Christie Policy Results In Woman Quarantined Who Doesn’t Have Ebola
[su_thin_right_skyscraper_ad]The woman, who arrived from West Africa at Newark International Airport, tested negative for Ebola. Nevertheless, she is in isolation at Newark’s University Hospital.
Governor Chris Christie and Governor Andrew Cuomo announced late in the day on Friday that any medical personnel who had been treating Ebola patients in West Africa would be subject to a 21-day quarantine period upon arrival in the States, going against a press conference with NYC mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday where both governor and mayor encouraged the city not to panic…
The woman was the first patient quarantined under Christie and Cuomo’s new policy. She developed a fever but tested negative for the Ebola virus.
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D.B. Hirsch is a political activist, news junkie, and retired ad copy writer and spin doctor. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.
tiredoftea October 25th, 2014 at 8:18 pm
A new “Gulag Archipelago” right here in River City.
Red Eye Robot October 25th, 2014 at 8:23 pm
Alan forgets that the Obama policy led to 2 nurses being infected
tracey marie October 25th, 2014 at 8:25 pm
or in the real world, perry and the hospital messed up
Guy Lauten October 25th, 2014 at 8:56 pm
Absolutely! The admitting nurse saw “another black guy with no insurance” and did the absolute minimum to get him out of there. Such a great healthcare system Texas has! I love how Perry scrambled to look good after the fact with his “Ebola Response Team” – cue the dramatic superhero music. In words he may be able to understand: “Glad you got around to closing the door Rickey, but that horse left the barn a while ago.”
tracey marie October 25th, 2014 at 9:20 pm
wrong…this is not racism at the hospital, just a tragic mistake due to lack of training. Another red state failure
edmeyer_able October 25th, 2014 at 9:28 pm
Not racism, this hospital is a for profit institution.
tracey marie October 25th, 2014 at 9:32 pm
and?
edmeyer_able October 25th, 2014 at 9:34 pm
They weren’t obligated to do any thing more than they did on the 1st visit.
Guy Lauten October 25th, 2014 at 9:35 pm
which is exactly my point. the MINIMUM was done, which allowed Mr. Duncan’s infection to slip through their fingers.
tracey marie October 25th, 2014 at 9:40 pm
He lied, period
edmeyer_able October 25th, 2014 at 9:45 pm
Revised reports that I saw say the computer systems the hospital uses between nurse and doctors don’t communicate.
tracey marie October 25th, 2014 at 9:55 pm
True, the intial report was not communicated to the doctor
Guy Lauten October 25th, 2014 at 10:21 pm
a rather convenient, unfounded assertion, I must say!
tracey marie October 25th, 2014 at 10:24 pm
not unfounded at all. His own country said they would press charges for his lie if he survived and he lied to the nurse. Be honest, your wish is not the truth
ChrisVosburg October 26th, 2014 at 1:07 pm
Tracey writes: His own country said they would press charges for his lie if he survived and he lied to the nurse
[sigh] Right, and John Boehner’s repeated threat to sue Obama means that Obama must be guilty. That’s just sloppy thinking.
Tracey, you’ve repeatedly tried to float this bullshit about Duncan lying to authorites, and you’ve been repeatedly asked to provide conclusive evidence that Duncan knew at the time he was questioned that the neighbor he helped from her car to her home was an Ebola carrier, and you’ve never done so.
Conversely, you’ve been repeatedly shown evidence that indicates that not only Duncan but the members of his Ebola-stricken neighbor’s own family were unaware. or perhaps in denial, that she was a carrier of the virus, which you’ve not responded to in any meaningful way.
And yet you keep at it, begging the question of why, which I will now answer for you.
You are a proud Texan, and smarting a little at the notion that a Texas hospital, and specifically the idiot Doctor who signed off on Duncan’s release despite the many obvious indications that he was at risk, could be so bloody stupid.
We get it. But you really need to get over it.
raincheck October 26th, 2014 at 9:57 am
You don’t know what your talking about… I’ve heard it on the news several times… idiot
raincheck October 26th, 2014 at 9:51 am
AND he lied about not having contact with an infected person…
tracey marie October 25th, 2014 at 9:39 pm
what should they have done, the guy lied to us and his own country.
edmeyer_able October 25th, 2014 at 9:42 pm
The reports I read said he told them he WAS in Africa. Why no blood test?
tracey marie October 25th, 2014 at 9:45 pm
He said he was and he also said he had NO contact with ebola patients, he lied to get out of his country and into ours for his wedding.
edmeyer_able October 25th, 2014 at 9:56 pm
One thing is certain if the care givers in Africa were contracting ebola at the same rate Texas Pres. does the world doesn’t stand a chance. 2 cases for 1 patient?
tracey marie October 25th, 2014 at 10:06 pm
true, makes you wonder about texas
greenfloyd October 25th, 2014 at 11:33 pm
From what I’ve read recently that’s exactly what is happening in some of the “hot zones.” Ebola cases are doubling every 28 days in Liberia. They don’t have enough clinics, protective gear, or even body bags.
raincheck October 26th, 2014 at 9:49 am
That’s what I heard too…
StoneyCurtisll October 25th, 2014 at 9:51 pm
I heard the same on NPR..
