This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/03/ebola-dallas-hospital-flawed-response-officials-scramble
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| US Ebola case: hospital admits 'flawed' initial response as officials scramble | US Ebola case: hospital admits 'flawed' initial response as officials scramble |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Officials in Texas were still struggling to implement an effective strategy to manage the close associates of the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola outside Africa on Friday, as the hospital where he first presented himself admitted a “flawed” initial response. | Officials in Texas were still struggling to implement an effective strategy to manage the close associates of the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola outside Africa on Friday, as the hospital where he first presented himself admitted a “flawed” initial response. |
| A hazardous materials team arrived on Friday to clean the apartment where four people are under quarantine, a day after a cleaning crew was forced to leave, lacking the appropriate permit to dispose of the waste. | A hazardous materials team arrived on Friday to clean the apartment where four people are under quarantine, a day after a cleaning crew was forced to leave, lacking the appropriate permit to dispose of the waste. |
| Sweat-stained sheets and towels remained in the apartment for four days since the Ebola sufferer, Thomas Eric Duncan of Liberia, was placed in isolation at the Texas Health Presbyterian hospital in Dallas. | Sweat-stained sheets and towels remained in the apartment for four days since the Ebola sufferer, Thomas Eric Duncan of Liberia, was placed in isolation at the Texas Health Presbyterian hospital in Dallas. |
| The hospital said that due to a “flaw” in its electronic health record workflows, Duncan’s travel history was not relayed from the nurse to the doctor on his first visit to the hospital a week ago, which is why the medical team allowed Duncan to be sent home with a course of antibiotics. | The hospital said that due to a “flaw” in its electronic health record workflows, Duncan’s travel history was not relayed from the nurse to the doctor on his first visit to the hospital a week ago, which is why the medical team allowed Duncan to be sent home with a course of antibiotics. |
| “Protocols were followed by both the physician and the nurses. However, we have identified a flaw in the way the physician and nursing portions of our electronic health records (EHR) interacted in this specific case,” the hospital said in a statement. | “Protocols were followed by both the physician and the nurses. However, we have identified a flaw in the way the physician and nursing portions of our electronic health records (EHR) interacted in this specific case,” the hospital said in a statement. |
| “As a result, the hospital has changed the workflows to highlight a patient’s travel history, especially as it relates to Ebola-endemic countries in west Africa,” the statement said. | “As a result, the hospital has changed the workflows to highlight a patient’s travel history, especially as it relates to Ebola-endemic countries in west Africa,” the statement said. |
| After getting progressively more ill, Duncan was taken back to the hospital on Sunday by ambulance, two days after his first visit. His Ebola diagnosis was confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday. On Friday, the hospital said his condition remained “serious”. | After getting progressively more ill, Duncan was taken back to the hospital on Sunday by ambulance, two days after his first visit. His Ebola diagnosis was confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday. On Friday, the hospital said his condition remained “serious”. |
| On Thursday, CNN revealed that his apartment had still not been cleaned. Two pickup trucks and a van, belonging to a local commercial hazardous materials clean-up company, arrived at the complex on Thursday evening. But the clean-up operation did not get under way until late Friday morning. | On Thursday, CNN revealed that his apartment had still not been cleaned. Two pickup trucks and a van, belonging to a local commercial hazardous materials clean-up company, arrived at the complex on Thursday evening. But the clean-up operation did not get under way until late Friday morning. |
| Four “close” family members, including a woman, Louise Troh, believed to be Duncan’s girlfriend, as well as Troh’s 13-year-old son and two nephews in their 20s, are under strict quarantine in the apartment. Local police and armed security guards have been stationed at the apartment complex to ensure compliance. | Four “close” family members, including a woman, Louise Troh, believed to be Duncan’s girlfriend, as well as Troh’s 13-year-old son and two nephews in their 20s, are under strict quarantine in the apartment. Local police and armed security guards have been stationed at the apartment complex to ensure compliance. |
| Troh told the Associated Press that she is tired of being quarantined and wants authorities to decontaminate her home. “Who wants to be locked up?” she said. | Troh told the Associated Press that she is tired of being quarantined and wants authorities to decontaminate her home. “Who wants to be locked up?” she said. |
| Judge Clay Jenkins, the county’s director of emergency management, said early Friday afternoon that the cleaning crew had arrived and the removal process would take about three hours. The family will remain in the home while the waste is removed. | Judge Clay Jenkins, the county’s director of emergency management, said early Friday afternoon that the cleaning crew had arrived and the removal process would take about three hours. The family will remain in the home while the waste is removed. |
