'New quarantine rules considered for aid workers returning to U.S. from Ebola-stricken region' diff viewer (5/6)

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New quarantine rules considered for aid workers returning to U.S. from Ebola-stricken region	New quarantine rules considered for aid workers returning to U.S. from Ebola-stricken region
2014-10-24 19:00:43 UTC	2014-10-24 19:35:35 UTC (35 minutes later)
The federal government is considering altering the protocols for doctors and health-care workers who return to the United States from West Africa, ~~New~~ ~~York~~ ~~Gov.~~ ~~Andrew~~ ~~Cuomo~~ ~~(D)~~ said ~~Friday~~ ~~morning.~~	The federal government is considering altering the protocols for doctors and health-care workers who return to the United States from West Africa, authorities said Friday.
~~“It’s one of the questions the federal government is thinking ~~through,” Cuomo~~ told Fox 5 in New York.~~	“It’s one of the questions the federal government is thinking through,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) told Fox 5 in New York.
	A federal official said that the idea of quarantining medical workers who participated in the Ebola response in West Africa was being considered, but said no decision had been made.
	While the idea of a quarantine is being considered, Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary, emphasized that officials are still determining whether it is medically justified.
	“These kinds of policy decisions are going to be driven by science,” he said.
The possible change would come in the wake of Thursday’s diagnosis of Craig Spencer, a doctor who had treated Ebola patients in Guinea, one of the countries at the heart of the Ebola epidemic.	The possible change would come in the wake of Thursday’s diagnosis of Craig Spencer, a doctor who had treated Ebola patients in Guinea, one of the countries at the heart of the Ebola epidemic.
~~A federal official said that the idea of quarantining medical workers who participated in the Ebola response in West Africa was being considered, but said no decision had been made.~~
Spencer, 33, returned to the United States last week and began feeling ill on Tuesday. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital on Thursday after reporting a fever of 100.3 degrees that morning and gastrointestinal problems.	Spencer, 33, returned to the United States last week and began feeling ill on Tuesday. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital on Thursday after reporting a fever of 100.3 degrees that morning and gastrointestinal problems.
Laurie Garrett, a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations, said in an interview that while it made sense for returning medical workers to take voluntary steps to isolate themselves upon their return to the United States, concern over Ebola’s transmission in the West had begun to interfere with volunteers’ ability to contain the outbreak at the source.	Laurie Garrett, a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations, said in an interview that while it made sense for returning medical workers to take voluntary steps to isolate themselves upon their return to the United States, concern over Ebola’s transmission in the West had begun to interfere with volunteers’ ability to contain the outbreak at the source.
“For everybody that’s professionally trying to go to the three epidemic countries, the situation has become more difficult with each passing day and each Ebola case — or alleged Ebola case — named in the United States,” Garrett said. “We’re in a crisis actually that imperils the entire effort to stop the epidemic that is completely about the fear of countries that have no known epidemic.”	“For everybody that’s professionally trying to go to the three epidemic countries, the situation has become more difficult with each passing day and each Ebola case — or alleged Ebola case — named in the United States,” Garrett said. “We’re in a crisis actually that imperils the entire effort to stop the epidemic that is completely about the fear of countries that have no known epidemic.”
Not only have many airlines curtailed flights to the three countries most affected by Ebola, Garrett noted, but nearly every major insurance carrier has now canceled medevac coverage for individuals choosing to travel there.	Not only have many airlines curtailed flights to the three countries most affected by Ebola, Garrett noted, but nearly every major insurance carrier has now canceled medevac coverage for individuals choosing to travel there.
“This whole right of return issue, and circumstances of return, is fluid,” she said. “We’ve hit the point where it is quite obviously affecting the recruitment of volunteer health workers.”	“This whole right of return issue, and circumstances of return, is fluid,” she said. “We’ve hit the point where it is quite obviously affecting the recruitment of volunteer health workers.”
Experts say that the region needs roughly 19,000 health and logistics personnel to contain the epidemic; outside of military personnel, total foreign volunteers now number in the hundreds.	Experts say that the region needs roughly 19,000 health and logistics personnel to contain the epidemic; outside of military personnel, total foreign volunteers now number in the hundreds.
