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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