<p>Interesting observations on differences between the 1976 outbreak and this one.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.healthcanal.com/infections/56095-controlling-ebola-in-communities-is-critical-factor-in-containing-outbreaks.html”>http://www.healthcanal.com/infections/56095-controlling-ebola-in-communities-is-critical-factor-in-containing-outbreaks.html</a></p>
<p>Suspected Ebola case in Boston. Hopefully a false alarm.</p>
<p>^^^
Yes, in my home town. A patient who recently came from West Africa was displaying symptoms and went to a walk in clinic. They have transported him to a Boston Hospital.</p>
<p>@frugaldoctor brought up some very good points about common breakdowns in basic infection control procedures in post #93. We have seen over the years that the hospital can be one of the worst places to be if your immune system is compromised because of the risk of picking up secondary infections like MRSA. I have read about checklist systems and other measures which have worked to reduce infection transmission within the hospital setting but any system is only as effective as every single person in the system at every single patient contact. </p>
<p>The NIH and CDC spokespeople have been talking about breaches in protocol. This leads me to ask if protocols should anticipate a measure of user error if user error seems to be almost impossible to eliminate for whatever reason? If the protocol has to be perfectly executed to work and perfect execution is rare based on human nature should we really feel as prepared as some are saying we are?</p>
<p>@EPTR let’s hope it’s just the flu.</p>
<p>Question for professionals on this thread: if Ebola can be transmitted only via bodily fluids, what would be a likely way the nurse contracted it?</p>
<p>Because I’m watching football right now a common post game line comes to mind, “We had a great game plan going in . . . we just didn’t execute.”</p>
<p>bay, not a pro, but what I read was that she may have touched her face (eyes or nose) with a glove while taking off hr gear after handling bodily material from the patient.</p>
<p>Imo each state should designate Ebola response/treatment centers instead of letting any hospital deal with whoever comes in.</p>
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<p>I have heard that removal of the protective equipment is difficult to do without touching areas that may be infected, and there is a very specific protocol for that. I have also heard complaints that the sleeves are too short for some people on their protective jackets, and it is hard to seal them properly. An Ebola patient who is in the last stages is hemorrhaging internally and potentially bleeding from all orifices. It is very messy. A health care worker could be coming into contact with a large volume of fluid.</p>
<p>I think that is a sound idea, scholarme. Send it in to… ?</p>
<p>CDC? </p>
<p>The virus is in the body fluid but if someone touches body fluid and touches a door knob, the next person can get it from the door knob. Also, if Ebola patient sneezes into air there may be small sneeze drops airborne. If you breathe in, one could get infected although the disease does not transmit through air. </p>
<p>In our area Harborview Hospital has already volunteered and been designated as that hospital. However, if a patient just shows up at a random place there is still the transportation issue.</p>
<p>Ok, I have read that transmission is not easy, that the fluids from the infected need to come into contact with the fluids of the recipient. It is hard to imagine how that would happen to a trained and protected health care worker.</p>
<p>The nurse was wearing a mask so it’s unlikely that she got it from a sneeze. (Unlikely without a mask.)
I read that she was changing his diaper and handling bedding materials.
I am very concerned for her. Her family must be terrified.</p>
<p>Bay, I think there has been speculation earlier in this thread, too, how she might have contacted it. And just how “trained” can anyone really be at this point in dealing with something like this? Without a lot of practice, mistakes can happen to anyone.</p>
<p>Bay, it could happen when the person takes the protective gear improperly and touches face after removing gloves but before washing hands.</p>
<p>Maybe it’s about time for CDC to post what to do if you suspect Ebola including where to go.</p>
<p>I’m curious as to what kind of mask the nurses wear - surgical? N95? N100?
I noticed that those guys responding to the idiot joker on the plane were wearing self-contained respirators.</p>
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<p>That was a general statement. Not referring to this case. It’s interesting that they suspect the similar mistake made by the spanish nurse.</p>