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'Ebola czar' defends CDC procedures in light of technician's potential exposure 'Ebola czar' defends CDC procedures in light of technician's potential exposure
(about 22 hours later)
Ron Klain, the Obama administration’s “Ebola czar”, on Sunday defended the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), after a technician at one of its facilities in Atlanta was potentially exposed to the deadly disease. Ron Klain, the Obama administration’s “Ebola czar”, on Sunday defended the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) after a technician at one of its facilities in Atlanta was potentially exposed to the deadly disease.
Klain, who is in charge of coordinating the US response to the outbreak of the deadly disease in west Africa, told CBS:“It’s obviously unacceptable to have any mishandling of Ebola materials; [CDC director] Dr [Tom] Frieden will present a full review and report within four weeks. But I also think it’s important to keep this in context. Klain, who is in charge of coordinating the US response to the outbreak of the deadly disease in west Africa, told CBS: “It’s obviously unacceptable to have any mishandling of Ebola materials; [CDC director] Dr [Tom] Frieden will present a full review and report within four weeks. But I also think it’s important to keep this in context.
“First of all, thanks to the other protocols and procedures in place, there was no risk to the public, to the CDC staff generally. Only one technician was exposed and so far she’s showing no signs of having the disease. She’ll be monitored every day.” “First of all, thanks to the other protocols and procedures in place, there was no risk to the public [or] to the CDC staff generally. Only one technician was exposed, and so far she’s showing no signs of having the disease. She’ll be monitored every day.”
The unnamed technician’s potential exposure, which happened on Monday, was discovered on Tuesday and announced on Wednesday, Christmas Eve. She has been placed under close observation for 21 days, Ebola’s incubation period. Up to a dozen other employees of the Atlanta lab are also being watched. The unnamed technician’s potential exposure, which happened on Monday, was discovered on Tuesday and announced on Wednesday, Christmas Eve. She has been placed under close observation for 21 days, Ebola’s incubation period. As many as a dozen other employees of the Atlanta lab are also being watched.
More than 7,500 people have died from Ebola in west Africa, where the countries hardest hit are Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia. One patient found to have Ebola while in the US – Thomas Eric Duncan, who was from Liberia – died in October. Others, including healthcare workers who contracted the disease in Africa and two nurses at the Dallas hospital that treated Duncan, have recovered. More than 7,500 people have died from Ebola in west Africa, where the countries hardest hit are Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia. One patient found to have Ebola in the US –– Thomas Eric Duncan, who was from Liberia – died in October. Others, including healthcare workers who contracted the disease in Africa and two nurses at the Dallas hospital that treated Duncan, have recovered.
The CDC has come under intense scrutiny this year, not only over its response to the Ebola outbreak and cases within the US. Safety violations have been reported in the CDC’s transportation of other lethal pathogens, including anthrax and botulism bacteria.The CDC has come under intense scrutiny this year, not only over its response to the Ebola outbreak and cases within the US. Safety violations have been reported in the CDC’s transportation of other lethal pathogens, including anthrax and botulism bacteria.
“I visited this lab in October,” Klain said of the CDC’s Atlanta facility, “and they’ve been studying Ebola for 20 years without one single incident. They’ve processed more than 10,000 Ebola samples during this current crisis and they’ve saved thousands of lives.“I visited this lab in October,” Klain said of the CDC’s Atlanta facility, “and they’ve been studying Ebola for 20 years without one single incident. They’ve processed more than 10,000 Ebola samples during this current crisis and they’ve saved thousands of lives.
“The CDC is a national treasure – and people around look to us for leadership in the Ebola response. The American people should be very proud of Dr Frieden’s team at the CDC.”“The CDC is a national treasure – and people around look to us for leadership in the Ebola response. The American people should be very proud of Dr Frieden’s team at the CDC.”