Dammit! If there is no chance of contagion why are they contacting passengers for the Dallas flight

[boomer55]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2776786/U-S-airlines-contact-government-Ebola-concerns.html

United Airlines scrambles to alert HUNDREDS of passengers who came in contract with Ebola patient as it is revealed he entered U.S. at Washington Dulles before flying to Dallas

[AverageJoe90]

1. They're just trying to take precautions, really.

Although, to be honest, this certainly isn't a bad idea, given the problems that have developed in West Africa.

[Cali_Democrat]

2. Who said there was no chance of contagion?

It's obviously contagious.

[boomer55]

3. Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, director of the disease centers.

there is “zero chance” that the patient infected anyone else on the flight, said Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, director of the disease centers. Ebola is spread only by direct contact with body fluids from someone who is ill.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/01/health/airline-passenger-with-ebola-is-under-treatment-in-dallas.html?_r=0

[Scootaloo]

8. And there is an existant possibility that someone may havecome into contact with his bodily fluids

Somehow, some way.

"Zero chance" is layman's terms. There is no such thing as the number zero in science. There is always something. And when that something is a chance, even a very small one, of a horrible hemorrhagic fever being contracted by people through airline contact, maybe it's good to take precautions.

[LeftyMom]

4. Because the chance is very low but not zero.

Somebody who used the can at the back of the plane after him would be at some theoretical risk, for example. Low risk since apparently he wasn't showing any symptoms yet.

But it's a serious disease so you check and hopefully you stop it there. That's how Nigeria stopped it: a visitor had it. They did basic public health stuff, found his contacts and monitored them. We're at least as good at this as Nigeria.

This is basic public health stuff that gets done all the time for TB, STIs, etc.

[LostInAnomie]

5. They're monitoring everyone he was in the ER waiting room with too.

Heard it on NPR.

[boomer55]

6. This stinks. Its a boolean equation. Its either true or false. This is how panic starts when you

say one thing with absolute certainty and then later take actions that directly contradict what was said.

The authorities said with absolute certainty over and over again that there was ZERO chance, NO chance. NONE! NADA! no chance the passengers on the plane were exposed. period end of story.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

17. this is the point that should be ringing

you can't say there is zero chance to the public and then go back and behave as if there is NOT zero chance. proves you are lying or are stupid or potentially both.

sP

[uppityperson]

7. Have you a link besides the DailyMail? A reputable source?

Funny how they say mo alerts over the first flight or the hours he spent in his layover airport.

I'd like to see a reputable source. I checked UA website and nothing there. Nothing on news about this either.

[Fridays Child]

9. Up to now, Ebola is not known to be contagious until the person develops symptoms.

But could the virus mutate or evolve such that this would no longer hold true?

[grahamhgreen]

11. Of course. It can also mutate so that people who survived it the 1st time, might not survive the 2nd

[Bluenorthwest]

22. 'Of course' he says. I wonder, do you live your life in fear that HIV will mutate and become

transmitted by casual contact?
That sort of thinking caused much suffering and injustice in the 80's and 90's. 'Who knows if what they say is true, of course it can mutate, let's fire our gay employees now!'
Just know that the fire you are playing with burns human flesh.
Knowledge = Life

[cali]

10. It says the AIRLINE is scrambling- not the CDC or other government agency.

[boomer55]

12. correct. why are they scrambling when the authorities have assured them and us again and again

that there is zero chance of exposure?

[cali]

14. easy. it's a business/image decision.

[alcibiades_mystery]

13. I'm bookmarking all of your threads on this

I want to repost as a compendium next week or so.

Thanks!

[FSogol]

18. Wonder if they've checked their temperature?

[ALBliberal]

15. Is there any information on where or how this man contracted ebola?

I am curious what sort of contact he had with an ebola victim and whether it's been traced back.

[cali]

16. yes. detailed information in a NYT piece and other outlets

He helped take a pregnant ebola victim to the hospital in a taxi and then returned with her when the hospital didn't have room for her, and helped carry her back into her home.

[Javaman]

19. because that's the job of the CDC.

or would you rather leave it chance?

[tanyev]

20. Concern for customer well-being, corporate image, and probably the most important--

a proactive strategy against possible lawsuits, either legitimate or bogus.

[magical thyme]

21. this^^^^ it's an abundance of caution on their part.

They don't care if they leave people panicking. They care about 1. legal protection and 2. looking like they care.

Also, his temperature would have been checked leaving Liberia, but not necessarily checked arriving in Brussels, leaving Brussels, arriving in DC, leaving DC or arriving in Dallas.

That bothers me. They should be questioned and temps taken at both ends.