Still, Garrett added, any people traveling to a nation affected by Ebola should undertake efforts to isolate and monitor themselves for any symptoms of the disease for 21 days after returning to their home country.	Still, Garrett added, any people traveling to a nation affected by Ebola should undertake efforts to isolate and monitor themselves for any symptoms of the disease for 21 days after returning to their home country.
“At this point it’s incumbent on anyone going over there to build into your plans the assumption that you will have to radically modify how you live and work upon your return for three weeks,” she said.	“At this point it’s incumbent on anyone going over there to build into your plans the assumption that you will have to radically modify how you live and work upon your return for three weeks,” she said.
Spencer had gone to Guinea to work with Doctors Without Borders, the international relief group that has been on the front lines of the public health crisis.	Spencer had gone to Guinea to work with Doctors Without Borders, the international relief group that has been on the front lines of the public health crisis.
On Friday, the group said Spencer had followed its protocols for people returning from Ebola work, which included regular health monitoring.	On Friday, the group said Spencer had followed its protocols for people returning from Ebola work, which included regular health monitoring.
“Extremely strict procedures are in place for staff dispatched to Ebola affected countries before, during, and after their assignments,” Sophie Delaunay, the group’s executive director, said in a statement. “Despite the strict protocols, risk cannot be completely eliminated. However, close post-assignment monitoring allows for early detection of cases and for swift isolation and medical management.”	“Extremely strict procedures are in place for staff dispatched to Ebola affected countries before, during, and after their assignments,” Sophie Delaunay, the group’s executive director, said in a statement. “Despite the strict protocols, risk cannot be completely eliminated. However, close post-assignment monitoring allows for early detection of cases and for swift isolation and medical management.”
The precise nature of Spencer’s infection is being investigated, the group said. So far, two dozen people working for the organization have fallen ill while fighting Ebola, and 13 of them have died.	The precise nature of Spencer’s infection is being investigated, the group said. So far, two dozen people working for the organization have fallen ill while fighting Ebola, and 13 of them have died.
Tim Shenk, a spokesman for Doctors Without Borders, said Friday afternoon that quarantining all medical workers who return from West Africa “would be an excessive measure to take at this stage.”	Tim Shenk, a spokesman for Doctors Without Borders, said Friday afternoon that quarantining all medical workers who return from West Africa “would be an excessive measure to take at this stage.”
“As long as a patient hasn’t developed symptoms, the risk of contamination is close to zero,” he said.	“As long as a patient hasn’t developed symptoms, the risk of contamination is close to zero,” he said.
Spencer became just the fourth person diagnosed with Ebola in the United States and the first outside Texas, which has previously been the nexus of Ebola infections in the country. Thomas Duncan, a Liberian man who flew to Dallas, was diagnosed last month and died eight days later. Two nurses who treated Duncan were infected while caring for him. No one who had close contact with Duncan or the nurses has tested positive for Ebola so far.	Spencer became just the fourth person diagnosed with Ebola in the United States and the first outside Texas, which has previously been the nexus of Ebola infections in the country. Thomas Duncan, a Liberian man who flew to Dallas, was diagnosed last month and died eight days later. Two nurses who treated Duncan were infected while caring for him. No one who had close contact with Duncan or the nurses has tested positive for Ebola so far.
The two nurses who contracted Ebola in Dallas were both declared virus-free this week. One was cleared on Wednesday, while Nina Pham, the other nurse , left the National Institutes of Health on Friday morning after doctors determined she no longer had the virus.	The two nurses who contracted Ebola in Dallas were both declared virus-free this week. One was cleared on Wednesday, while Nina Pham, the other nurse , left the National Institutes of Health on Friday morning after doctors determined she no longer had the virus.
President Obama on Friday wanted to meet with Pham “to thank her for her service,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said at his daily briefing.	President Obama on Friday wanted to meet with Pham “to thank her for her service,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said at his daily briefing.
When White House officials found out early Friday that Pham would be released, Earnest said, they contacted N.I.H. “to let her know that the president was interested in meeting her if she felt up to it.”	When White House officials found out early Friday that Pham would be released, Earnest said, they contacted N.I.H. “to let her know that the president was interested in meeting her if she felt up to it.”
