<p>^^^^lots of things are being done that are unnecessary. Maine school teacher quarantine comes to mind. It’s being done only to calm the nervous people who don’t want to believe even the most basic facts. </p>
<p>There was a point in testing - to reassure the public that they are not releasing a walking contagion</p>
<p>So much for HIPAA these days…</p>
<p>^^^^BB what specifically are you referring to? Cruise ship pax?</p>
<p>Yup. That was a joke of sorts.</p>
<p>With flu season upon us and general seasickness that passengers experience, I sure hope other passengers don’t overreact if they happened to feel queasy.</p>
<p>Our lucky stars that ship was not norovirus breeding grounds!</p>
<p>Was thinking the same thing about norovirus, BB (but then, being a Ph.D, I am not a “real” doctor :-? #-o )</p>
<p>Just teasing you, BB… Your post 1517 was otherwise on the mark. Why some people need to stir the hysteria pot is beyond me.</p>
<p>That’s OK, jym! A Ph.D. who works with patients is a doctor, IMO. A researcher who publishes syntheses of methyl-ethyl-butyl-futile-crazynene derivatives is not. A lawyer, despite being a J. D., is not a doctor either. ;)</p>
<p>I’d give a research scientist with an doctorate and publications in juried journals their “doctor” title, though in public its use should probably be limited to getting good dinner reservations.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that it is the normal practice of an MD to be 100% confident about something when the actual certainty is more like 85%. </p>
<p>Agreed, jym! When someone says “top doctors” (which is what AW made), he or she implies top medical doctors. A reference to Ph.D.s is usually phrased as “top scientists” or “top researchers”. </p>
<p>Oh for pete’s sake. Here we go again (referencing post 1531, not BBs, which I completely agree with) </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>His publication record is more definitive about his expertise than is the field of his PhD more than 30 years ago:</p>
<p><a href=“Charles N Haas - Google Scholar”>Charles N Haas - Google Scholar;
<p>He seems to know a lot about microbes and risk.</p>
<p>Teresa Romero (Spain) has tested negative for ebola! She will have another in 2 days. If that is also negative she will be declared cured, but will still stay in the hospital because she will need to get back to strength. No other reported cases in Spain, either.</p>
<p>I went to a good friend’s apartment for dinner Fri night. She is one of those people who do not watch TV (news) much. She said to me, “I happened to turn the TV on today and this Ebola thing seem to be really serious. How many people in US have it and how many died from it?” I said, “Two, and one died from it.” She said, “So they are reporting on the same patients over and over again.”</p>
<p>What about the NBC cameraman - isn’t he still a hospitalized Ebola patient in Nebraska? </p>
<p>There are actually 4 patients currently being treated in the US for Ebola- 2 at Emory and one in Maryland. The second one at Emory has been quietly and privately cared for and should be discharged soon, if not already.<a href=“http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2014/10/15/little-mentioned-patient-at-emory-expects-to-be-discharged-very-soon-free-from-the-ebola-virus/”>http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2014/10/15/little-mentioned-patient-at-emory-expects-to-be-discharged-very-soon-free-from-the-ebola-virus/</a> I think it was another volunteer brought back from Africa. Then there is the one in Nebraska. Total- 4. </p>
<p>** crossposted with RVM</p>
<p>“He seems to know a lot about microbes and risk.”</p>
<p>He seems to know a lot about removal of microorganisms from water sources and chemical surface and water decontamination, judging by his CV and publication records. That does not make him an expert in epidemiology and virology. </p>