"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

[AdamantiteEnigma]

On a completely unrelated note, has anyone else noticed how terrified the director of the CDC looks in his press conferences? I don't find that to be confidence educing. Perhaps I'm nitpicking... but still.

[CafeduMonde4Breakfast]

One thing we learned in Katrina: you have to be prepared on your own personally. Each hospital has to be prepared on their own. Each city, each state, etc. You cannot rely on the federal government being able to service every hospital at the moment needed in the case of an epidemic. It takes a while for them to gather resources. And it's harder to gather if those communities they gather from are affected.

[dnnc52]

Perhaps the added word to your statement should be "YET"

as in "Its not airborne, yet!. At least not this strain however other strains of Ebola within primates have ben suspected of being airborne .

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

So.... Um... How do we protect ourselves? Both as citizens in the population and as health care workers.

I wasn't scared before, but now I am. )-:

[wanderlust99]

Are your hospitals doing anything to prepare staff? I know mine hasn't. Not even an email. Maybe this will get them in gear, but I doubt it.

I wonder what PPE the nurse was wearing.

[Flatlander]

I just read in The New York Times that the hospitals that treated Americans who contracted Ebola in Africa received very concentrated and specific trainings. They drilled on putting on and removing the suits and observed each other to point out errors and correct them. It was stressed that as the disease progresses more and more gear is required to provide complete protection. As the patient becomes sicker, fluids become far more copious and more concentrated with the virus. That is why you see the workers in Africa protected with multiple layers and spraying with disintectant before beginning to remove the PPE. Nurses, educate yourselves.

Patients who have ebola-type symptoms should not enter the doors of the ER's or clinics. Triage should take place outside the facility in a designated center so that other patients, families, employees, service people, and general facilities are not contaminated and exposed.

In my mind, at present, part of this looming tragedy is the nonchalance of our leaders and experts, who have been more concerned with preventing panic than preventing spread of this incredibly deadly disease. Weren't we told over and over, that Ebola would not be a problem in the U.S. because of our exceptional health care systems?

What bunk.

[dnnc52]

You are so right! He has the deer in the headlight look. Does not look like he believes himself what he is telling us. The CDC has also had some major breach in their own protocols these past few years. I am sure thats where our President is getting his info from Dr.Freidman of the CDC as well. We cant expect our president to know much about diseases of this nature. I hate how this is becoming a political tool at the expense of our healthcare workers. As for me I trust Dr Sanja Gupta more than anybody!!!!!

[sissiesmama, ASN, RN]

What nurse taking care of an ebola patient would not use the best practice? Now on CNN they are saying that the Buddy system should have occurred meaning a second person should have been observing for breech in practice ( I do not know one hospital that would double staff).

There has been talk of euthanizing this nurse's pets.

So far my take is. They really do not know how this virus is transmitted and being a nurse puts your life in risk ( Duncan's family did not have one good thing to say about the nurses) for ungrateful patients and family. Your life may change to the point were your pets maybe in danger.

I thought I had read that too about the pets.

Earlier this afternoon I read where our AG was attempting to block the incinerated Ebola pt's belongings from being disposed of here in Louisiana.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Its seems so far that the team at Emory and the transport team from the "Samaritan Purse" has not had any signs or sx of this disease. So I would say that they have the best protocol and we should be studying and evaluating their methods. No need to re-invent the wheel. If these folks worked with active infective pts and did not develop the disease then they must have it right!

They were quarantined in Africa. Brought here by private plane. Met and transported by the CDC in space suits.

Hummmm.....

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Exactly, how would a photographer get it? How close is he, they use distance to get the photo. I believe we are being lied to. Nurses we are a dime a dozen!

It was said he got it from hosing off a car....

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Lysol spray kills 99.9% of viruses and bacteria when used as directed I wonder is Ebola that .1%

NO...HIV is....LOL Ebola is a class of itself. They recommend bleach.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

She must not have followed protocol for the removal of PPE. That's all I can think of. Or, we don't know the full story on how it's transmitted.

Practice donning and doffing. It is so important. Know where the PPE equipment is and how to use it.

A once every year inservice on Haz Mat suits and dusty masks that have been sitting in cabinets for years makes it difficult to be 100% prepared. Someone from infection control should be making available all of the items needed for successful donning, teach about doffing, practice--and every single nurse needs to know how and where to find these items in a hurry.

Where the negative pressure room is and how to use it. And the cleaning service needs to be 100 % sure that they know how to properly terminally clean rooms, the bathrooms.

Hand hygiene always. But the availability and ease of use of the heavy duty hazmat items need to be more streamlined. And available. And used correctly.