On Ebola and the CDC

Ray · Oct 17, 2014

Thought provoking piece on the limitations of the CDC, the unknowns about the virus and the response.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottgo...efense-of-embattled-cdc-chief-thomas-frieden/

Dani · Oct 17, 2014

Re: On Ebola and the CDC

Sorry, Thomas Friedan was perfectly capable of discerning the risk regarding the infectivity of the virus and the inadequacy of the protocols the CDC was recommending. When experienced physicians such as those who work for MSF are becoming infected, despite PPEs that are much more protective than CDC guidelines, something very serious is afoot. He, and the rest of the decision makers at the CDC, disregarded that fact. They viewed Ebola about as seriously as the flu.

Laidback Al · Oct 17, 2014

Re: On Ebola and the CDC

Quotes from the Forbes article - link in post #1

The CDC plays a very specialized role in monitoring and advising on outbreaks. But it doesn?t own the containment tools. Many of those belong to local authorities, and DHS. And Frieden, after all, is playing with a thin bench. In an unprecedented mobilization for the agency, the CDC has forward-deployed about 200 of its best people to West Africa to stop the epidemic where it, quite literally, threatens to spread in an almost apocalyptic proportion that could eventually threaten a global pandemic.

And before one begrudges the CDC the decision of putting its people in the field in Africa while we face risks at home, our eventual fate rests on what happens in West Africa. If we don?t break the virus there, it will arrive on our shores with a vengeance.

Dani · Oct 17, 2014

Re: On Ebola and the CDC

Laidback Al said:
Quotes from the Forbes article - link in post #1

I agree that the CDC needed to be physically deployed to Africa. However, even without setting foot in Texas, the CDC did a great deal of damage there. Had they taken the threat more seriously, the US would have been more prepared to deal with the threat when it reached our shores. That didn't require any manpower at all, it simply required communication.

There was a CDC conference call with hospital leadership this week. To the best of my knowledge, that never happened before. Are we to believe that the CDC was so focused on the situation in Africa that they couldn't spend a couple of hours discussing the threat with domestic facilities? The CDC and NIH are the interface between the health care system in the US and the rest of the world. They failed.

Laidback Al · Oct 18, 2014

Re: On Ebola and the CDC

I think we need to step back for a moment and consider the bigger picture.

Almost 10,000 people have contracted Ebola in West Africa and a large percentage have died. The total case count in the US is three, one dead and two under treatment.

Yet, here in the US, we have extensive finger-pointing and criticizing. The CDC failed to give proper guidance. The HCWs in Texas were poorly trained. Didn’t have proper PPE. The airline failed to remove Duncan from the plane before it left Liberia. Americans seem to want to lay blame for any problem wherever they can.

The CDC, public health officials, and the entire health care industry needs to learn from these events to be better prepared for the coming Ebola cases that will crop up here in the US.

It is time to be proactive instead of dwelling on the mistakes.
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AlaskaDenise · Oct 18, 2014

Re: On Ebola and the CDC

Perhaps the czar can channel resources, media, & election-crazed politicians in that direction.

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On Ebola and the CDC

Ray

Well-known member

Dani

Well-known member

Laidback Al

Well-known member

Dani

Well-known member

Laidback Al

Well-known member

AlaskaDenise

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