Pham did not undergo any additional medical testing before greeting—and hugging—the president, Earnest said, noting that she had been shown to be free of the virus on five separate occasions before being released.	Pham did not undergo any additional medical testing before greeting—and hugging—the president, Earnest said, noting that she had been shown to be free of the virus on five separate occasions before being released.
Earnest also provided new details Friday about the coordination between federal and New York state officials after Spencer fell ill Thursday. President Obama ordered the Pentagon to provide an aircraft to transport a team of experts from the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta to New York City’s Bellevue Hospital so they could get there “as soon as possible,” he said.	Earnest also provided new details Friday about the coordination between federal and New York state officials after Spencer fell ill Thursday. President Obama ordered the Pentagon to provide an aircraft to transport a team of experts from the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta to New York City’s Bellevue Hospital so they could get there “as soon as possible,” he said.
The team, which helped supervise the protocols for treating Spencer, arrived “within a couple of hours” of his arrival, Earnest added.	The team, which helped supervise the protocols for treating Spencer, arrived “within a couple of hours” of his arrival, Earnest added.
“We certainly are pleased that so much of the planning that’s been done in recent days has proved to be useful,” Earnest said of how Bellevue’s handled Spencer’s admission.	“We certainly are pleased that so much of the planning that’s been done in recent days has proved to be useful,” Earnest said of how Bellevue’s handled Spencer’s admission.
While federal officials are discussing the idea of quarantining medical professionals upon their return to the United States, Earnest emphasized that officials are still determining whether it is medically justified.	While federal officials are discussing the idea of quarantining medical professionals upon their return to the United States, Earnest emphasized that officials are still determining whether it is medically justified.
“These kinds of policy decisions are going to be driven by science,” he said.	“These kinds of policy decisions are going to be driven by science,” he said.
The administration is focused on protecting the American public, Earnest said. “But at the same time we don’t have to overly burden those individuals who are going to great lengths to stop this outbreak at the source,” he added.	The administration is focused on protecting the American public, Earnest said. “But at the same time we don’t have to overly burden those individuals who are going to great lengths to stop this outbreak at the source,” he added.
Earnest also emphasized that these aid workers are aware of the public health concerns stemming from their service.	Earnest also emphasized that these aid workers are aware of the public health concerns stemming from their service.
“Individuals who have spent time in West Africa certainly understand the seriousness of this disease,” he said, adding at one point of the precautions Spencer took upon his return to New York, “He is a highly trained medical professional [and] certainly had the capacity to take his own temperature.”	“Individuals who have spent time in West Africa certainly understand the seriousness of this disease,” he said, adding at one point of the precautions Spencer took upon his return to New York, “He is a highly trained medical professional [and] certainly had the capacity to take his own temperature.”
White House officials continued to emphasize the low probability of an Ebola outbreak in the U.S. Earnest said Obama would “have no qualms” about riding the New York subway, visiting the High Line or visiting a Brooklyn bowling alley even in the aftermath of Spencer’s diagnosis.	White House officials continued to emphasize the low probability of an Ebola outbreak in the U.S. Earnest said Obama would “have no qualms” about riding the New York subway, visiting the High Line or visiting a Brooklyn bowling alley even in the aftermath of Spencer’s diagnosis.
“The fact is, the risk facing the average New Yorker is exceedingly low,” he said.	“The fact is, the risk facing the average New Yorker is exceedingly low,” he said.
Spencer works at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center. On Thursday, the hospital called him “a dedicated humanitarian” who “always puts his patients first.” The hospital said in a statement that he had not been to work and had not seen patients since returning from overseas.	Spencer works at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center. On Thursday, the hospital called him “a dedicated humanitarian” who “always puts his patients first.” The hospital said in a statement that he had not been to work and had not seen patients since returning from overseas.
On Tuesday, two days before he was hospitalized and diagnosed, Spencer went to a bowling alley in Williamsburg, rode three New York subway lines and used an Uber car. The bowling alley had closed after Spencer’s diagnosis, while Uber said that health officials had told them the car’s driver and any subsequent passengers were not at risk.	On Tuesday, two days before he was hospitalized and diagnosed, Spencer went to a bowling alley in Williamsburg, rode three New York subway lines and used an Uber car. The bowling alley had closed after Spencer’s diagnosis, while Uber said that health officials had told them the car’s driver and any subsequent passengers were not at risk.