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.

I saw in one article that Brantley has been given an experimental serum. Maybe that's part of the reason why she is being brought back?

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I saw in one article that Brantley has been given an experimental serum. Maybe that's part of the reason why she is being brought back?

I wonder if it is something that they would not be allowed to give here in the US, but outside of the US the could. All the testing rules, etc. But after they gave it to her, they could monitor the process in the US.

A tin foil hat theory. But I wonder if these 2 were purposely contaminated, thinking that it would cause the US Gov to get involved, and hence, help the people with it. Not educated persons. But uneducated ones. Some still think these Dr. are the ones who brought it to them. The articles state that villagers are scared of the Dr.s and will not allow them into their villages.

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And now there's a CDC map of quarantine stations being set up in the United States ( Quarantine Station Contact List, Map, and Fact Sheets | Quarantine | CDC ) also a new Executive Order signed by the President stating a " Revised List of Quarantinable Communicable Diseases ". http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/07/31/executive-order-revised-list-quarantinable-communicable-diseases

There's a man in the UK right now who was on a flight with another man who had Ebola. That man who had Ebola is now dead, they are testing the guy from the UK now to see if he has it (haven't seen word of the results). My concern is this virus has already mutated. This outbreak has been going on since February, it's now August. If Ebola is only transmissible via bodily fluids then why are they now looking for 30,000 people ( How deadly Ebola has spread across the globe: Health officials try to trace 30,000 linked to death of US victim - as Nigerian film star sparks outrage by fleeing Africa first-class in an Ebola mask | Mail Online ) who could potentially have contracted the virus. 30,000 people didn't get this from transmission of bodily fluids. There's something in me that feels like this virus has gone partially airborne or it's now more easily transmissible than before and it's contagious before people become symptomatic.

To be honest this whole thing scares the bejeezus out of me. I know some websites like to fear monger about this sort of thing, but I honestly believe the media hasn't been as "on top of it" as it could and should have been. The containment of this virus via the WHO and the African government should have been on the ball back in February and honestly, even though I don't like to see people go without care, I just can't justify bringing these people back to American soil and risk the lives of billions..for two people. I know it sounds really crappy and people can go ahead and dislike my opinion as they see fit. Containment and quarantine are only as good as the people running and overseeing it. Humans are human and we all make mistakes. The CDC has been known to make plenty, even recently, I don't have much trust for them with a virus that's not curable, barely treatable and with such a high mortality rate.

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I just realized I made a mistake. It was not Brantley who received the serum it was Writebol. Apologies.

I'm trying to find the original article to link.

I saw in one article that Brantley has been given an experimental serum. Maybe that's part of the reason why she is being brought back?
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Specializes in Forensic Psych.
I have to admit....bringing these patients voluntarily to the US makes me nervous. This doctor and nurse were following all of the protective gear and decontamination protocols that are supposed to protect them from getting the virus and they got it anyway. I worry that the virus has changed and we do not have a good handle on how to protect healthcare workers from it. Why would you willingly bring it here? Since the recent gaffe with anthrax.....not sure how much I trust the CDC. The other American who died had been taking care of his sick sister and it was not known she had Ebola until after she died. Makes sense how he caught it. I just pray everything they think they know about how to quarantine these patients and protect the healthcare workers taking care of them is correct. My heart breaks for this Doctor and Nurse but they knew the risks and chose to go to Africa. I am glad I do not work at Emory and have to make the decision on caring for them.

It makes me nervous as well, but I can't help but think if we're going to develop effective treatment/prevention, bringing them back was the best thing we could've done.

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It makes me nervous as well, but I can't help but think if we're going to develop effective treatment/prevention, bringing them back was the best thing we could've done.

Makes you wonder what they know about this disease that we don't. Setting up quarantine stations and bringing people over here that are infected with the disease to use as human guinea pigs to try and find a cure makes ME wonder. Can you imagine the mass panic if word got out that it IS airborne now......

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And now there's a CDC map of quarantine stations being set up in the United States ( Quarantine Station Contact List, Map, and Fact Sheets | Quarantine | CDC ) also a new Executive Order signed by the President stating a " Revised List of Quarantinable Communicable Diseases ". Executive Order -- Revised List of Quarantinable Communicable Diseases | The White House

The CDC has been responsible for quarantine stations since 1967 (http://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/historyquarantine.html); these are not new stations that are suddenly being set up. Also, that Executive Order adds "Severe acute respiratory syndromes" (you know, SARS) to the list of quarantinable communicable diseases -- it says nothing about Ebola.

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Specializes in ER/SICU/House Float.

I've taken care of many infectious folks over my 20 +years. WHen I first became nursing the HIV still was not fully understood. The transmission of the disease was still not understood. There were many nurses that quit and there were those that refuse to take hiv/aids patients. I worked an infectious disease unit in the early 90's that had hiv, mrsa, tb and a few over the course of time 3rd world country stuff. I always took the HIV patients. (we ask every patient to be tested back then-a lot refused)

My religious beliefs give me the courage and internal peace to take care of whatever patients come my way.

I've been following the virus outbreak and feel like it has the potential to spread.

I'm not going to condemn someone that would refuse to take care of these patients. We all have survival instincts and this is not a great way to die.

I also agree that the nurse/doctor are being brought back for scientific study. I hope they make it but if not they will learn enough about the virus to help others.

I also love reading and watching history stuff. I believe we are heading to another great pandemic. We are much more of a global society so its even more plausible.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

It would not surprise me at all to find out there is knowledge about this that is being held back in hopes of finding a plausible containment strategy prior to going public.

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Specializes in Surgical ICU nurse.

Scary....Its been praying time folks

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Good gawd - y'all sound like the books I love to read and that scare the you know what out of me.:roflmao:

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Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU.

As far as putting our health on the line, I do it every day I work in the ER. We never know what the patients have, that's part of our job, to treat the unknown with kindness and compassion, not to say my life is worth more than theirs. If you didn't want to deal with the possibility of catching something, then nursing was the wrong field for you.

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