Posted on 10/13/2014 10:12:40 AM PDT by maggief
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on Monday said it "would not be surprised" if other healthcare workers at a Dallas hospital are diagnosed with Ebola.
CDC Director Tom Frieden said he did not know how many workers might have been exposed to the virus, but estimated it was a "relatively large number."
"We’re concerned, and unfortunately would not be surprised if we did see additional cases in healthcare workers who also provided care to the index patient," Frieden said. A nurse at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital was found to have Ebola over the weekend. Her case is the first-ever transmission of the virus in the United States.
The CDC said it does not know how the nurse became exposed but is working to find out.
"If we knew there was a specific incident, like a needle stick, that would narrow it down. Since we don't know what the exposure was, we have to cast the net more widely," Frieden said.
Frieden said the CDC is beginning to "rethink" its strategy for controlling Ebola, and called the infection of a nurse “unacceptable.” He also apologized for remarks over the weekend that seemed to suggest the worker was at fault.
"I spoke about a breach in protocol, because that's what we speak about in public health when we talk about what needs to happen," Frieden said.
"Some interpreted that as finding fault with the hospital or the healthcare worker. I'm sorry if that was the impression given. That was certainly not my intention,” he said.
The national nurses union accused Frieden of trying to "scapegoat" the nurse, who has not been identified, who was identified by a family member Monday as 26-year-old Nina Pham.
National Nurses United has repeatedly warned that nurses are not being adequately trained to care for Ebola patients, despite assurances from public health officials that the system is ready to cope with the virus.
With concerns about the virus mounting, President Obama has called a meeting for Monday afternoon with senior members of his administration to dicuss the government's Ebola response.
The president will be briefed on the nurse who contracted the deadly virus and will also receive an update on “broader efforts to ensure the preparedness of our national health infrastructure,” according to the White House.
Look dude, at this point I would be more trouble than help. But if needed I wouldn’t be crying the blues like the pathetic displays I’ve seen so far.
This is so stupid. Every time I see it, I point of that the Senate and Obama concurred. Enough said.
I think there is a larger majority of whites working in hospitals.
You could be right. It does depend on what area you’re talking about, but certainly the medical centers in some regions should have heavily White staff.
In others it’s quite the multicultural thing.
For a good many years that has been a slam dunk assumption.
I believe they should be left in place....not moved around, contaminating as they go.
We have specialized hospitals with staff that are supposed to be trained for this. The plan until this year was to move Marburg, Ebola, Lassa, and other viral hemorrhagic fever cases to an infectious disease center for expert isolation and treatment. Why did we change the plan at the last minute?
I missed his creepy presser today. Are they going to quarantine these health workers? Were they told to stay home and self monitor? Or are they still treating patients? I bet no stupid media person even asked.
We are so screwed.
Photo op:
http://media.salon.com/2014/10/obama-ebola.jpeg2-1280x960.jpg
President Barack Obama meets with members of his public health and national security team about the response to the diagnosis of a second Ebola case in Dallas, Texas, Monday, Oct. 13, 2014, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)(Credit: AP)
http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/220570-obama-to-meet-with-officials-on-ebola-response
The attendees at the meeting included Sylvia Burwell, the secretary of the Health and Human Services Department; Susan Rice, Obama’s national security adviser, and Lisa Monaco, the assistant to the president for homeland security and counterterrorism. Tom Frieden, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), participated via telephone.
You are in my prayers SE! So worrisome. Please consider that leave of absence. This is just too scary and uncertain.
I feel utter contempt and hatred for Obama and his politicos right now. As well as any republican leader going along with the insanity. Our reps should be shouting from the rooftops right now.
Dereliction of Duty on a massive scale!
Meeting was to make sure all departments are up to speed. .and because I’m a faithful freeper I knew more than a lot of them! Passed on articles and websites and links from some outstanding researchers here:)
“and because I’m a faithful freeper I knew more than a lot of them! Passed on articles and websites and links “
WTG! :)
Excellent. Hopefully you opened some eyes and that will saves some lives!
Post to me or FReep mail to be on/off the Bring Out Your Dead ping list.
The purpose of the “Bring Out Your Dead” ping list (formerly the “Ebola” ping list) is very early warning of emerging pandemics, as such it has a high false positive rate.
So far the false positive rate is 100%.
At some point we may well have a high mortality pandemic, and likely as not the “Bring Out Your Dead” threads will miss the beginning entirely.
*sigh* Such is life, and death...
Thanks for the ping!
Something is wrong here. More people should have it by now if this little bundle of joy is so contagious. I think there is cover up.
You’re Welcome, Alamo-Girl!
notice how the CDC protocol is so much different than the regular hospital staffs? Wonder why?
What protocol would CDC’s Friedan follow if he went to visit the room of that nurse? As I believe he should - to restore confidence in the protocol he so vigorously defends.
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