First case of Ebola in the US

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I agree. Now a possible second case and the patient had contact with school age children! The hospital never should have sent the patient home the first time knowing the travel history. I thought the hospitals were prepared. Obviously not.
True, I wonder if they were even legally able to hold him without something significant.
they should be detained/confined/incarcerated/quarantined for 21 days.
Can we legally do this at the moment?
 
This is gross. I know but it is worth the thought and discussion here.

I was wondering what hygiene habits someone from Liberia is familiar with. Do they wash their hands routinely after toileting?
Toilet paper use is not a common practice around the world.
Looking at some of the pictures from Liberia, I assume that toilet paper is not in use.
My point in wondering all this? What actions did this infected Liberian in Texas do that might have precipitate a larger problem?
Should incoming foreigners receive routine hygiene instructions?

Just because someone comes to the US does not mean they will follow our bathroom customs.
All I can think of is Crocodile Dundee…the bidet scene.
 
True, I wonder if they were even legally able to hold him without something significant.

Can we legally do this at the moment?
Yes, it is legal. Why the Obama Administration hasn’t done so is beyond me.
Federal Law
The federal government derives its authority for isolation and quarantine from the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
Under section 361 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S. Code § 264), the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services is authorized to take measures to prevent the entry and spread of communicable diseases from foreign countries into the United States and between states.
The authority for carrying out these functions on a daily basis has been delegated to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
CDC’s Role
Under 42 Code of Federal Regulations parts 70 and 71, CDC is authorized to detain, medically examine, and release persons arriving into the United States and traveling between states who are suspected of carrying these communicable diseases.
As part of its federal authority, CDC routinely monitors persons arriving at U.S. land border crossings and passengers and crew arriving at U.S. ports of entry for signs or symptoms of communicable diseases.
When alerted about an ill passenger or crew member by the pilot of a plane or captain of a ship, CDC may detain passengers and crew as necessary to investigate whether the cause of the illness on board is a communicable disease.
link

I think it’s up for debate whether or not the second to last paragraph is true.
 
they should be detained/confined/incarcerated/quarantined for 21 days.
Can we legally do this at the moment?
Yes, it can be done in theory, but not without consequences, like each of us be willing to undergo the same confinement for say, the flu, or contact with someone who may have been infected. Also, would we expect the same for Americans when we travel overseas, since we now have Ebola in the United States?
 
This is gross. I know but it is worth the thought and discussion here.

I was wondering what hygiene habits someone from Liberia is familiar with. Do they wash their hands routinely after toileting?
Toilet paper use is not a common practice around the world.
Looking at some of the pictures from Liberia, I assume that toilet paper is not in use.
My point in wondering all this? What actions did this infected Liberian in Texas do that might have precipitate a larger problem?
Should incoming foreigners receive routine hygiene instructions?

Just because someone comes to the US does not mean they will follow our bathroom customs.
All I can think of is Crocodile Dundee…the bidet scene.
From the above a guess we should conclude
a)that you somehow know this individual isn’t a US citizen since as of 2 hours ago that information had still not been released to the public
b)the 4 American citizens who have been evacuated to the US for treatment of Ebola don’t wash their hands after using the bathroom or know about toilet paper
c)you hold some rather dated views on Africans and Africa. Like from the “good ole” days of imperialism when it was the job of the West to bring civilization to those ignorant savages around the world
 
Yes, it can be done in theory, but not without consequences, like each of us be willing to undergo the same confinement for say, the flu, or contact with someone who may have been infected. Also, would we expect the same for Americans when we travel overseas, since we now have Ebola in the United States?
In truth, it would a 3 week confinement of anyone entering the country. This individual showed zero symptoms until after he was in the US for, and going from memory here, at least a day. Just confining people with a fever or flu like symptoms wouldn’t actually work.
 
I’m thinking about the people encountered at the hosp, they probably never gave security a thought if the patient was compliant. He had to walk into triage and was probably quickly released. I think it may be communication with security and medical. Similar to travel only opposite.
 
From the above a guess we should conclude
a)that you somehow know this individual isn’t a US citizen since as of 2 hours ago that information had still not been released to the public
b)the 4 American citizens who have been evacuated to the US for treatment of Ebola don’t wash their hands after using the bathroom or know about toilet paper
c)you hold some rather dated views on Africans and Africa. Like from the “good ole” days of imperialism when it was the job of the West to bring civilization to those ignorant savages around the world
Conclude what you want.
 
This is gross. I know but it is worth the thought and discussion here.

I was wondering what hygiene habits someone from Liberia is familiar with. Do they wash their hands routinely after toileting?
Toilet paper use is not a common practice around the world.
Looking at some of the pictures from Liberia, I assume that toilet paper is not in use.
My point in wondering all this? What actions did this infected Liberian in Texas do that might have precipitate a larger problem?
Should incoming foreigners receive routine hygiene instructions?

