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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 |
| (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, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said Friday morning. |
| “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,” Cuomo told Fox 5 in New York. |
| 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. | 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 foreign relations 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 U.S., 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 foreign relations 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 U.S., 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 numbers 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 numbers in the hundreds. |
| Still, Garrett added, any people traveling to a nation affected by Ebola should undertake efforts to isolate themselves 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 themselves 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 that Spencer had followed the group’s protocols for people returning from Ebola work, which included regular health monitoring. | On Friday, the group said that Spencer had followed the group’s 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 the group, 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 the group, 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 of 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 of 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 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 the other nurse left the National Institutes of Health on Friday morning after doctors determined she no longer had the virus. |
| 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. |
| Cuomo on Thursday also stressed that Spencer was a medical professional who had seen Ebola up close, adding that the doctor had been monitoring himself and immediately recognized the symptoms. | Cuomo on Thursday also stressed that Spencer was a medical professional who had seen Ebola up close, adding that the doctor had been monitoring himself and immediately recognized the symptoms. |
| “He was familiar with the possibility and the circumstances, so he handled himself accordingly,” Cuomo said. | “He was familiar with the possibility and the circumstances, so he handled himself accordingly,” Cuomo said. |
| New York officials repeatedly stressed on Thursday and Friday that they were prepared for Ebola’s arrival, having trained and gotten Belleveue and other hospitals ready for handling patients with the virus. | New York officials repeatedly stressed on Thursday and Friday that they were prepared for Ebola’s arrival, having trained and gotten Belleveue and other hospitals ready for handling patients with the virus. |
| The office of New York Mayor Bill de Blasio posted images of him riding the subway on Friday morning in an attempt to show residents that they had nothing to fear from public transportation: | The office of New York Mayor Bill de Blasio posted images of him riding the subway on Friday morning in an attempt to show residents that they had nothing to fear from public transportation: |
| Scenes from Mayor @BilldeBlasio‘s morning commute on the subway. pic.twitter.com/dHxGjfEwAm — NYC Mayor’s Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) October 24, 2014 | Scenes from Mayor @BilldeBlasio‘s morning commute on the subway. pic.twitter.com/dHxGjfEwAm — NYC Mayor’s Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) October 24, 2014 |
| Scenes from Mayor @BilldeBlasio‘s morning commute on the subway. pic.twitter.com/dHxGjfEwAm | Scenes from Mayor @BilldeBlasio‘s morning commute on the subway. pic.twitter.com/dHxGjfEwAm |
| — NYC Mayor’s Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) October 24, 2014 | — NYC Mayor’s Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) October 24, 2014 |
| Rep. Darrell Issa, a California Republican who chairs the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, urged the Obama administration on Friday to take steps to improve what he characterized as a “bumbling” response to the Ebola crisis. | Rep. Darrell Issa, a California Republican who chairs the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, urged the Obama administration on Friday to take steps to improve what he characterized as a “bumbling” response to the Ebola crisis. |
| “I think we all know that the system is not yet refined to where we could say it is working properly,” he said during a hearing on the U.S. government’s response to the disease. | “I think we all know that the system is not yet refined to where we could say it is working properly,” he said during a hearing on the U.S. government’s response to the disease. |
| Issa and other members of Congress questioned the measures the administration had taken before Ebola appeared in U.S. hospitals to prepare for a possible pandemic, and what officials have done since then to ensure the disease doesn’t spread. | Issa and other members of Congress questioned the measures the administration had taken before Ebola appeared in U.S. hospitals to prepare for a possible pandemic, and what officials have done since then to ensure the disease doesn’t spread. |
| Dr. Nicole Laurie, a senior official at the Department of Health and Human Services, said Friday that the risk of a significant Ebola outbreak in the United States was “remote.” | Dr. Nicole Laurie, a senior official at the Department of Health and Human Services, said Friday that the risk of a significant Ebola outbreak in the United States was “remote.” |
| But health care workers who will be the first to respond to Ebola cases in the U.S. were worried, particularly after two nurses contracted the disease through an exposure that has still not been explained. | But health care workers who will be the first to respond to Ebola cases in the U.S. were worried, particularly after two nurses contracted the disease through an exposure that has still not been explained. |
| Deborah Burger, co-president of National Nurses United, said these workers remained at risk. She said nurses had gotten inconsistent instructions, were often left to make decisions about proper precautions for themselves, and at times had been forced to improvise their own protective gear because their medical facilities were unprepared. She said only new, legally required guidelines would ensure medical facilities will provide workers the protection they need. | Deborah Burger, co-president of National Nurses United, said these workers remained at risk. She said nurses had gotten inconsistent instructions, were often left to make decisions about proper precautions for themselves, and at times had been forced to improvise their own protective gear because their medical facilities were unprepared. She said only new, legally required guidelines would ensure medical facilities will provide workers the protection they need. |
| “The response to Ebola from U.S. hospitals and governmental agencies has been dangerously inconsistent and inadequate,” she said. “The lack of mandates and shifting guidelines from agencies and reliance on voluntary compliance has left caregivers uncertain, severely unprepared and vulnerable to infection.” | “The response to Ebola from U.S. hospitals and governmental agencies has been dangerously inconsistent and inadequate,” she said. “The lack of mandates and shifting guidelines from agencies and reliance on voluntary compliance has left caregivers uncertain, severely unprepared and vulnerable to infection.” |
| Juliet Eilperin, Ed O’Keefe, Lena Sun and Missy Ryan contributed to this report. | Juliet Eilperin, Ed O’Keefe, Lena Sun and Missy Ryan contributed to this report. |
| [This post has been updated. First posted: 10:54 a.m.] |