<p>Should we close the borders between Texas and the other states?</p>
<p>Seriously, although precautions must be taken, Ebola in the U.S. is an entirely different proposition than in Africa. The exposure scenarios are much less likely here, and the medical system is much stronger.</p>
<p>Hunt, well we have failed our first test miserably. Since we know that he was visiting family, I think they should be quarantined as well instead of monitored. If they quarantined the EMTs, the family should probably be as well as a precaution. </p>
<p>I don’t even know what to say about the lack of screening upon re-entry…smdh</p>
<p>None of the news articles have answered these questions:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>How long does the Ebola virus remain infectious on surfaces, doorknobs, counters, toilet seats, upholstery, etc?</p></li>
<li><p>They won’t release the name of the infected man. But he is in ‘critical condition’. Is he able to speak to CDC to tell them everyone he had contact with in the days he was infected? </p></li>
</ol>
<p>The article in the LA Times quoted a leader of the Liberian community in Dallas who was very concerned. They are the ones most likely to have had contact with the man and they don’t know who he is. </p>
<p>I wonder how long ago his trip was planned. Because I would not be surprised if there was a bunch of people in Liberia that have or will decide that now is a good time to visit the US. If I lived there I’d try to get away from the Ebola outbreak too.</p>
<p>One patient has put one ambulance out of commission (for how long?)</p>
<p>Yeah, #43. You’d think his family in Texas would not think this is a good time for a family reunion. They are the most likely to be exposed. Maybe he lied to them and said he had not been around any Ebola cases. </p>
<p>That ambulance was used for other patients before it was pulled out, should those patients be monitored as well?</p>
<p>^^yes, definitely.</p>
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<p>That’s absurd. How could they know if the incubation period is 21 days?</p>
<p>Another question:</p>
<p>How long in advance did he buy his airline ticket? Did he buy it three months ago, for instance, or in the last 21 days? In other words, did he buy it after he knew he might be exposed and want to fly to the U. S. to get better medical care? </p>
<p>Do Liberians need a visa to come to the U. S.? </p>
<p>I read that he “sought care” and was sent home with an antibiotic. </p>
<p>To reiterate: people are NOT contagious during the incubation period. </p>
<p>But here’s your tinfoil, carry on.</p>
<p>According to dr. Gupta the virus can live on surfaces for a few days. Which means they should have anyone that was staying with him quarantined, anyone who rode in the ambulance after him, and now they should notify any hospital staff attending the two patients that used the ambulance after him. Yes that may be over the top but that is the only way you contain this. </p>
<p>Here’s the article. Weren’t we told this wouldn’t happen? I think, yes. Also, the EMT’s have tested negative.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.dallasnews.com/news/metro/20140930-ebola-victim-seemed-fine-before-flight.ece”>http://www.dallasnews.com/news/metro/20140930-ebola-victim-seemed-fine-before-flight.ece</a></p>
<p>What’s to stop anyone with the wherewithal to get here for treatment? What is our obligation? Our borders are pretty much just open doors for entry. Anyone could lie about being exposed and you sure aren’t going to prevent someone who looks like they have a cold from flying. We simply don’t have the resources for a mass pandemic and calling the possibility of ebola coming here as remote was idiotic. </p>
<p>Iirc in some Asian airports they have cameras with thermal images that can tell if a person has a fever.
I think they did stop them from traveling during the SARs outbreak.
Not all countries are lackadaisical about epidemics.</p>
<p>We weren’t told this wouldn’t happen. People need to read the CDC document a bit more carefully. Here it is again:
<a href=“http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/2014-west-africa/qa.html”>http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/2014-west-africa/qa.html</a>
It talks about travelers who are “sick.” The person in Texas was not sick when he got on the plane.
Much of the CDC document talks about what people should do if they return from one of these countries and begin to exhibit symptoms, so the possibility was more than contemplated.</p>
<p>No, not all countries, but we certainly are completely blase about the dangers of completely open borders.</p>
<p>A little Googling shows Liberians do need a visa to travel to the U. S. Why on earth is our embassy in Liberia issuing them? </p>
<p>The downside, that is, potentially exposing Americans to a disease with a high mortality rate, the costs of caring for Ebola, the costs of the quarantines, etc. versus what? What are the benefits to this country of letting Liberians travel here? </p>
<p>I know it sounds harsh but judging from comments on news sites, a lot of people are asking this question. The government is supposed to be protecting us.</p>
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<p>He was sick but asymptomatic (unless he was infected on the trip).
The problem is that we do not have a test for infected people before they show symptoms.</p>
<p>Here’s a question, if it’s so hard to catch Ebola, how could this guy be infected without knowing he was exposed? Unless he lied to agents at the exiting airport?</p>