Re: Discussion - 1st ebola case in US (excluding health care worker transfer) Dallas, Texas
Re: Discussion - 1st ebola case in US (excluding health care worker transfer) Dallas, Texas
Fear is absolutely normal.
Unfounded fear created by speculation and worse case scenario, non-factual information is not.
Education and information is key to reducing anxiety and resolving fear. Both of which the CDC is trying very hard to provide to the best of their ability based on how they have been trained to respond to public concern.
Everything the CDC reports continues to come under fire as not being trustworthy.
Who is the trustworthy source, then?
Who should the public look to for information and guidance? The media like CNN and FoxNews? Flutrackers?
What has the CDC said in this event that is actually false, inaccurate, or a downright lie? Where is the demonstration that they are spinning lies out of this event? Not what we "feel" is false. Not what we "think" is false. List the bona fide, factual falsities.
If I were to promote such statements about the integrity and capability of a whole system which could potentially initiate panic and fear, I would be sure:
1. to know what facts exist that demonstrate the Public Health System is failing to respond to Ebola.
2. to see factual medical studies that demonstrate the Ebola virus behaves different than what the CDC says it does
3. to document how many studies exist out there that demonstrate a person incubating Ebola is infective before they have "symptoms"
I have not seen nor do I know any of these speculative comments are fact and therefore, I choose to support the current response.
I encourage others to do the same because they need support and not doubt during this crisis.
Of course, my original point is still: The hospital missing the case the first time is not an accurate demonstration of the US Public Health response to this event.
I think the irritation with the CDC is the steadfast refusal to provide the itineraries of confirmed cases of coronavirus MERS and now, ebola.
This action sows mistrust. And it is pointless because well funded media types obtain the info anyway. The governments of Canada and England disclose complete itineraries, why not the US gov?
In a emerging situation people want to know what is going on beyond - "Hey some person has XYZ and he/she is isolated at this hospital in this city. But don't worry because we have the situation under control."
That is what they say every time. I suggest the following:
Date: October 1, 2014
1) A male patient, 45, was brought in via ambulance to Feel Better Hospital in Chicago at 8:00 pm last night (Sept. 30) with severe diarrhea, nausea, cough/breathing problems, and a very high fever. After evaluation, and pending any tests, he was isolated, as a precaution since he has recent travel history to China.
2) Last night he tested positive for flu A and we flew a sample to the CDC lab in Atlanta for further evaluation. Late this afternoon the preliminary result showed positive for H7N9.
3) We are running confirming tests but at this time he is being treated for H7N9.
4) We are conducting testing on 4 family members and beginning our contact tracing procedures. We are not sure about his symptoms, if any, on the airplanes/airports so we are not sure about the numbers of contacts there are.
5) This person took FlyLikeABird Airlines flight 452 from Bejing on September 28 to Honolulu, he changed planes and continued his flight to Chicago on flight 565 on the same airline. He landed at terminal 45 and used the bathroom after he began to feel sick, non-specific, on the flight. He picked up his luggage, met family members who then took him home.
6) The next day on Sept 29, he developed a cough, but was well enough to go shopping with his family to the Whole Paycheck on 421 Smith St at approximately 2 pm. He was there for about an hour.
6) When he awoke on Sept 30 he had a high fever. At 10 am, he went to Quickie Med Clinic at 643 Central Street where the doctor there called an ambulance to take him to the hospital.
7) If you were in any of these places around the time that the victim was, and you have a temperature and/or a cough/cold symptoms, please consult your medical practitioner. Some of you will be contacted by the local public health departments as primary and secondary contacts of this patient.
8) We are working to ..... CDC web page on this is here..... please call the Chicago health dept if you need any more information at this number.....
