"Houston we have a problem" This just got very real

[Esme12]

And so it begins....

A health care worker who treated Thomas Eric Duncan, the first person in the U.S. diagnosed with Ebola who later died, has preliminarily tested positive for the deadly virus, the Texas Department of State Health Services said in a statement today.

The health care worker at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital has been isolated since reporting a low-grade fever Friday, the department said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will conduct further testing to confirm the diagnosis.

"We knew a second case could be a reality, and we've been preparing for this possibility," Dr. David Lakey, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services said in the statement. "We are broadening our team in Dallas and working with extreme diligence to prevent further spread."

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/texas-health-care-worker-tests-positive-ebola/story?id=26135108

[chadrn65]

This is not good...

I'm reading on my mini break on the CNN main page that there is a possibility of two more cases. One being a person in Ohio who had contact with Ms. Vinson. And the other being an unidentified Yale Doctoral student.

Granted this is completely unsubstantiated information at this time. Take it with a grain of salt. But please, think good thoughts for these people anyway.

Nurse with Ebola will be moved from Texas to Maryland - CNN.com

Yes, I also read in the same article how another person could possibly be infected.

"A Yale doctoral student who recently returned to Connecticut from Liberia and has a fever is in isolation at Yale-New Haven Hospital and is being tested for Ebola, officials at the hospital said Thursday, adding that results should be available within 24 hours."

[chadrn65]

I posted this in another thread.

More info. NIH to admit Texas nurse diagnosed with Ebola virus

Later today, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center expects to admit the first nurse who contracted the Ebola virus at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital while providing patient care to the index patient who died of Ebola. The nurse is being admitted to the Special Clinical Studies Unit of the NIH Clinical Center at the request of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital. She will receive state-of-the-art care in this high-level containment facility, which is one of a small number of such facilities in the United States.

The NIH Clinical Center’s Special Clinical Studies Unit is specifically designed to provide high-level isolation capabilities and is staffed by infectious diseases and critical care specialists. The unit staff is trained in strict infection control practices optimized to prevent spread of potentially transmissible agents such as Ebola. No additional details about the patient are being shared at this time.

NIH is taking every precaution to ensure the safety of our patients, NIH staff, and the public.

[Schwanny]

Looooong time lurker. so long, I don't remember if I've ever even posted.

Anyway, I've been following this thread since yesterday morning because like Esme12, I too, did the math and realized the CDC were flat out lying to the public's faces about this whole thing and wanted to see what the nurse community were saying about it. I thought it odd that the staff in the ED and Duncan's family didn't get sick and that (now) there's 2 infected nurses who didn't come into contact with him till he as in "isolation". I also noticed that incubation seems to be MUCH quicker than we had been told. To me it looks as if it's 7-10 days.

Right now on *live* is a hearing of Friedan and his cohorts. I was listening to this in my car on Serious 114. He's getting hammered. One member of the house actually called him out on that photo of him wearing full head-to-toe protection while being sprayed with chlorine. They are paying attention! Another gal was questioning why we haven't enforced a travel ban when in 2005 one was enacted for the bird flu. Yes, there's no direct flight from Africa but your passport gets stamped every time you go through customs. No one is checking.

Our President has the authority and "permission" to do this. He just HASN'T. Why? It's almost like... it's almost like they WANT it here.

Oh, but don't worry guys, TSA is screening people while looking for that evil bottled water and shampoo in containers over 3oz. They got this.

Also, Friedan needs to step down/get fired MONTHS ago.

[RNSue]

With him on his way to the unemployment office, Tom Frieden should take Dr. Varga, CEO of the Dallas Presbyterian Hospital, the parent company CEO, the Chief of Infectious Diseases and the Infection Control Nurse. Don't these people stay on top of the news?

This situation is exactly like the situation in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. The news people were reporting on all the death and destruction and the folks in Washington were oblivious. Why? Because they weren't keeping up with current events. Don't they even have "people" to do that reading and watching of the news FOR them and report their findings?

I went into nursing because I was INTERESTED in the human body, how it works, and disease processes. I read books and news articles and keep up with current events. I have been reading about ebola for 6 months now because it has been in the news.

