Ebola

Okay, background information first: Ebola is a hemorrhagic illness; meaning it effects the circulatory system most. It is transferred from one person to another by contaminated bodily fluids, which according to experts is not as easy as it sounds. The incubation period is from three to 21 days when the suspected victim is to be quarantined.

The symptoms appear in stages. First off, during the first three days, the victim suffers from a low grade fever and flu symptoms. During that time, the virus grows in the victim's cells, and spreads to other cells. And it enters the victim's circulatory system. Crystals form and lodge against the walls of blood vessels. The virus turn those blood vessels from healthy, strong body parts to a crystalline substance similar to sugar that break easily. Now this is where the problems begin.

During the fourth, fifth and six days of the condition, the victim suffers from diarrhea and vomiting. And this is where most health care workers come across those dreaded bodily fluids that spread the virus. Keep in mind that at this stage, the victim should be quarantined and not in a position where the public is threatened with exposure to the virus.

During the seventh, eight and ninth days, the victim loses about 2 liters of bodily fluids a day. The blood vessels begin to leak internally. Blood might, but not always, flow from external orifices, like the nose, the mouth or even puncture wounds caused by I.V. needles, etc. Two things should be noted. First off, patients who die from Ebola usually succumb during this period, and it is because of dehydration. Secondly, caregivers are presented with two difficulties. First in order to keep the patient alive is to keep him hydrated, which is very hard considering the amount of fluids that patient loses during that period of time. Also, the patient gives off so much fluid, that waste piles add up quickly. Disposing of it is problematic. This is not something to be just dumped in a landfill and forgotten about. Again, because it is contaminated with bodily fluids, it has to be dealt with in such a way as not to expose the public.

So let's review the history of this strain within the United States. First off, two American health care workers and a TV cameraman have come home from West Africa for treatment. And it seems that all three were successfully treated.

Then Thomas Eric Duncan entered the United States en-route from Liberia, through Brussels, to the U.S. Duncan, a black man, had no insurance. After a few days in the U.S. he was taken to Dallas Presbyterian Hospital, complaining of a high fever and stomach cramps. He was given Tylenol and a antibiotic, and sent home. He did, by the way, alert his caregivers that he had just came from Liberia, which is one of three nations with massive Ebola outbreaks. He returned two days later with worse symptoms. He was admitted to Dallas Presbyterian and tested. It took two days for results. Where was Duncan during this two day period? He was mixed in with other patients.

It is no wonder that two of his caregivers came down with Ebola. One is at Dallas Presbyterian while the other has been transferred to Maryland.

Now the question is 'why were these nurses infected?' This is the United States. We supposedly have the best health care system in the world. One official commented that the first nurse must have violated protocol. She must have removed her mask or gloves prematurely. Because why else would she get it?

That sparked an angry response from the caregivers at Dallas Presbyterian. Deborah Burger of United Nurses Union said that many called her rather than speak out on the subject as they were warned not to or they could lose their jobs. She complained that the proper protocol is not in use at Dallas Presbyterian or most other American hospitals. Others have pointed out that there are two sets of protective gear, one is used in most American hospitals, and a second, more effective set, at the CDC in Atlanta. Apparently the gear worn by Dallas caregivers left their necks exposed. Nurses and others were told to wear tape there. Worse nurses and other medical personnel are not trained in treating this type of outbreak. Whereas the CDC uses a buddy system to ensure that all steps in the protocol are practiced, other hospitals simply are not aware of the procedures. The idea that the nurses who picked up the virus while working with Duncan because they didn't follow protocol is ridiculous because they didn't have a protocol available to follow.

Thomas Eric Duncan was left out with other patients for several hours during his initial visit, and again for several days while he was tested for Ebola. Someone said that the waste from his treatment gathered in a ceiling high pile. When concern was expressed to hospital officials that Duncan should be isolated, hospital officials resisted. In other words, the entire matter was a cluster f&@k.

There are many more people now under observation, both because of their exposure to the Ebola patients here and because they are returning from Africa. Where it's easy to say 'Let's blame the Africans for bringing it here', we must remember that the second nurse flew from Ohio to Texas within days of Duncan's death. She had a low grade fever at the time. Remember it was that low grade fever in Duncan that the Dallas staff didn't consider treating. Duncan and the two nurses have exposed a lot of people to the Ebola virus.

Of course the thing that gets me angry about this entire situation is the political responses. President Obama promises to keep lines of communication open to Americans concerned about the outbreak. That's a good thing.

There are two things he must do as well. Number one is to make sure, if by executive order or by act of Congress, that all hospitals are given the proper gear and that their staffs are trained properly.

Secondly, in order to aid communication, appoint a Surgeon General. We've been without one for over a year. Why? Because Congress refuses to vote on President Obama's candidate. You see the guy supports gun control so the NRA doesn't like him. And Obama suggested this guy. So you know it pisses me off further when I hear Senator McCain screaming that we need an Ebola czar. In my humble opinion, a Surgeon General would do a better job if the Republicans in Congress would vote the guy in.

The other thing that really pisses me off? There are Senators and Congressmen from both parties so afraid of this that they are demanding that we exclude incoming flights from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. That sounds like a great idea except that President Obama and several real experts feel that this would allow those exposed to get lost on a crowded planet.

Remember, the incubation period is 3 to twenty one days while the first three days of the illness limits the victim to low grade fevers and flu symptoms. That gives those infected in West Africa a long time to wander around, throughout Africa, Europe and Asia, while searching for another way into the U.S. and the supposedly the best medical system on earth. There would be virtually no way to track and isolate the people who were exposed along the way.

I can't wait to hear the right scream about Ebola victims sneaking into America from our 'porous' Southern border. They forget. The 9/11 hijackers came through Canada.