This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-29839655
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Ebola outbreak: Maine will try to enforce Hickox quarantine | Ebola outbreak: Maine will try to enforce Hickox quarantine |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The governor of Maine has vowed to exercise the "full extent" of his authority to quarantine a nurse who treated Ebola patients in Africa. | The governor of Maine has vowed to exercise the "full extent" of his authority to quarantine a nurse who treated Ebola patients in Africa. |
| Paul LePage said negotiations with Kaci Hickox, who last week returned from Sierra Leone, over the terms of her isolation had broken down. | Paul LePage said negotiations with Kaci Hickox, who last week returned from Sierra Leone, over the terms of her isolation had broken down. |
| Meanwhile Ms Hickox, who is free of Ebola symptoms, went for a bike ride. | Meanwhile Ms Hickox, who is free of Ebola symptoms, went for a bike ride. |
| Nearly 5,000 people have died of Ebola, but only nine patients have been treated for the virus on US soil. | Nearly 5,000 people have died of Ebola, but only nine patients have been treated for the virus on US soil. |
| More than 13,700 people have been infected in total, the vast majority in the West African countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. | |
| Ebola, which is only spread through close contact with the bodily fluids of a sick patient, has an incubation period of up to 21 days, during which patients neither show symptoms nor are infectious. | Ebola, which is only spread through close contact with the bodily fluids of a sick patient, has an incubation period of up to 21 days, during which patients neither show symptoms nor are infectious. |
| In other developments: | |
| US officials are at odds over whether American healthcare workers who return from treating Ebola patients in West Africa should be forced into quarantine until that period has expired. | US officials are at odds over whether American healthcare workers who return from treating Ebola patients in West Africa should be forced into quarantine until that period has expired. |
| At least six American healthcare workers contracted the illness there. | At least six American healthcare workers contracted the illness there. |
| One of those, Dr Craig Spencer, travelled around New York City before he fell ill. He is currently in isolation in hospital. | One of those, Dr Craig Spencer, travelled around New York City before he fell ill. He is currently in isolation in hospital. |
| Deaths from Ebola | Deaths from Ebola |
| After his case was announced, New York, New Jersey and other states ordered the mandatory quarantine of healthcare workers who had been exposed to Ebola patients. | After his case was announced, New York, New Jersey and other states ordered the mandatory quarantine of healthcare workers who had been exposed to Ebola patients. |
| But President Barack Obama has warned that overly restrictive measures imposed upon returning healthcare workers could discourage them from volunteering in Africa. | But President Barack Obama has warned that overly restrictive measures imposed upon returning healthcare workers could discourage them from volunteering in Africa. |
| On Thursday, Mr LePage's office said it had hoped Ms Hickox would adhere to all suggested CDC guidelines for healthcare workers at "some risk" of having Ebola. | |
| Those include refraining from going out in public save for solo exercise or walks, staying off public transport, submitting to direct monitoring, and agreeing to co-ordinate travel with public health authorities, among other measures. | Those include refraining from going out in public save for solo exercise or walks, staying off public transport, submitting to direct monitoring, and agreeing to co-ordinate travel with public health authorities, among other measures. |
| But the guidelines only recommend direct, daily observation of the person's health by local health authorities, with the other measures suggested depending on the individual case. | |
| "I was ready and willing - and remain ready and willing - to reasonably address the needs of healthcare workers meeting guidelines to assure the public health is protected," Mr LePage said in a statement. | "I was ready and willing - and remain ready and willing - to reasonably address the needs of healthcare workers meeting guidelines to assure the public health is protected," Mr LePage said in a statement. |
| The governor's office did not disclose what steps it would take to force her compliance, but said, "Maine statutes provide robust authority to the state to use legal measures to address threats to public health". | The governor's office did not disclose what steps it would take to force her compliance, but said, "Maine statutes provide robust authority to the state to use legal measures to address threats to public health". |
| Ms Hickox returned to the US on Friday, landing at Newark International Airport. | Ms Hickox returned to the US on Friday, landing at Newark International Airport. |
| Officials say she had a minor fever, necessitating a quarantine at a Newark, New Jersey, hospital. | Officials say she had a minor fever, necessitating a quarantine at a Newark, New Jersey, hospital. |
| Ms Hickox contested the quarantine regimen, ultimately threatening legal action. | Ms Hickox contested the quarantine regimen, ultimately threatening legal action. |
| After showing no fever or other symptoms for a 24-hour period, she was discharged and brought to Maine, where she lives in a house in a rural area. | After showing no fever or other symptoms for a 24-hour period, she was discharged and brought to Maine, where she lives in a house in a rural area. |
| Ebola cases outside West Africa | Ebola cases outside West Africa |
| On Thursday morning, Ms Hickox left her home on a bicycle, followed by police officers who monitored her movements and public interactions. She returned home shortly after. | On Thursday morning, Ms Hickox left her home on a bicycle, followed by police officers who monitored her movements and public interactions. She returned home shortly after. |
| Without a court order, the police were barred from detaining her. | Without a court order, the police were barred from detaining her. |
| "There is no legal action against me so I'm free to go on a bike ride in my hometown," she said. | "There is no legal action against me so I'm free to go on a bike ride in my hometown," she said. |
| Meanwhile, US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power, who has recently returned from a trip to the Ebola-hit countries, said the "lives of a whole generation in West Africa" depend on the world's ability to stop the outbreak. | Meanwhile, US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power, who has recently returned from a trip to the Ebola-hit countries, said the "lives of a whole generation in West Africa" depend on the world's ability to stop the outbreak. |
| "Ebola thrives on fear," Ms Power said. She said it was well known what was needed to stop the outbreak but the world needed to "marshal the will" to do it. | "Ebola thrives on fear," Ms Power said. She said it was well known what was needed to stop the outbreak but the world needed to "marshal the will" to do it. |
| While "there are a few nations doing a lot to help, many are doing very little or nothing at all". | While "there are a few nations doing a lot to help, many are doing very little or nothing at all". |