I have noticed in the last 15-20 years a drastic change in the way things in hospitals are handled. It used to be in a proactive and anticipatory manner. Now the atmosphere is more reactive and "let's not worry about something until we need to." Has anyone else noticed this? Do you think it has something to do with the change from science based focus to economic based focus on the part of hospital management?

:no:Getting my "Estate Record" up to date.

[FLAlleycat]

Let's think this through...in hospitals, you have an infectious disease nurse and a team headed by a practicing ID doc. For a hospital to fully prepare for Ebola, the ID doc would have to drop everything, form a larger team, review and re-review CDC guidelines, identify an appropriate physical space for isolation, requisition gear, design training, complete training, identify a team that would be on call for any possible Ebola patients, design and implement procedures for the ER, ICU, and transport between the two areas. I'm sure I'm missing steps here.

And the CDC--the EXPERTS--provided ever-changing guidance to hospitals only...what...10 days ago?

Yes, please, let's blame hospitals for not listening to the CDC. Hospitals were NOT properly supported. Friedan has proven himself to be incompetent.

CDC sent several guidelines to hospitals starting in June, I think. Hospitals had sufficient time to make plans (ID isolation, order supplies, train staff . . . all that you mentioned above). The fact that the hospital elected to throw the dice and wait until someone with Ebola walked into their Triage cannot be placed on CDC. CDC can only make recommendations; it is up to hospitals to accept them or not. CDC cannot go to the hospital unless asked. (They are now being asked.)

CDC and WHO are the experts. Their "ever-changing" guidelines have not changed that much, really, but are reviewed constantly with alerts issued immediately as required. But, again, hospitals must ASK CDC to assist. That may change after today's panel hearing.

[FLAlleycat]

From what the nurses at he hospital are now coming forward and revealing the hospital and CDC mismanaged horribly.

It is the CDC responsibility. They should have been in that hospital from the second they knew overseeing things and they do have that authority.

It almost seems as though they just never thought it would come here at all.

CDC does NOT have that authority. It may after today's panel hearing, though.

[FLAlleycat]

Quote: "A report by CIDRAP Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy and the University back in September believed differently

We strongly urge the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to seek funds for the purchase and transport of PAPRs to all healthcare workers currently fighting the battle against Ebola throughout Africa--and beyond."

http://www.cdc.gov/fmo/topic/budget%20information/appropriations_budget_form_pdf/Sequester_Impacts.pdf

Guess those budget cuts shouldn't have been made. But who anticipated this Ebola epidemic?

[FLAlleycat]

Yes, I also read in the same article how another person could possibly be infected.

"A Yale doctoral student who recently returned to Connecticut from Liberia and has a fever is in isolation at Yale-New Haven Hospital and is being tested for Ebola, officials at the hospital said Thursday, adding that results should be available within 24 hours."

Both have tested negative. I am going to have to leave this topic (probably to the delight of many) as I absolutely must get some things done when not at work! I will say, though, that I do like the PAPR but can't see hospitals spending that much money! If someone walks into Triage with fever and history, I do plan to put on surgical cap, gown, boot covers, gloves, mask, and grab a red contamination bag, cut hole for eyes and put goggles over it. Who knows. I may get one large enough to cover my whole upper body!

Stay safe, everyone!

[chadrn65]

Anderson Cooper showed this video tonight. It shows Nina Pham in her hospital bed at the Texas Hospital with her treating MD saying good bye to her before she left for Maryland. Anderson Cooper makes a comment about Nina's medical doctor being in FULL protective gear.

Video shows Nina Pham in hospital room - CNN.com Video

[BeachsideRN, ASN]

Anderson Cooper showed this video tonight. It shows Nina Pham in her hospital bed at the Texas Hospital with her treating MD saying good bye to her before she left for Maryland. Anderson Cooper makes a comment about Nina's medical doctor being in FULL protective gear.

Video shows Nina Pham in hospital room - CNN.com Video

Amazing what happens when your system is blasted for not providing the proper equipment.

[BeachsideRN, ASN]

The Blame game ... Ebola Blame Game: CDC, Tom Frieden, Barack Obama, Mitt Romney and More

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

The story continues.....Hospital Worker Who Handled Ebola Samples Is on Cruise Ship - ABC News