Media Advisory: CDC update on Ebola Response - Sunday, October 12, 2014 at 11 am ET

[sharon sanders]

From: "Media@cdc.gov (CDC)" <sohco@CDC.GOV>
To: MMWR-MEDIA@LISTSERV.CDC.GOV

Subject: Media Advisory: CDC update on Ebola Response - Sunday, October 12, 2014
Date: Oct 12, 2014 9:44 AM
Media Advisory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sunday, October 12, 2014

Contact: CDC Media Relations
(404) 639-3286

CDC Update on Dallas Ebola Response


WHAT: CDC will host a press briefing to update Dallas Ebola Response

WHO: Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H,
Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

David Lakey, M.D.,
Commissioner, Texas Department of State Health Services

WHEN: Sunday, October 12, 2014, at 11:00 AM ET (10:00 a.m. CT)

WHERE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Tom Harkin Global Communications Center (Building 19), Press Room
1600 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30329


Reporters who wish to attend the media briefing in person should RSVP no later than 10:30 a.m., Sunday, October 12, 2014. Please contact CDC’s press office at 404-639-3286 or email us at media@cdc.gov to RSVP. Reporters who RSVP will be guaranteed access.

For directions to CDC, please visit >http://www.cdc.gov/museum/visitor.htm<


SATELLITE
FEED :
Date: 10/12/14
Time: 1100-1200 EDT (11:00AM-12:00 PM): 720p
Satellite: (KU-Band digital) Galaxy 17: Trans: 23 Lower
Bandwidth: 18 MHz
DL Freq: 12151 Horizontal
FEC: 3/4
Symbol Rate: 13.235
Data Rate: 18.295

Contact: Synaptic Digital/Tom Harkin Global Communications Center (404) 639-3311

Satellite feed service is provided by CDC and free for media use

LIVE WEBCAST :
Windows Media Connection: >http://wm.onlinevideoservice.com/CDC1<

Flash Connection: >http://www.onlinevideoservice.com/clients/CDC/?mount=CDC3<


DIAL IN :

Media: 888-795-0855
Non-Media: 877-601-4718
INTERNATIONAL: 630-395-0360

Important Instructions
Please dial in 10 to 15 minutes before the start of the press conference. If you would like to ask a question during the call, press *1 on your touchtone phone. Press *2 to withdraw your question. You may queue up at any time. You will hear a tone to indicate your question is pending.

TRANSCRIPT :
A transcript of this press briefing will be available following the briefing at CDC’s web site: www.cdc.gov/media.


###
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Media Advisory: CDC update on Ebola Response - Sunday, October 12, 2014 at 11 am ET

I am not live tweeting this event if anyone wants to take notes or make comments here. It is a live presentation. Thanks!

http://www.onlinevideoservice.com/clients/CDC/?mount=CDC3

 

[Chicagogal]

Re: Media Advisory: CDC update on Ebola Response - Sunday, October 12, 2014 at 11 am ET

Frieden: deeply concerned by the news that a HCW has tested preliminarily positive for Ebola virus. Confirmation is underway - available later today from CDC. We don't know what occurred, but at some point there was a breach in protocol. Developed symptoms on Friday, assessed Friday night and tested yesterday, and the laboratory in Austin, TX, gave a preliminary positive late last night, about 12 hours ago. Individual was self monitoring - promptly isolated. Level of symptoms/test indicates level of virus is low. We are doing four things:

- Everything possible to care safely and effectively for this individual
- Assessing her contacts from the moment she identified symptoms - appears at this time there was only one contact. That individual is under active monitoring.
- Evaluating other potential HCW exposures. If this individual was exposed, it's possible others were exposed. We know this individual did provide care on multiple occasions, and the care involved extensive contact.
- We'll undertake an extensive investigation as to how/why this occurred.

Safe and effective care: have ramped up education and training at this hospital. It can be done, but it's hard to do. Even a single slip can result in a problem. We recommend personnel be kept a minimum, and care be limited to essential procedures. Fourth, we're looking at PPE. Putting more on is not always safer - it make make it harder to provide care. Fifth, we recommend there be a full-time individual responsible for care. CDC has sent an individual to help.

Investigation: what happens before someone goes in to an area where someone with Ebola is cared for, what happens in that space, and what happens after. We will be looking at kidney dialysis and respiration procedures in particular, as they can spread infection. They were attempted in a desperate effort to save Duncan's life. Taking off PPE is very risky. We are also looking at this area that is critically important, and not easy to do right.

Two final points: unfortunately, it is possible we will see additional cases. This is because the HCWs may have had a breach of the same nature as the individual who appears to be positive. That risk is in the 48 people who are being monitored but not developed symptoms, or any other HCWs. We are still determining how many HCWs that will be. There is no risk outside that circle.

Second point: what we do to stop Ebola is to break the chain of transmission. This involves prompt diagnosis, isolation, monitoring contacts for 21 days, and repeating the process if others develop it. That's how we have stopped every outbreak up until now, and it's how we'll stop it in Dallas.

 

[Chicagogal]

Re: Media Advisory: CDC update on Ebola Response - Sunday, October 12, 2014 at 11 am ET

Lakey (commissioner, state of TX): staff has been working throughout the night. Blood test came back 9:30 last night, controls were appropriate, amount of virus was less than index case, but still a positive test. Our hearts go out to this individual who was willing to compassionately care for this patient, and to her family.

48 contacts continue to be monitored and to do well. Will continue to monitor HCW and step up monitoring to ensure quick identification. Continue to review infection control practices and figure out what happened. We've brought in more public health staff and epidemiologists to evaluate this situation.