| “I would like to see them moved,” Jenkins said, adding that there are no plans to relocate the four family members at this time. Jenkins said he visited the apartment on Thursday night to apologize for the delayed clean up. | “I would like to see them moved,” Jenkins said, adding that there are no plans to relocate the four family members at this time. Jenkins said he visited the apartment on Thursday night to apologize for the delayed clean up. |
| The items taken from the home and from the hospital will be placed in sealed container, that will be dropped off in a location that will be guarded by law enforcement, | The items taken from the home and from the hospital will be placed in sealed container, that will be dropped off in a location that will be guarded by law enforcement, |
| “The challenges are real,” said Tom Frieden, director of the CDC, on Friday. “I am confident that we will get it sorted out today,” he told ABC’s Good Morning America. | “The challenges are real,” said Tom Frieden, director of the CDC, on Friday. “I am confident that we will get it sorted out today,” he told ABC’s Good Morning America. |
| Health officials obtained a formal order to force the residents to stay at home, after admitting they had not complied with a voluntary request to do so on Wednesday. | Health officials obtained a formal order to force the residents to stay at home, after admitting they had not complied with a voluntary request to do so on Wednesday. |
| In the latest estimate by health officials in Texas, between 12 and 18 people may have come in direct contact with Duncan, including five school-age children. | In the latest estimate by health officials in Texas, between 12 and 18 people may have come in direct contact with Duncan, including five school-age children. |
| The children, who are not showing symptoms and are therefore not contagious, attended school Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday, a day after it was confirmed that Duncan had tested positive for Ebola, one of the five children showed up for class at a middle school. | The children, who are not showing symptoms and are therefore not contagious, attended school Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday, a day after it was confirmed that Duncan had tested positive for Ebola, one of the five children showed up for class at a middle school. |
| “We’re not sure why the Tasby student showed up for school on Wednesday but, once he was identified, he was asked to go to the nurse’s office so that a parent could be contacted,” the Dallas independent school district spokesman André Riley said in an email. | “We’re not sure why the Tasby student showed up for school on Wednesday but, once he was identified, he was asked to go to the nurse’s office so that a parent could be contacted,” the Dallas independent school district spokesman André Riley said in an email. |
| “During the limited time he was on campus, he showed no symptoms yesterday either.” | “During the limited time he was on campus, he showed no symptoms yesterday either.” |
| On Friday, Dr David Lakey, the Texas health commissioner, said officials have narrowed the list of potential or possible contacts from 100 to 50, the majority of whom are of very low concern. The group is being monitored for fever or other symptoms. Among them, ten individuals considered “high-risk” are being monitored more carefully, a procedure that includes taking the person’s temperature twice a day. | |
| Duncan’s neighbours in the Liberian capital, Monrovia, believe he became infected when he helped a sick pregnant woman, who later died of Ebola, a few weeks ago. It was not clear if Duncan knew of the woman’s Ebola diagnosis before he departed for the US. | Duncan’s neighbours in the Liberian capital, Monrovia, believe he became infected when he helped a sick pregnant woman, who later died of Ebola, a few weeks ago. It was not clear if Duncan knew of the woman’s Ebola diagnosis before he departed for the US. |
| Authorities in Liberia have said they intend to prosecute Duncan if he recovers and attempts to return. Duncan filled out a form at the airport in Monrovia on 19 September, which asked whether he had cared for an Ebola patient or touched the body of anyone who had died in an area affected by Ebola. He answered no to all the questions. | Authorities in Liberia have said they intend to prosecute Duncan if he recovers and attempts to return. Duncan filled out a form at the airport in Monrovia on 19 September, which asked whether he had cared for an Ebola patient or touched the body of anyone who had died in an area affected by Ebola. He answered no to all the questions. |
| Meanwhile, the parents of an American freelance journalist diagnosed with Ebola in Liberia said on Friday that their son was “scared” but remained in “good spirits”. | Meanwhile, the parents of an American freelance journalist diagnosed with Ebola in Liberia said on Friday that their son was “scared” but remained in “good spirits”. |
| Ashoka Mukpo, 33, was hired this week as a cameraman for NBC’s chief medical editor and correspondent Dr Nancy Snyderman. He is scheduled to return to the US this weekend for treatment. | Ashoka Mukpo, 33, was hired this week as a cameraman for NBC’s chief medical editor and correspondent Dr Nancy Snyderman. He is scheduled to return to the US this weekend for treatment. |
| “Obviously he is scared and worried,” his father, Dr Mitchell Levy, appearing on NBC’s Today show with Ashoka’s wife, Diana Mukpo, said. He added: “But his spirits are better today.” | “Obviously he is scared and worried,” his father, Dr Mitchell Levy, appearing on NBC’s Today show with Ashoka’s wife, Diana Mukpo, said. He added: “But his spirits are better today.” |
| Snyderman said on Twitter that she and her team will return to the US on Sunday. The president of NBC News, Deborah Turness, said they will be placed in isolation for 21 days as a precautionary measure. | Snyderman said on Twitter that she and her team will return to the US on Sunday. The president of NBC News, Deborah Turness, said they will be placed in isolation for 21 days as a precautionary measure. |