Just because someone comes to the US does not mean they will follow our bathroom customs.
All I can think of is Crocodile Dundee…the bidet scene.
Clean hands saves lives
Handwashing with soap is among the most effective and inexpensive ways to prevent diarrheal diseases and pneumonia, which together are responsible for the majority of child deaths.
In West ad Central Africa alone, making this simple practice an entrenched habit could save about half a million children each year, making a significant contribution to the Millennium Development Goal of reducing deaths among children under the age of five by two-thirds by 2015 (MDG 4).
Yet, despite its lifesaving potential, handwashing with soap is seldom practiced. Around the world, the observed rates of handwashing with soap at critical moments range from zero percent to 34 percent.
unicef.org/wcaro/overview_4553.html
Again
Shouldn’t incoming foreigners receive routine hygiene instructions? Not just foreigners but also US citizens who have been traveling abroad? Just as a reminder?
 
Shouldn’t incoming foreigners receive routine hygiene instructions? Not just foreigners but also US citizens who have been traveling abroad? Just as a reminder?
The FAA
Be sure to get the latest health and immunization information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Information for specific countries is available for travelers at 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636).
google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CC4QFjAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.faa.gov%2Fair_traffic%2Fpublications%2Fifim%2Fintl_overview%2F&ei=Fl8sVLmYBMSoyAT-woLwAQ&usg=AFQjCNFW0cTXAt6FJ2_0dSwdr2V1VB5vnw&sig2=PFcOyAECbOh6Pvs1etkYgQ

I know we want everything correct today, but this is a major project with all the daily incoming flights.

You would think there would be more, but I don’t see it.
 
I was wondering when abortion would show up.
What a pity that some people are unable to forget Obama’s shocking, inhumane attitude toward fellow humans in the womb. We all know that Mr. Hope and Change cares dearly about everyone who escapes infancy alive! :sad_yes:
 
Yes, I think there should be more.
Standardized and specific hygiene instruction is some insurance and some peace of mind. Pamphlets (in multiple languages) for all travelers on all incoming flights!
This should have standard before ebola.
 
I’m thinking about the people encountered at the hosp, they probably never gave security a thought if the patient was compliant. He had to walk into triage and was probably quickly released. I think it may be communication with security and medical. Similar to travel only opposite.
I am not just thinking about the air travel. If you start to show symptoms after going to Church with someone who was at this hospital visiting yet another person, would you accept the police showing with people in suits to take you into custody for isolation. This is the question we should ask before we say we should quarantine others.

We could just ground all air travel, but we would have to be willing to cut back our standard of living to survive the inevitable economic affects that would result.
 
Yes, it can be done in theory, but not without consequences, like each of us be willing to undergo the same confinement for say, the flu, or contact with someone who may have been infected. Also, would we expect the same for Americans when we travel overseas, since we now have Ebola in the United States?
If America had an Ebola pandemic equal to what is going on in West Africa, then yes, we should respect the will of any other country that would require a quarantine for the safety of their own people. Ebola is bio-safety level 4 (the most dangerous level). I have sympathy for those in Africa who want to leave, but feelings aren’t going to do a dang thing to help prevent the disease spreading to countless people.

From what we now know, the man from Liberia knew he was most likely infected before he boarded the plane. I would conclude that this was a deliberate act of terrorism or that he was simply scared for his life and figured he would get free and higher quality treatment in an American hospital.
 
We could just ground all air travel, but we would have to be willing to cut back our standard of living to survive the inevitable economic affects that would result.
Grounding air travel?
We live in a global world.
When US passenger airplanes stop transporting, will be the day pilots and crew are too sick to work.
When the ball dropped in Texas, I am embarrassed to admit that I was a little relieved it was not my nearby city.
At the rate our government is working to implement prevention, it probably is happening here or somewhere, USA.
 
Here is a new link about the U.S. patient with Ebola. nytimes.com/2014/10/02/world/africa/ebola-victim-texas-thomas-eric-duncan.html?_r=0 Apparently, he is Liberian and had massive exposure to Ebola prior to flying into the U.S. Are we not screening anyone who flies, other than to check temperatures? I’m surprised that the flight attendant unions aren’t questioning this- and I’m kind of surprised that we aren’t grounding planes from these high risk areas.
 
Here is a new link about the U.S. patient with Ebola. nytimes.com/2014/10/02/world/africa/ebola-victim-texas-thomas-eric-duncan.html?_r=0 Apparently, he is Liberian and had massive exposure to Ebola prior to flying into the U.S. Are we not screening anyone who flies, other than to check temperatures? I’m surprised that the flight attendant unions aren’t questioning this- and I’m kind of surprised that we aren’t grounding planes from these high risk areas.
From what I gather the only real way to screen would be to do blood tests on everyone and/or hold them in quarantine for several weeks.
 
From what I gather the only real way to screen would be to do blood tests on everyone and/or hold them in quarantine for several weeks.
Did you read the article I just posted? This man had been in contact with active Ebola less than a week prior to boarding the plane. He had direct, multiple exposures! Perhaps some screening questions would have been in order, along the line of, “Have you been in contact with anyone with active Ebola within the last 21 days?” Of course, he always could have lied, but he definitely knew he was at risk. He exposed innocent healthcare workers and, now, it turns out he also exposed 6 children here in Texas. Our citizens deserve better
 
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