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Ebola outbreak: US advises against quarantine Ebola outbreak: US advises against quarantine
(about 2 hours later)
US health officials will actively monitor health workers who have treated Ebola patients in West Africa, under new rules. US medics returning from treating Ebola patients in West Africa will be actively monitored but not placed in quarantine under new US health rules.
Updated guidelines issued on Monday will require most medics to be checked for symptoms for 21 days but will not require quarantine or isolation. The federal guidelines came after a nurse was put in isolation in a tent in New Jersey, a decision condemned by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
The UN Secretary General has condemned enforced quarantine measures. Meanwhile, Australia has been criticised for a West Africa visa ban.
The current Ebola outbreak in West Africa has infected more than 10,000 people and killed almost 5,000.The current Ebola outbreak in West Africa has infected more than 10,000 people and killed almost 5,000.
The US announcement comes after a nurse who complained about her quarantine in New Jersey was allowed to return home. People are not contagious until they develop Ebola symptoms and the UN Secretary-General's spokesman said "returning health workers are exceptional people who are giving of themselves for humanity".
Defying the new guidelines, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie defended the mandatory isolation imposed on Kaci Hickox as she returned home from Sierra Leone. He added: "That's what we will continue to do. "They should not be subjected to restrictions that are not based on science."
His stance conflicts with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who earlier said those seeking to help in affected areas "should not be subjected to restrictions that are not based on science". Quarantine decisions in the US are made in each state, and the new guidelines from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were immediately rejected by the governor of New Jersey.
"Those who develop infections should be supported, not stigmatised." The CDC said it was "concerned about some policies" being put into place.
People are not contagious until they develop Ebola symptoms. New Jersey is one of three states with a 21-day quarantine for all health workers who have had contact with Ebola patients.
In other developments: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie defended the mandatory isolation imposed on US nurse Kaci Hickox, who was quarantined when she returned home from Sierra Leone. He added: "That's what we will continue to do."
The new rules to allow monitoring of at-risk people were announced as concern grew over the treatment of those who had travelled to Ebola areas. Ms Hickox, who had no symptoms, has now left hospital in New Jersey for her home in Maine, where health officials say she'll be quarantined for 21 days.
Three US states including New Jersey had said they would require a 21-day quarantine for all health workers who have had contact with Ebola patients. She said she was made to feel like a criminal when she arrived back in the US last Friday.
The move came in response to a New York doctor who fell ill with the Ebola virus last week, the morning after he had travelled on the subway and been bowling. Separately, Australia, which has had several scares but no recorded case of Ebola, has been criticised by Amnesty International for taking a "narrow approach".
On Monday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued fresh guidance for travellers and health workers returning from West Africa, where the outbreak has claimed more than 4,000 lives. A spokesman told Reuters that the ban made no sense from a health perspective but ensured that vulnerable people were trapped in a crisis area.
It set out four risk categories, and put most healthcare workers returning from the epidemic-hit region as at "some risk" of infection.
CDC director Dr Tom Frieden said workers considered to be at high risk or some risk would be required to be "actively" monitored for symptoms for 21 days.
Those at highest risk are anyone who's had direct contact with an Ebola patient's body fluids.
Even if they have no symptoms, they should avoid commercial travel and large public events, Dr Frieden said, adding that voluntary quarantine was enough.
Ms Hickox said she was made to feel like a criminal after being quarantined in Newark as she returned from Sierra Leone last Friday.
She was released on Monday and flown back to her home in Maine.
The New Jersey health department said Ms Hickox had tested negative for Ebola on Saturday and had been free of symptoms for 24 hours.
Mr Christie defended his state's quarantine procedures and said that Ms Hickox had arrived in the US with a temperature - something the nurse denies.
Analysis: Anthony Zurcher, BBC NewsAnalysis: Anthony Zurcher, BBC News
The decisions in New York, New Jersey and elsewhere aren't about proper policy, says the Washington Post's Daniel W Drezner, they're about politics.The decisions in New York, New Jersey and elsewhere aren't about proper policy, says the Washington Post's Daniel W Drezner, they're about politics.
"Let's be clear - Cuomo and Christie acted in the interest of being perceived as 'doing something' highly visible even though those actions will not make anyone safer," he writes. "It's the definition of security theatre.""Let's be clear - Cuomo and Christie acted in the interest of being perceived as 'doing something' highly visible even though those actions will not make anyone safer," he writes. "It's the definition of security theatre."
Moreover, given US political realities, it's theatre that will play itself out again and again in states across the country as long as new Ebola cases continue to appear.Moreover, given US political realities, it's theatre that will play itself out again and again in states across the country as long as new Ebola cases continue to appear.
US Ebola weakness: Politics is policyUS Ebola weakness: Politics is policy
"She's a good person and went over and was doing good work over in West Africa. But she needs to understand that the obligation of elected officials is to protect the public health of all the people," Mr Christie told reporters on Monday. In other developments:
"And if that inconvenienced her for a period of time, that's what we need to do to protect the public." The CDC's guidance for travellers and health workers returning from West Africa sets out four risk categories, and puts most healthcare workers returning from the epidemic-hit region as at "some risk" of infection.
CDC director Dr Tom Frieden said workers considered to be at high risk or some risk would be required to be "actively" monitored for symptoms for 21 days.
Those at highest risk are anyone who's had direct contact with an Ebola patient's body fluids.
Even if they have no symptoms, they should avoid commercial travel and large public events, Dr Frieden said, adding that voluntary quarantine was enough.
More than 10,000 people have contracted the Ebola virus, with 4,922 deaths, according to the World Health Organization's latest figures.More than 10,000 people have contracted the Ebola virus, with 4,922 deaths, according to the World Health Organization's latest figures.
All but 27 of the cases have occurred inside Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.All but 27 of the cases have occurred inside Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.
The virus spreads through close contact and health officials say stopping the spread of the disease in the areas hardest hit by the outbreak will prevent Ebola's spread to other countries.The virus spreads through close contact and health officials say stopping the spread of the disease in the areas hardest hit by the outbreak will prevent Ebola's spread to other countries.
Dr Frieden told reporters on Monday the CDC was "looking forward" to working with states to put in place appropriate guidelines for returning workers.
But he said the agency was "concerned about some policies" being put into place.
Separately, the Pentagon has said about a dozen US troops retuning from West Africa are being isolated at a base in Italy "out of an abundance of caution".
Pentagon spokesman Col Steven Warren told reporters none of the soldiers displayed symptoms of Ebola.
Ebola virus disease (EVD)Ebola virus disease (EVD)
Ebola special reportEbola special report
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