 

[Chicagogal]

Re: Media Advisory: CDC update on Ebola Response - Sunday, October 12, 2014 at 11 am ET

Q. HCW had multiple contacts. In interviews, has she been able to isolate a chance where this breach may have occurred?

A. We have spoken with her. She has not been able to identify a specific breach. We look at every single interaction and any other info we can gather. I did not mention the specific procedures above related to her situation, but as general areas of greatest risk. The protocols work - we have decades of experience. But we know even a single breach of PPE can result in infection. We need to do everything we can to reduce that risk - minimal personal, site monitor, etc.

Q. Have you considered moving patients to specialized units instead of treating patients in hospital where they don't have that training?

A. We can't let any hospital let its guard down. We don't know where exposures will pop up. All hospitals need to be able to consider, isolate, and diagnose. We may think about what's the safest way to provide care after that point.

Q. What was the role of the person who became infected? What's the monitoring process? Self vs. visits?

A. Want to thank Texas health authorities who are working around the clock. These 48 individuals have an on-site daily visit from epidemiologist, plus fever check later in day. HCWs were doing self monitoring. We are now looking at epidemiologist visits to these people. We are looking at defining the new number of potentials HCWs. We are casting the net wide and including anyone who might have had contact, with detailed interviews.

Q. Can you explain "essential procedures?" How do you limit procedures and not compromise patient care?

A. Keep HCWs to an absolute minimum. Procedures: blood draws are important, but maybe only needs to be done once a day. That's an example - not necessarily applicable.

Q. What do you think this incident says about general preparedness of hospitals? Also, should all hospitals add an infection control monitor to cases?

A. A lack of an on-site manager who doesn't have any other responsibility to ensure infection control is being done is a key part of success. We'll ensure this is done going forward in Texas. Very important to distinguish the physical layout from procedures/policies. There are only a few special physical demands, like an anteroom for PPE. On the personnel/training/monitoring, it is very intense. Must be 100% right.

 

[Chicagogal]

Re: Media Advisory: CDC update on Ebola Response - Sunday, October 12, 2014 at 11 am ET

Q. How frustrating is this for you, after saying we're going to stop Ebola in its tracks? Does it shake your faith in hospital readiness?

A. It's deeply concerning. Our thoughts are with the HCW. That doesn't change the bottom line. We know how to break the chain of transmission. We need to ramp up infection control. She identified symptoms, was promptly isolated, only one other additional contact. That individual does not have fever. We know how Ebola spreads. Re-emphasizes how meticulous we need to be.

[Lakey] We're going to stop this. We have to be very careful. We have to look at infection control practices, make sure there are no breaches. Of course it's frustrating and disappointing. The HCW is going to have a rough time - our hearts go out to her. You have to have a little humility in how you approach things, be cautious, continuously plan. I don't doubt we're going to stop it.

Q. Is there updated guidance on when screening will start on additional airports?

A. Began screening at JFK - lots of lessons learned to make sure it goes smoothly. Still anticipating starting at the other airports this week, most likely Thursday.

Q. How did this HCW catch Ebola when people in that apartment for several days did not? Will this new person be transferred to a specialized center?

A. When patients have Ebola, they become progressively more infective the sicker they become. Other contacts are not out of the 21-day period. Medical procedures involve dealing with body fluids with large quantities of virus. We will look at all possibilities to ensure the safe care of patients.

Q. Earlier, someone said there were 19 HCWs being tracked. Is that correct? Also, hospital has had to do a lot of "walk-backs" on information - not very reliable. Does this patient have other symptoms, other than low-grade fever?

A. 48 contacts had contact with index patient up to Sept. 28th. This HCW was not exposed in that period of time. From the 28th to October 8th, that's the period of additional contacts. That's what's being investigated now. In terms of clinical status of patient, our information is that she is showing only mild symptoms/low-grade fever.

Q. Why was the new patient initially included in the 48 being monitored? Also, Dr. Frieden, did you take special precautions with PPE in Africa?

A. We monitored all contacts up to admission. Given this effection, we'll now be monitoring contacts during hospital stay. In terms of African precautions, very specific.

[Lakey] HCWs had guidance to do self-monitoring. They were doing that.

Q. How common is it for people to be on dialysis or intubated during an Ebola infection?

A. I don't know the details of other patient care. Not familiar with any prior patient with Ebola who underwent either of these procedures. Certainly very unusual. I do want to clarify: the 48 people being monitored does include HCWs who had contact prior to 9/28, just not those after.

[Lakey] Obviously a trying day. Need to make sure the hospital has the appropriate infection control measures in place, and the expertise to prevent any other individual from being exposed. Appreciate the HCW coming in as quickly as possible and doing what she was supposed to do.

[Frieden] Confirmatory testing later today at CDC. Additional contacts traced today, with active monitoring in place. Thorough investigation. Ramp up infection control. Finally, our thoughts go out to the family. We understand how difficult a time it is for them, and for other HCWs who may have anxiety about exposure. This is how we break the links of transmission. It is possible we will see additional infections.

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Media Advisory: CDC update on Ebola Response - Sunday, October 12, 2014 at 11 am ET

Full Transcript here; http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2014/t1012-ebola-reponse-update.html
Press Briefing Transcript
CDC update on Dallas Ebola Response, 10-12-2014
Sunday, October 12, 2014, 11:00 a.m. ET

and audio recording MP3, 7.2 MB