Patient With Ebola-Like Symptoms Being Treated at Howard University in DC

He traveled to Nigeria recently.

"We can confirm that a patient has been admitted to Howard University Hospital in stable condition, following travel to Nigeria and presenting with symptoms that could be associated with Ebola," said hospital spokeswoman Kerry-Ann Hamilton

�In an abundance of caution, we have activated the appropriate infection control protocols, including isolating the patient. Our medical team continues to evaluate and monitor progress in close collaboration with the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] and the Department of Health."

Not an abundance of caution. Just normal levels of caution.

He's being tested for the virus.

"Ebola-like symptoms" can mean as little as a fever, I'm guessing, so we shouldn't assume this guy has ebola. It's possible, but it could just turn out he has a flu or a temperature for some other reason.

Also, while Nigeria did have an outbreak, it had, if I understand this right, a single outbreak, where Patient Zero came to Nigeria, of course, through an airport.

They seem to have contained it after only twenty infections-- we think.

Nigeria's outbreak grew from a single airport case, while in the three other countries the disease smoldered for months in remote rain-forest provinces and spread widely before a serious response was mounted.

Ebola, Dr. Frieden said, "won't blow over -- you have to make a rapid, intense effort."

...

After the first patient -- a dying Liberian-American -- flew into Lagos on July 20, Ebola spread to 20 other people there and in a smaller city, Port Harcourt.

That said: What the hell are we doing?

posted by Ace at 12:26 PM

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