Louisiana to tropical medicine conference attendees who've been to W. Africa: Stay Away

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-10-29/louisiana-to-top-ebola-reseachers-stay-away


Bloomberg News
Louisiana to Top Ebola Reseachers: Stay Away
By John Lauerman October 29, 2014

Louisiana has a message for many of the scientists and medical experts studying Ebola and aiding efforts to fight the deadly virus in West Africa -- stay away.

The state sent a letter yesterday to members of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, which is holding its annual conference in New Orleans next week. If they?ve recently been to any of the West African countries where the virus has infected more than 13,000 people, they shouldn?t attend the meeting...

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Louisiana to tropical medicine conference attendees who've been to W. Africa: Stay Away

Ebola Fears Infect Louisiana Medical Conference

NEW ORLEANS ? Oct 30, 2014, 12:10 PM ET
By MARILYNN MARCHIONE and JANET McCONNAUGHEY Associated Press
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The letter acknowledges that even people infected with the Ebola virus do not spread the disease unless they are showing symptoms. But it says that because people with a travel or exposure history to Ebola should avoid large group settings, "we see no utility in you traveling to New Orleans to simply be confined to your room."

It is signed by Kathy Kliebert, secretary of the state's Department of Health & Hospitals, and Kevin Davis, director of the Governor's Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness. It cites travel within the last 21 days ? Ebola's maximum incubation period ? to Liberia, Guinea or Sierra Leone as being a problem.
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The tropical medicine group noted that the state's stance goes beyond CDC guidelines. Its president, Dr. Alan Magill, called the order "unfortunate" and "a pretty tough message to send out, particularly to our international colleagues," who were gathering to share knowledge on how to beat back Ebola and other global health problems.
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Magill said he did not know how many of the 3,500 registered for the conference would now not be able to attend, but added, "I'm sure some people will choose not to come out of protest" to Louisiana's stance.
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http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/ebola-fears-infect-louisiana-medical-conference-26575443

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Louisiana to tropical medicine conference attendees who've been to W. Africa: Stay Away

Source: http://www.scientificamerican.com/a...eks-to-ban-doctors-returned-from-west-africa/


Protest Sparked as Louisiana Seeks to Ban Doctors Returned from West Africa
The response to Ebola could be undermined as Louisiana officials ask that doctors and researchers recently returned from 3 West African nations not attend the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene meeting Nov. 2-6
October 30, 2014 |By Erika Check Hayden and Nature magazine

Scientists are protesting against the state of Louisiana's decision to effectively ban people who have recently returned from Ebola-affected areas from attending a major meeting in New Orleans...

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Louisiana to tropical medicine conference attendees who've been to W. Africa: Stay Away

Health workers miss Louisiana medical conference over Ebola warning

By Jonathan Kaminsky
NEW ORLEANS Mon Nov 3, 2014 9:36pm EST

(Reuters) - A healthcare worker in Liberia is among those staying away from a tropical medicine conference in New Orleans after the state of Louisiana warned of quarantining attendees potentially exposed to Ebola, Doctors Without Borders said on Monday.

Amanda Tiffany, an epidemiologist with the humanitarian aid group, was one of at least 10 people blocked from attending the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) on threat of quarantine, conference officials said, adding that they oppose the policy.
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http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/04/us-health-ebola-usa-louisiana-idUSKBN0IO05T20141104