MSF and the CDC need to come up with a repatriation plan

[B2G]

for HCW returning from the front lines that will satisfy the authorities here.

IMO, they need to be self monitoring over there for 21 days before returning. I'm sure there are numerous functions they could perform during that time that would benefit the cause but not involve patient contact of any kind. It would just be an additional 3 weeks of service for them. They could do it at a facility or in their places of residence.

While I agree that NY, NJ and IL are taking this too far, it is what it is and it would be better for these folks to not be imprisioned upon return and let them put those 3 weeks to good use over there. It would also go a long way in reassuring the public that these folks aren't going to come down with the disease upon return. It would eliminate a lot of risk and expense to our healthcare system as well.

[TwilightGardener]

1. I think they should be allowed to fly home after screenings at the airports,

get their blood tested initially (or test before departure from Africa?), agree to stay home/no travel/no public transportation/no physical contact with others for a couple weeks, second blood test at two week mark OR three weeks at home. Why would this be hard? I also think health workers HERE caring for ebola patients should get picked up by hospital vehicles if they don't have a car, get driven back and forth to work for their shifts, and basically plan on staying home as much as possible for three weeks after last contact with ebola patients--even if it means grocery delivery, the hospitals should pick up the employees' expenses in exchange for their being willing to care for these dangerous patients.

[LisaL]

2. Blood tests is useless unless symptoms develop.

Blood test doesn't tell you if they are incubating Ebola.
It will come back negative unless there is enough virus in the blood.
I do agree that self-monitoring while they are out and about isn't enough. They should be avoiding public places and public transportation. And traveling using that same public transportation.

[TwilightGardener]

3. I understand that, but a blood test right away means they'd be able to fly home

at least, since if it's not detectable for the time being in the blood it isn't likely to come out in other body fluids, especially in the absence of a fever at various airports. It's basically just a preliminary clearance. They can stay home for a few weeks afterward. Really, a minor inconvenience for people who are apparently able to jet off to other countries for charity work. Edit to add: Nancy Snyderman was allowed to be at home during her quarantine.

[Warpy]

7. There isn't enough virus to register in healthy people

which is why running a low grade fever doesn't mean anyone is contagious, only that enough virus is being replicated to start their immune systems reacting against it.

Anyone who deplanes with a significant fever has to be isolated to be ruled in or out for Ebola if they've come from the hot zone. They're not contagious until they are very sick.

There are no fixes to calm panicky people. They won't listen to evidence, they won't read, and they refuse to learn that their risk is zero. Panicky people should be IGNORED.

That's the only thing that will work well. People will self monitor. No one wants to die from Ebola.

[TwilightGardener]

8. No, self-monitoring is not enough. Amber Vinson "felt funny" all weekend,

had a fever during her flight, and even though her viral load was probably low, she may have "felt funny" enough to vomit on her flight. Spencer felt "sluggish" two days before his fever. Some people don't run fevers at all, but have other symptoms which they may chalk up to other things. The point is, you feel fine until you don't, and the moment you don't (you run for the public toilet to have the squirts while bowling, let's say) you may release the virus into public areas. The safest thing is for people to plan to stay home for three weeks after last contact with ebola victims, it's really that simple.

[Warpy]

10. Unless she puked on a seat mate, she was not contagious

and you are panicking over nothing. There is no evidence she puked on that flight, only that she felt slightly unwell and had a low grade temperature when she landed.

Self monitoring works. People will seek treatment for this. No one wants to die a hideous death from it because that is the alternative to seeking early treatment.

Early treatment works. The only death from Ebola in the US was in a man who was refused early treatment and sent home with useless antibiotics.

Your fears are unfounded.

Now GOTV. Fears of Republicans getting back in are not unfounded.

[TwilightGardener]

12. I have absolutely zero panic. They have airsick bags for a reason, puking on flights

is common for people with no illnesses. Same with boats/cruises, my mother emptied her stomach five times over on a cruise. Not worth endangering other people because a few don't want to be inconvenienced with restricted activity.

[uppityperson]

4. They are highly self motivated to monitor themselves, seek help when appropriate. But also

they could use the time to simply rest and recover from an overwhelming experience. I have not read they are returning immediately to patient care, but if not contagious, the only reason would be to reassure the public, not eliminate risk.

I hope one outcome of all this is employers will allow their sick employees time off rather than mandating they return to work while sick and spreading the highly contagious flu or norovirus among their co-workers.

[Warpy]

11. Anyone in the hot zone who has seen barely living people stagger into a makeshift hospital

is motivated to self monitor. Mr. Duncan is a prime example. Had he received treatment the first time he went to the emergency room, he might be alive today.

[hedgehog]

5. MSF and CDC do have a repatriation plan in place; however, it is based on the best current science

rather than a series of Hollywood disaster movies......

[B2G]

9. Their plan isn't going to work in 2 of the 5 entry points now

I'm sure the other 3 aren't far behind.

Time for a new plan.

[Warpy]

6. Mass. still seems to be listening to the CDC

so there is one international airport in the NE they can use.

Honestly, the stupidest thing in the world would be to make returning MSF workers land far from home and then take surface transportation. It's crazy stupid.

It's an election year and the quarantines will be dropped like hot rocks in a month or so when the media have moved on to the next shiny thing. Maybe some chicken brained Kardashian will commit a big crime and have a car chase followed by the leadup to a show trial.

[kestrel91316]

14. They can only enter via Dulles, Chicago, or Atlanta if they want to avoid solitary

imprisonment without due process. Boston is not an entry point.

And I think we all know what Atlanta will do very soon.

[Warpy]

15. You forgot Boston Logan

Everybody forgets Boston Logan. It's a thrill a minute to land there, but it is an international airport.

[kestrel91316]

17. They can't enter through Boston. The five are Dulles, Newark, NY-JFK,

Atlanta, and Chicago IIRC.

[Warpy]

18. Logan is also a hub for overseas flights.

Remember, there are no direct flights from Africa. They must route through Europe or northeastern South America.

[kestrel91316]

19. But per regulations now, anyone who has been in Liberia, Guinea, or Sierra Leone

in the previous 21 days is ONLY permitted to enter the US via the 5 airports I mentioned.

[kestrel91316]

13. How about this: if they are going to put asymptomatic HCW into 3 weeks of

solitary confinement without due process on return, then they do the same thing to EVERY OTHER PERSON coming here from West Africa.

It is not ok to single them out and treat them worse than non-citizens.

WTF is wrong with people? I get Christie, he is just another RW totalitarian asswipe. But CUOMO????? Jesus H Christ on a sidecar. The man's gone mad.

[Warpy]

16. Well, he's been rather a disappointment to Democrats

although he's not as sick as his GOP opponent has been.

But yes, these fools need to stop electioneering just long enough to listen to the CDC.

MSF and other aid workers are not the problem.

[Avalux]

20. Don't you mean to satisfy the screaming meemie masses?

There is no reason they need to stay there for 3 weeks after caring for patients. They SHOULD be allowed to travel if asymptomatic; self-monitor, and then if they test positive for Ebola after coming home, they get treatment here.

Reassuring the (hysterical) public with unrealistic and unnecessary restrictions serves no one.