Posted on 08/10/2014 12:46:23 AM PDT by Smokin' Joe
Oh, thank heavens. I thought it hadn't been a threat on these shores because, well, IT WASN"T ON THE CONTINENT.
Some of us have been saying that all along. When Writebol was infected, nothing else made sense. She had no direct patient contact, but may have been down wind from where they washed/decontaminated the PPE. It is possible fomites got her, too.
Aerosol transmission = airborne transmission.
What they describe is droplet transmission.
I am stunned: not even any coverings for the hair! Given the inadequacy of the PPE for your hospital HCW and lack of a decontamination process prior to removal of their PPE, I would expect there would be a significant increase in viral transmissions to the HCW working with confirmed ebola patients.
I am curious: do your hospital PPE protocols for HCW treating ebola patients follow specific guidelines established by the CDC?
PAPR and hood can be had for under 2K.
If an Ebola patient showed up tomorrow, USA Medical Center personnel would be able to place the patient in an isolation unit, she said.
All that's needed is a private room with a bathroom; proper signage; and a cart set up outside with gloves, shields and other equipment to prevent the spread of germs.
Snip
Hand-washing before entering the room and again upon exit; gloves added and then removed upon exit by being carefully turned inside out; and protective gear in the form of a full-body apron and paper face mask, topped with a clear face shield to cover the eyes.
All hospital trash is treated as biohazardous waste and carefully disposed of...
Dear Jesus, these are dead people walking if this is the protocol they follow if they get a case--and everyone they are in contact with is at risk...
I don't think 50% is nearly good enough for primary decontamination with an ID50 of 1-10 virons.
There is none. People continue to parrot peer reviewed studies from outbreaks past, without recognizing that the anticipated protocols are not working to keep Healthcare workers safe.
The apparent inability of researchers to do anything but dogmatically utter the past conclusions in the face of contrary data is astounding, but the willingness to argue over the fine points of a dictionary definition while people continue to be infected is insane.
Droplet, airborne, powdered fomite, whatever, this travels at least short distances through the air, and therefore respiratory and mucosal contact protection must be provided at a level which will prevent contact with those virons in fine droplets, in dust, whatever, from making contact with mucosae.
Short of a full space suit with piped in air or SCBA, PAPR is best, because it is positive pressure, full face (fit tested) P-100 is likely adequate, provided the seal is tight and the filters aren't plugged (pulling air in around the mask). Anything less is asking for trouble.
The protocols described by the person in the link Black Agnes posted are suicide. Decontamination is nonexistent. If not directly infected, the fomites will get them.
Are healthcare workers are so despondent over the implementation of obamacare they are willing to die en masse in protest? Because they will, if that is what they are going to use for PPE and containment.
Ahhhh. A true 'Sherlockian Moment'.
The Spanish government does not like being embarrassed.
http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ebola-virus-outbreak/madrid-will-kill-dog-woman-infected-ebola-n220361
Madrid Will Kill Dog of Woman Infected with EbolaOctober 7, 2014
Madrid's regional government said it would kill the pet dog of a Spanish nursing assistant who became infected with Ebola — overcoming the family's objections on Tuesday with a court order.
The nursing assistant was the first person infected outside of West Africa, after caring for a Spanish priest who died of Ebola last month. Authorities have three people under quarantine and said that available scientific knowledge indicates there's a risk the dog could transmit the deadly virus to humans.
There has been some evidence that dogs can get Ebola, and that people can be infected by animals. In Africa, the virus has been thought to spread as a result of handling bushmeat — wild animals hunted for food — and through contact with infected bats.
"There is one article in the medical literature that discusses the presence of antibodies to Ebola in dogs. Whether that was an accurate test and whether that was relevant we do not know,” CDC Director Tom Frieden said at a news conference Tuesday.
"We have not identified this as a means of transmission," Frieden added, although scientists do know that Ebola can infect mammals and the virus can spread that way.
Dr. David Lakey, Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, said he had no knowledge of any animals exposed in Dallas.
The Spanish mixed-breed dog, Excalibur, will be euthanized in a way to avoid suffering and its body incinerated, the government said. The nursing aid's husband, who is also under quarantine, posted the dog's photo on Facebook and denounced the move.
"I think it's unfair that for a mistake they made they now want to solve it this way," he wrote. "If they are so worried with this issue I think we can find another type of alternative solution, such as quarantining the dog and put him under observation like they did with me. Or should they sacrifice me as well just in case?"
A Change.org petition is asking the government to let the dog live."
I agree if they are symptomatic (obviously). For regular pre-disease confirmation quarantine duty the gear and procedures are probably ok.
Facepalm gently.
That fellow might not want to give anyone ideas...I am sure that when our government decides to finally take measures to contain this, someone is going to come up on the short end of the stick.
I think that is a legitimate point. Up to a certain degree of the symptoms exhibited by the patient, perhaps the lesser PPE is adequate. Although maybe an unnecessary risk. We have been hearing that our state department ordered 100,000 “hazmat suits” in advance of the anticipated arrival of Ebola here. Does anyone know which exact suits these are?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.