<p>
</p>
<p>That’s why gloves are used.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Excellent point. </p>
<p>There are lots of logistical issues, which limit what medical personnel can do, while still trying to provide the best treatment possible. And I do think that some of these medical personnel infections are incidental to providing the best care versus “moving around” in tons of equipment. there are times the equipment loses and comes off, even if just for a few seconds. I give the medical personnel all the credit int the world for putting themselves out there like that. You definitely have to want to be there. </p>
<p>Part of the concern, I think, is that the Spanish health care provider contracted Ebola in Madrid while, not out in the field in a primitive care setting (at least that’s my understanding). I have no idea how their protocol compares to the US but it should at least be less chaotic and better resourced than West Africa.</p>
<p>My question was badly phrased - how deep a cut does the virus need? People with dry skin have microcuts everywhere that only break the top strata of the epidermis.</p>
<p>If I am not mistaken, Nancy Writebol said that she was involved in hosing or spraying down health workers who came out of the wards in protective gear. I think she said that she was not wearing full protective gear, maybe a mask and gloves, but she was standing far back. She did have contact with families.</p>
<p>I’ve gotten the impression that any little break in the skin can be enough. Or, of course, the eyes or mucous membranes.</p>
<p>This is what I don’t get . . . the Spanish nursing assistant developed a fever on September 30th but wasn’t hospitalized until almost a week later? How does that make sense if she was known to have cared for 2 Ebola patients? This comes back to the question of when, exactly, the patient becomes contagious. Her only symptom was fever but why not isolate her at that point even if you think that if falls into the “abundance of caution” category? It seems like in a case this specific too much caution is better than not enough.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/06/health/ebola-us/index.html?hpt=hp_c2”>http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/06/health/ebola-us/index.html?hpt=hp_c2</a></p>
<p>From The Guardian . . .
The auxiliary nurse was part of the team attending to a Spanish missionary with Ebola who was repatriated two weeks ago. The 69-year-old missionary, Manuel García Viejo, died just four days after being brought to Madrid’s Carlos III hospital.</p>
<p>Health authorities said on Monday night that the nurse was in stable condition. She had alerted them to a slight fever on 30 September, said Antonio Alemany from the regional government of Madrid, and checked into a hospital in Alcorcón with a high fever on Sunday. Ebola protocol was immediately activated at the hospital and initial and secondary tests were both positive for the virus.</p>
<p>The patient, who is married with no children, was on holiday when she began showing symptoms, said Alemany.</p>
<p>“We’re drawing up a list of all the people she may have been in contact with, including with health professionals at the Alcorcón hospital where she is being treated,” he added, estimating that more than 30 people were being carefully monitored for any sign of symptoms.</p>
<hr>
<p>SERIOUSLY!!! The people who were caring for the dead Ebola patient was allowed to go on holiday and not hospitalized until she had a high fever? I don’t get not just nipping it in the bud. ~X( </p>
<p>I have to say it makes no sense to me that she was roaming around with a fever for 5 days. If she self-quarantined, it would be one thing. I guess it depends what they mean by being “on holiday.”</p>
<p>“On holiday” means on vacation. It could very well mean that she was just off work. </p>
<p>Btw- who freaking out on this thread is all caught up on their vaccinations, including the flu shot? 'Cuz, you know, that can kill you too- and your odds are much better of catching that 
</p>
<p>I had mine at work last week, but thanks for asking.</p>
<p>I am not personally worried about getting Ebola just to clear that up. </p>
<p>Then you are not who I was directing that to 
</p>
<p>I’m glad your work offers it! I wish every place of employment did. </p>
<p>Our school district is hosting flu shot clinics at school as well this year - not free like at my work though</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I wonder how many peole would elect to go on a trip ill and hope they’ll improve, rather than forfeit non-refundable vacation plans.</p>
<p>Romani, I know what “on holiday” means. My point was that a person who was taking days off from work could be at home, they could be alone in a rental or some other location with their spouse, or they could be in a situation where they were in contact with lots of people.</p>
<p>It says that she reported her slight fever. It doesn’t sound as if she was inclined to be irresponsible. Let’s hope she was careful.</p>
<p>BTW, I can’t imagine how a person feels when they have been caring for people who died of this disease, and then realize they have it themselves. Truly horrifying.</p>
<p>This article on Daily Mail has an interesting graphic from Northeastern Univ --scroll all the way down.
It looks like the only destinations you can fly to directly out of the West Africa hot zones now are Ghana, UK, France, & the US.</p>
<p>Nigeria, which is praised for stopping an outbreak, would be accesible via air only through Ghana. </p>
<p><a href=“Spanish nurse whose home is under police guard after she contracted Ebola | Daily Mail Online”>Spanish nurse whose home is under police guard after she contracted Ebola | Daily Mail Online;
<p>The article also talks about the Madrid protective gear, but it’s hard to tell how accurate any of that is.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Who’s panicking? Can we carry on our discussin on Ebola without getting lectured on? </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Dr Fauci from NIH was on NPR the other day. He said the patient is contagious when any symptom shows up if there’s a close contact. If you kissed a feverish person, you can get infected, for example. For general public, since Ebola transmits through body fluids, the chance of infection comes when they begin to discharge a large amount of body fluids.</p>
<p><a href=“Some Ebola experts worry virus may spread more easily than assumed”>Some Ebola experts worry virus may spread more easily than assumed;
<p>A cheery way to start your day. X_X </p>
<p>CBS News reported last night that the Spanish nurse now infected had very limited contact with the dying Ebola patient.</p>
<p><a href=“Demands for an Explanation Grow After a Nurse in Spain Contracts Ebola - The New York Times”>Demands for an Explanation Grow After a Nurse in Spain Contracts Ebola - The New York Times;
<p>The Spanish nurse had entered the Ebola patients room just twice. Once after he died. </p>