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Ebola-infected nurse in stable condition at specialist Maryland hospital Ebola-infected nurse in stable condition at specialist Maryland hospital
(about 1 hour later)
A nurse who contracted the Ebola virus while treating Thomas Eric Duncan is stable and resting comfortably after being transferred to a specialised hospital in Maryland, leaving the embattled Dallas hospital where she works free of an Ebola patient for the first time in nearly three weeks.A nurse who contracted the Ebola virus while treating Thomas Eric Duncan is stable and resting comfortably after being transferred to a specialised hospital in Maryland, leaving the embattled Dallas hospital where she works free of an Ebola patient for the first time in nearly three weeks.
Nina Pham, 26, “is quite stable now and resting comfortably”, Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) said at a press conference on Friday. “She’s a highly intelligent, aware person who knows exactly what’s going on,” he said. Nina Pham, 26, “is quite stable now and resting comfortably”, Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) said at a press conference on Friday.
Pham’s condition has gone from “good” when she left Dallas to “fair”, Fauci said, but he declined to explain the change, citing patient confidentiality. He said only that fair condition “implies that she does still have some symptoms”. Pham has received a blood transfusion from an Ebola survivor, Dr Kent Brantly, a treatment doctors hoped would provide her with antibodies against the virus; for privacy reasons Fauci would not say if she had also received experimental drugs. Fauci said Pham has been able to sit up, eat and use her iPad. “She’s a highly intelligent, aware person who knows exactly what’s going on,” he said.
Pham’s condition has gone from “good” when she left Dallas to “fair”, Fauci said, but he declined to explain the change, citing patient confidentiality. He said only that she was fatigued from her flight, adding that fair condition “implies that she does still have some symptoms”. Pham has received a blood transfusion from an Ebola survivor, Dr Kent Brantly, a treatment doctors hoped would provide her with antibodies against the virus; for privacy reasons Fauci would not say if she had also received experimental drugs.
“We fully intend to have this patient walk out of this hospital,” Fauci added.“We fully intend to have this patient walk out of this hospital,” Fauci added.
Duncan, who contracted the virus before arriving in the US, died on 8 October. Since then, two nurses, Pham and Amber Vinson, have been diagnosed with Ebola. Duncan, who contracted the virus before arriving in the US, died in an isolation unit at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas on 8 October. Since then, two nurses, Pham and Amber Vinson, have been diagnosed with Ebola.
In all, more than 135 people are being monitored for signs of Ebola, including 75 healthcare workers, 48 other people who may have had contact with Duncan and a handful of people who may have had contact with the nurses, and one dog.In all, more than 135 people are being monitored for signs of Ebola, including 75 healthcare workers, 48 other people who may have had contact with Duncan and a handful of people who may have had contact with the nurses, and one dog.
Vinson was transferred to Emory University hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, earlier this week for treatment at a specialist facility there. A day before Vinson was diagnosed, she travelled on a Frontier airlines commercial flight from Ohio to Texas, despite having a low-grade fever. Vinson was transferred to Emory University hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, earlier this week for treatment at a specialist facility there. A day before Vinson was diagnosed, she travelled on a Frontier Airlines commercial flight from Ohio to Texas, despite having a low-grade fever.
Vinson, who was self-monitoring at the time, had called the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) before travelling to Ohio, and was not stopped from flying.Vinson, who was self-monitoring at the time, had called the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) before travelling to Ohio, and was not stopped from flying.
On Thursday, the CDC announced that it was expanding its search for possible contacts, and interviewing passengers who travelled on Vinson’s initial Frontier Airlines flight from Dallas to Cleveland on 10 October, because new information revealed that investigators could not rule out the possibility that she was ill as early as last Friday. It was initially thought she became ill on 13 October, the day she returned to Dallas. The agency has since changed its guidelines on travel for people being monitored for the virus.On Thursday, the CDC announced that it was expanding its search for possible contacts, and interviewing passengers who travelled on Vinson’s initial Frontier Airlines flight from Dallas to Cleveland on 10 October, because new information revealed that investigators could not rule out the possibility that she was ill as early as last Friday. It was initially thought she became ill on 13 October, the day she returned to Dallas. The agency has since changed its guidelines on travel for people being monitored for the virus.
The CDC director, Tom Frieden, said the agency will ensure that in future those being monitored for symptoms of the virus do not travel publicly. The CDC recommends only “controlled movement” for individuals being monitored, which can include travel by private plane or vehicle. In Dallas, county officials have asked all 75 healthcare workers under monitoring to pledge to stay away from the public.The CDC director, Tom Frieden, said the agency will ensure that in future those being monitored for symptoms of the virus do not travel publicly. The CDC recommends only “controlled movement” for individuals being monitored, which can include travel by private plane or vehicle. In Dallas, county officials have asked all 75 healthcare workers under monitoring to pledge to stay away from the public.
Even so, on Friday morning, the state department announced that a hospital worker who may have had contact with Duncan’s blood samples, had left the country on a Caribbean cruise while self-monitoring. He has placed himself in voluntary quarantine, and the ship’s doctor said he is in good condition. The hospital worker left for his cruise before the CDC altered its rules. Even so, on Friday morning, the state department announced that a hospital worker who may have had contact with Duncan’s blood samples, had left the country on a Caribbean cruise while self-monitoring. He has placed himself in voluntary quarantine, and the ship’s doctor said he is in good condition. The hospital worker left for his cruise before the CDC made the announcement.
In Texas, meanwhile, Governor Rick Perry on Friday urged the president to ban travel from the west African nations where Ebola is raging.In Texas, meanwhile, Governor Rick Perry on Friday urged the president to ban travel from the west African nations where Ebola is raging.
“Air travel is in fact how this disease crosses borders and it’s certainly how it got to Texas in the first place,” Perry said during a news conference in Austin. He said there should be an exception for aid workers, who are desperately needed to help fight the virus in west Africa. Several members of Congress, including the speaker of the House, John Boehner, have called for a travel ban, which the president has been reluctant to consider.“Air travel is in fact how this disease crosses borders and it’s certainly how it got to Texas in the first place,” Perry said during a news conference in Austin. He said there should be an exception for aid workers, who are desperately needed to help fight the virus in west Africa. Several members of Congress, including the speaker of the House, John Boehner, have called for a travel ban, which the president has been reluctant to consider.
Public health officials have decried a ban that would prevent travellers from west Africa’s hardest-hit countries – Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea – from entering the US. They say it will restrict aid and healthcare workers from entering the countries, which could exacerbate the outbreak that has already claimed the lives of more than 4,500 people.Public health officials have decried a ban that would prevent travellers from west Africa’s hardest-hit countries – Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea – from entering the US. They say it will restrict aid and healthcare workers from entering the countries, which could exacerbate the outbreak that has already claimed the lives of more than 4,500 people.
Perry also discussed preliminary recommendations from a task force he assembled last week charged with improving the state’s readiness to deal with additional Ebola cases.Perry also discussed preliminary recommendations from a task force he assembled last week charged with improving the state’s readiness to deal with additional Ebola cases.
The task force suggested designating Ebola treatment centres across the state where ill people can with the relevant travel history can seek treatment.The task force suggested designating Ebola treatment centres across the state where ill people can with the relevant travel history can seek treatment.
The centres would be equipped with protective equipment and specially trained healthcare workers.The centres would be equipped with protective equipment and specially trained healthcare workers.
The force also recommended that healthcare workers receive expanded training on how to handle patients with deadly infectious diseases.The force also recommended that healthcare workers receive expanded training on how to handle patients with deadly infectious diseases.