Atlanta Hospital Admits Second American With Ebola

[CrossCuT]

Urgent Prayers needed for all those in West Africa right now. As well as pray that Ebola does not continue to spread.

 

 

 

In a statement from Emory about Ms. Writebol’s admission, the hospital did not comment on the condition of Dr. Brantly or Ms. Writebol, who are believed to be the first two people ever treated for Ebola at a hospital in the United States. Their admissions have drawn widespread scrutiny, and Emory doctors and public health officials have repeatedly countered speculation that Dr. Brantly and Ms. Writebol could easily infect others in the United States.

“Emory University Hospital physicians, nurses and staff are highly trained in the specific and unique protocols and procedures necessary to treat and care for this type of patient,” the hospital said in a statement on Tuesday. “The standard, rigorous infection-control procedures used at Emory protect the patient, Emory health care workers and the general public.”

 

 

Ebola is transmitted through contact with bodily fluids, and the people assisting Dr. Brantly and Ms. Writebol have worn suits intended to prevent contamination.

Continue reading the main storyContinue reading the main story

“We have a specially designed unit, which is highly contained,” Dr. Bruce S. Ribner, a specialist in infectious diseases at Emory, said last week. “We have highly trained personnel who know how to safely enter the room of a patient who requires this form of isolation. We have control over everything coming out of the unit, so that everything is made noninfectious before any materials come out.”

He described the protocols as “an inordinate amount of safety.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/06/us/nancy-writebol-kent-brantly-ebola-atlanta.html?_r=0

 

 

 

Please keep Doctors Brantly and Writebol in your prayers. They are people who have gone beyond the call of duty to assist those in need. In a video coverage of the topic, it was said that Doctors Brantly and Writebol wanted to be sent to the US to assist researchers in finding a cure. The US has never had a case of Ebola on its soil before so it is a good opportunity to have live hosts studied. 

 

Liberia is currently under a state of emergency because of the outbreak. A total of just under 1000 people have died in West Africa because of the disease. 

 

 

 

 

There is no known cure for Ebola. Experts say people infected with the virus can spread the disease only through their bodily fluids and after they show symptoms. Since the incubation period can last up to three weeks, some of the Nigerians who treated Sawyer are only now showing signs of illness that can mimic many common tropical illnesses — fever, muscle aches and vomiting.

 

 

In a statement on Wednesday, the WHO noted that the recent use of experimental drugs to treat two American medical missionaries has raised questions on whether drugs that have never been tested on humans should be used and, if so, who should receive it when there is only an extremely limited amount.

The two Americans, Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol, have been repatriated from Liberia and are being treated for Ebola at the Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/08/06/ebola-nigeria-saudi-arabia-virus-death-toll/13663973/

Edited August 7, 2014 by CrossCuT

[CrossCuT]

WHO is meeting on whether or not to consider this outbreak a public health emergency.

 

CDC has reclassified this case as Level 1 which is their highest priority. They are allocating resources to help combat the outbreak. 

 

 

CDC’s Level 1 activation of our Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is not a reflection of Ebola risk in the U.S. A Level 1 activation of the EOC is a personnel alert system that means “all hands on deck”. It is part of CDC’s surge capacity, which allows us to mobilize staff and resources to assist in an international emergency. It doesn't mean there's an increased risk to Americans, but it does mean we are taking an extensive effort to do everything we can to stop the outbreaks.

 

 

 

The disease is mainly concentrated in West Africa, particularly in Guinea then spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone. 

 

Newest reported cases confirm that it has spread to Nigeria as well as a possible case in Spain.

 

 

Its easy to ignore what is not happening in our backyard but this is a potentially very serious issue if it is allowed to spread. Nigeria is pretty densely populated so an outbreak there could result in a tremendous loss of life. 

Edited August 7, 2014 by CrossCuT

[CrossCuT]

WHO has officially declared the outbreak as Public Health Emergency

 

 

After a unanimous vote by a committee of public health and risk management experts, the WHO decided to declare the outbreak an international public health emergency.

The outbreak is an international issue, Dr. Chan said. Stopping the outbreak — and limiting its spread — will require the cooperation and coordination from countries around the world, not just those affected or nearby.

 

 

Almost all cases have been in three nations: Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. And the virus is moving faster than efforts to stop it in these countries, Chan said. The shortage of health care workers is one of the main reasons why.

"The three countries that are most affected by Ebola disease are countries that have very weak health system capacity," she said. They don't have enough doctors, nurses or even basic equipment, such as gloves and protective suits.

 

http://www.npr.org/blogs/goatsandsoda/2014/08/08/338651627/ebola-outbreak-is-a-global-health-emergency-who-says?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20140808

 

 

Edited August 8, 2014 by CrossCuT

[Benedictus]

WHO is meeting on whether or not to consider this outbreak a public health emergency.

 

CDC has reclassified this case as Level 1 which is their highest priority. They are allocating resources to help combat the outbreak. 

 

 

 

The disease is mainly concentrated in West Africa, particularly in Guinea then spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone. 

 

Newest reported cases confirm that it has spread to Nigeria as well as a possible case in Spain.

 

 

Its easy to ignore what is not happening in our backyard but this is a potentially very serious issue if it is allowed to spread. Nigeria is pretty densely populated so an outbreak there could result in a tremendous loss of life. 

