Cubans, U.S. Troops Could Work Side-By-Side In Ebola Fight

[Purveyor]

Source: REUTERS

By Daniel Trotta

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuban doctors and U.S. military personnel could work side-by-side in West Africa as part of international efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak, possibly leading to improved bilateral relations, a top Cuban health official said on Friday.

The two long-time adversaries are among the countries aiding West Africa, where Ebola has killed some 4,546 people since the outbreak of the hemorrhagic fever began there in March.

Cuba is sending the largest medical contingent to West Africa from any country in the world: 165 doctors and nurses are in Sierra Leone and another 296 are scheduled to depart for Liberia and Guinea next week.

The United States is sending 3,000 military engineers, medical personnel and other troops to the region.

"We are going to work side by side ... with anybody who is there, and our health minister said in his speech that includes the Americans," Jorge Perez, director of the tropical disease hospital where Cuban doctors train for their Ebola mission, told reporters on Friday.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/cubans-u-troops-could-side-side-ebola-fight-013819383--finance.html

[JDPriestly]

1. And for those who think a quarantine is a punitive measure, please note:

This is what the Cuban spokesperson said:

Cuba submits any travelers coming from the affected region to at least 21 days of isolation at the Pedro Kouri Institute. So far 28 people from Sierra Leone, Guinea, Congo, Nigeria and Cuba have been isolated, including 12 being held currently.

"If you don't want to be observed, no problem. You have the right to go back to your country, but don't come to mine," Perez said.

http://news.yahoo.com/cubans-u-troops-could-side-side-ebola-fight-013819383--finance.html

Quarantining all who come from or have been within the last month or 21 days in countries in which ebola has manifested itself is a humane, responsible policy. We should adopt it for the sake of protecting the world from ebola. It is the least we can do.

As I have said, I was quarantined for scarlet fever as a child. My husband could not emigrate to America after WWII until he could prove he was free from tuberculosis (which he had as a child), so I see nothing wrong or unfair with a quarantine. It is the right thing to do when public health is in question. We should have facilities available where people who are not yet proven healthy enough to enter the US can stay and have their health observed. The ebola virus will no longer be such a threat if we keep working in Western Africa to stop the epidemic there and make sure it does not spread to other parts of the world by using quarantines and checking people for early symptoms.. It is the right and responsible thing to do.

[magical thyme]

3. that was before American Exceptionalism...

We don't need no stinkin' quarantine. Hell, our nurses are so exceptional they don't even need biohazard protection when facing projectile vomit! A little tape around the neck and they're good to go...

[JDPriestly]

4. Teachers too.

And in many states, you can't qualify for Medicaid or Medical unless you give up hope and become completely impoverished. Our doctors and nurses and our medical knowledge may be up to the challenge. But our system of disbursement of medical care, our public toilets, our super markets -- in most areas, yes. But in some areas of the country, very definitely not. And that is all it takes. Remember, Texans elected George W. Bush and Rick Perry. What have we learned to expect of Texas? And there are some other states with similar problems.

[magical thyme]

5. our doctors and nurses are not up to the challenge if they aren't given proper protocols,

appropriate PPEs, assistants for dressing and undressing for Ebola patients, and the training to put them on and remove them.

[bemildred]

2. Won't they instinctively attack each other? Are there hormone treatments? nt

[SunSeeker]

6. It is sad that the largest medical contingent is from from little Cuba. nt