus thread it’s a task fraught with difficulties. There are many obstacles to overcome. This is why the outbreak is still going on, not because we don’t know the “how”.

Factors that make containment a challenge: Shortage of healthcare professionals, shortage of medical supplies and personal protective equipment, poor infrastructure, poor sanitation, mistrust of medical professionals (if you think that they’re just trying to lure you to the hospital to actually infect you with something nasty, or steal your organs you tend to stay put, you don’t go with them), crowded housing and equally crowded hospital wards (an infected patient doesn’t exactly get a single room or even necessarily a bed), burial practices that includes close contact with the deceased. Basically, it’s poor just about everything and shortage of just about everything. This is why it’s crucial that the region receives the knowledge, supplies and support needed to combat this ongoing tragedy.

You've seen no evidence Ebola is airborne?

The pattern and rate of infection would be different if it were. Think influenza and compare.

I haven't seen any research/study that indicates that it is either.

What experience do you have, personally, with

it?

I have no personal experience with the Ebola virus. I haven’t been infected with it or cared for an infected patient. What I do have is a firsthand experience of living in two third world countries. Granted, I lived in those countries as a sheltered, privileged Westerner but I’ve seen enough to have a reasonably good idea of the culture and the conditions people live in. Two people very close to me have added to the knowledge I have about the region. One has been on two UN missions in Liberia and I’ve spoken to this person at length. The other is a surgeon who has done numerous stints with MSF. This is a person I admire deeply. Through the years I’ve been spellbound and also profoundly saddened by this person’s account of what s/he has experienced. S/he has extensive experience in working under conditions that most of us couldn’t even imagine.

The above was just a little background of where I’m coming from but more importantly, I’m a nurse and as such I’m educated in the scientific process. I have analyzed the information available to me to the best of my ability and knowledge and arrived at the conclusion that although the Ebola virus outbreak is very serious, is see no reason whatsoever not to trust the information given by for example the WHO. I see no reason at all to panic.

Just because many out there are uncomfortable

with challenging what is provided to you (via media), you call those that

challenge "conspiracy theorists." Consider all options, open your

mind and don't just accept what is hand-fed to you.

I find this statement rather ironic.

I’m uncomfortable with a lot of things. Trust me, challenging information brought to me, isn’t at all one of them. That’s actually something I quite enjoy ;)

As much as I enjoy challenging information I don’t really have the energy (I’d feel too much like poor, old Sisyphus with his boulder) to comment at length about your link. Suffice it to say that in my opinion Alex Jones’ Infowars really isn’t a good place to look for factual, scientific, unbiased information on the Ebola virus. It really isn’t.

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OK, even if someone had absolutely no one in his/her life that loves him/her, that doesn't mean that individual is expendable.

Happy now?

I was agreeing with you.

So what's the problem?

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