 

It's worrying. Resources and education on the ground are an issue. But cultural resistance, fear and excessive superstition are making work to contain the virus even harder :(
 

Edited August 8, 2014 by Benedictus

[Anastasia13]

It's worrying. Resources and education on the ground are an issue. But cultural resistance, fear and excessive superstition are making work to contain the virus even harder :(
 

What superstition are they running into?

Edited August 9, 2014 by Light and Truth

[CrossCuT]

In one of the previous ebola outbreaks, their culture and the way they buried the dead ended up being a big reason why things spread. This virus has a way of surviving even after the host is dead. 

 

But we shouldn't worry about it spreading in the US. Our capabilities, technology, and resources are quite a bit better so we can better handle it. Unlike over in Africa where they have little of even some of the most basic precautions like personal protective equipment. 

 

Still need to pray for the 1000s that have lost their lives. And the fact that its now in Nigeria is very bad.

[Anastasia13]

In one of the previous ebola outbreaks, their culture and the way they buried the dead ended up being a big reason why things spread. This virus has a way of surviving even after the host is dead. 

 

But we shouldn't worry about it spreading in the US. Our capabilities, technology, and resources are quite a bit better so we can better handle it. Unlike over in Africa where they have little of even some of the most basic precautions like personal protective equipment. 

 

Still need to pray for the 1000s that have lost their lives. And the fact that its now in Nigeria is very bad.

And Southern Nigeria is one of the few Christian places in Africa.

[Benedictus]

What superstition are they running into?

 

Mostly to do with thinking the illness is caused and spread by magic, witchcraft and ill intent. That witch doctors, potions and breaking the spells  (or the person causing it) are the means to cure the problem, not medicine. That type of stuff.

[Vincent Vega]

And Southern Nigeria is one of the few Christian places in Africa.

?

 

The following are countries in Africa where Christianity is the majority religion:

Zambia (97.6%)

DR Congo (95.7%)

Rwanda (93.6%)

Republic of Congo (90.7%)

Angola (90%)

Lesotho (90%)

Nambia (90%)

Uganda (88.6%)

Liberia (85.5%)

Kenya (85.1%)

Zimbabwe (85%)

Swaziland (82.7%)

South Africa (81.7%)

Central African Republic (80%)

Malawi (79.9%)

Burundi (75%)

Gabon (72%)

Botswana (71.6%)

Cameroon (69%)

Ghana (68.8%)

Ethiopia (63.4%)

Eritrea (62.9%)

Tanzania (62%)

South Sudan (60.5%)

Mozambique (56.1%)

Suriname (50.3%)

Nigeria (50%)

 

Unless you meant something very different from what you said.

[PhuturePriest]

WHO? Doctor Who.

[CrossCuT]

Update from Nigeria: More cases are beginning to pop up as the virus spreads.

 

 

 

Nigerian health officials have announced nine confirmed cases and two deaths in the country from the Ebola outbreak that is sweeping West Africa, including a nurse and a man from Liberia whom the nurse had been caring for. By Friday, President Goodluck Jonathan had declared a state of emergency, officially adding Nigeria, home to more than 160 million people, to the list of nations struggling to control one of the largest public-health emergencies in recent history. More than 900 people have died.

 

Climate change, population growth and an increase in displaced populations mean that people are pushing into previously uninhabited places, creating new vulnerabilities and bringing humans into closer contact with animal populations, where many of the diseases have begun, he said.At the same time, globalization means that people are mixing more, trading more and handling more farm animals in industrial settings — all of which facilitate the emergence and spread of infectious diseases.

 

[CrossCuT]

The WHO has approved unregistered interventions to help Ebola patients. 

 

 

Therefore, on 11 August 2014, WHO convened a consultation to consider and assess the ethical implications for clinical decision-making of the potential use of unregistered interventions.

In the particular circumstances of this outbreak, and provided certain conditions are met, the panel reached consensus that it is ethical to offer unproven interventions with as yet unknown efficacy and adverse effects, as potential treatment or prevention.

Ethical criteria must guide the provision of such interventions. These include transparency about all aspects of care, informed consent, freedom of choice, confidentiality, respect for the person, preservation of dignity and involvement of the community.

 

[Cherie]

Any updates on how Dr Brantly and Nancy Writebol are doing?

[CrossCuT]

Doctor Writebol was given an experimental drug upon entering the US however there was only enough for her. Doctor Brantly said they should give it to her and not himself. From what I understand she is awake and talking so hopefully she wont dip down too badly as is typical for the ebola infection. Im not sure about Brantly though, I can do some digging. 

[CrossCuT]

 

American Ebola patient Nancy Writebol, 59, is getting better after receiving an experimental medicine, according to her son who appeared on the  Today  show on Tuesday.

Jeremy Writebol has been able to see his mother twice a day through a window in a special ward of Emory University Hospital and says he has noticed a remarkable change since she first returned from Liberia last week.

While he initially feared his mother might die after seeing her wheeled into the hospital on a gurney, Jeremy says doctors are now 'very optimistic' she will recover. 

'She's been doing well,' Jeremy said. 'We've just seen her get physically better. Her eyes brighten up, her countenance goes up. [She's] smiling, even joking a little bit.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2722810/Son-woman-Ebola-says-getting-better.html#ixzz3APn35hrA 
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