www.dailymail.co.uk A family member of Thomas Duncan, America’s first Ebola victim, has revealed her horror at realizing that he might have the disease. I guess she sold her story to a newspaper. I don't blame her after reading about the way her worst fears were handled.
At first, noticing him cold and weak on Thursday September 23rd, she went to purchase a blanket for him. Then she tried to get him to drink tea. His red eyes prompted her to take his temperature, which was 102 degrees.
She called 911 and advised the paramedics to don gloves and face-masks.
After he'd suffered with vomiting, diarrhea, fever and sweating, an ambulance took him to the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, and she followed with several family members in her vehicle.
No-one at the hospital told her what was wrong or advised her on what to do next. After waiting for hours, she was told he couldn't see visitors.
At first, noticing him cold and weak on Thursday September 23rd, she went to purchase a blanket for him. Then she tried to get him to drink tea. His red eyes prompted her to take his temperature, which was 102 degrees.
She called 911 and advised the paramedics to don gloves and face-masks.
After he'd suffered with vomiting, diarrhea, fever and sweating, an ambulance took him to the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, and she followed with several family members in her vehicle.
No-one at the hospital told her what was wrong or advised her on what to do next. After waiting for hours, she was told he couldn't see visitors.
In Liberia - www.ibtimes.co.uk She returned to her mother's apartment, sprayed everything with disinfectant and sprinkled liquid Clorox on the furniture. She also advised her mother against sleeping in the bed he had used.
On Wednesday, four days after Mr Duncan was rushed to hospital, a team arrived to clear the bedding, provide food and power-wash the apartment complex. Health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention took the temperatures of everyone who lives in the apartment and quarantined the family for 21 days. Health officials visit each day, but no symptoms have been found.
100 people had possible contact with the infected man. 12 have confirmed contact, including five children.
Despite assurances that all was safe, panic-stricken local parents pulled their kids out of classes after they received Ebola fact sheets and notes. Schools were scrubbed down and extra nurses brought in to monitor any students with fevers or flu-like symptoms.
On Wednesday, four days after Mr Duncan was rushed to hospital, a team arrived to clear the bedding, provide food and power-wash the apartment complex. Health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention took the temperatures of everyone who lives in the apartment and quarantined the family for 21 days. Health officials visit each day, but no symptoms have been found.
100 people had possible contact with the infected man. 12 have confirmed contact, including five children.
Despite assurances that all was safe, panic-stricken local parents pulled their kids out of classes after they received Ebola fact sheets and notes. Schools were scrubbed down and extra nurses brought in to monitor any students with fevers or flu-like symptoms.
www.washingtontimes.com It has been revealed that Mr Duncan arrived from Liberia, an Ebola 'hot zone' in West Africa, on September 20. He began to develop Ebola symptoms (the point when the disease becomes contagious) on September 23. Despite Duncan spreading Ebola to the U.S., a U.N. spokesman said on Thursday that air travel to and from the West African countries affected by the Ebola virus should continue.
On the evidence, it seems to me that the woman who first discovered Duncan acted in a very responsible manner. However, the health system's response was very slow.
If I discovered someone showing the slightest indication of the known symptoms, I'd call the health authorities immediately. I wouldn't touch anything and would wait for help rather than spread any possible infection. That might be based on the book I'm reading at the moment-Sick (a Project Eden Thriller) by Brett Battles. That would send a chill down anyone's spine. In the novel, one responsible man who knew he'd been infected, drove into the desert to die rather than spread the disease.
We should all have a plan in place in case the unthinkable happens. What would you do?
On the evidence, it seems to me that the woman who first discovered Duncan acted in a very responsible manner. However, the health system's response was very slow.
If I discovered someone showing the slightest indication of the known symptoms, I'd call the health authorities immediately. I wouldn't touch anything and would wait for help rather than spread any possible infection. That might be based on the book I'm reading at the moment-Sick (a Project Eden Thriller) by Brett Battles. That would send a chill down anyone's spine. In the novel, one responsible man who knew he'd been infected, drove into the desert to die rather than spread the disease.
We should all have a plan in place in case the unthinkable happens. What would you do?
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