The nurses are pissed cause they got the blame, and they said that they had put into the electronic medical record for Duncan that we had just came from Liberia..
The doctors are the ones that missed it…(according to the medical records.)
rg9rts October 26th, 2014 at 4:28 am
Can you remotely begin to imagine the nightmare circus when we get a real outbreak like an H5 N1 ……
StoneyCurtisll October 26th, 2014 at 2:51 pm
I know where you are coming from..
The H5 N1 (avian “bird” flu) is more of a threat to poultry stock than humans.. (about 700 humans died).
The H1N1 ‘flu’ (1918 pandemic) killed Millions (50-100 estimated) world wide…
Which reminds me..
Time to get my flu shot~!
rg9rts October 27th, 2014 at 3:39 am
That was an example…there will be another trans species jump that we will have no immunity for …..like maybe AIDS
Carla Akins October 25th, 2014 at 9:30 pm
Or the nurse did exactly the right thing and the Dr with the god-complex decided he knew better. No Dr or nurse would knowingly release an Ebola patient – insurance or not.
tracey marie October 25th, 2014 at 9:31 pm
nope
rg9rts October 26th, 2014 at 4:26 am
We won’t say where……LOL
StoneyCurtisll October 25th, 2014 at 8:43 pm
Liar.
Obewon October 25th, 2014 at 8:47 pm
Paranoids can’t explain why Duncan’s family and wife remain 100% Ebola free, even though she slept with the lone U.S. victim until he was hospitalized. Any Ebola virus dies within 2-4 hours outside the very few infected. It’s not airborne.
StoneyCurtisll October 25th, 2014 at 9:38 pm
And both nurses who were infected from caring for Duncan are now cured and Ebola free..;)
Yet the right wing wants to use Ebola as a fear based campaign weapon..
“cause Obama and Liberals want us all to get Ebola so we will be a third world nation”..actual statement from Laura Ingraham.
tiredoftea October 25th, 2014 at 8:53 pm
Nothing to forget here in the fact based world.
Carla Akins October 25th, 2014 at 9:28 pm
No, the “Obama policy” did not. The only ones falling secondary sick are those health officials working directly with a very ill patient. ANd in both those cases the hospital choose to leave open skin with potential cuts and scrapes while providing nursing. This was a hospital choice, not the governments.
whatthe46 October 25th, 2014 at 9:47 pm
for crying out loud. you people, breathe, sh’t, piss, sleep, eat stupid all damn day long.
allison1050 October 26th, 2014 at 5:29 am
You said that well and thanks.
causeican October 25th, 2014 at 10:23 pm
You mean the free market can’t handle Ebola?
rg9rts October 26th, 2014 at 4:25 am
The free market can’t handle GMO labeling
greenfloyd October 27th, 2014 at 4:59 am
I think that’s a really good question. Eventually, it probably will and could bring more efficiency and transparency. Of course that requires rigorous government oversight based on sound public health protocols and laws. Like, for example, mandatory paid confinement days, prohibition on firing someone for getting infected, bio-hazard pay, and clear conditions for health care workers’ rights and responsibilities, including close 3rd party monitoring if exposed.
As a nation already committed to sending thousands of “troops” to Ebola “hot zones,” we have a steep learning-curve ahead!
fahvel October 26th, 2014 at 4:00 am
stooopit, stupid, idiot, wow and just plain dumb.
rg9rts October 26th, 2014 at 4:24 am
I had a bunch of other adjectives in mind ….but Carla wouldn’t like them
allison1050 October 26th, 2014 at 5:28 am
And we know you can’t explain that 1…Bengazzzziiii! ;o)
Guy Lauten October 25th, 2014 at 8:51 pm
A health professional is being prevented from doing their job by capricious, unfounded, and just plain stupid actions by the governors. Presumably she would be fairly well compensated for her time during the 3-week period the governors-cum-epidemiologists want to keep her in isolation. Does the phrase “You’ll be hearing from my attorney” sound familiar? I have a feeling the people at the sharp end of the stick on this one are going to hear it a lot.
StoneyCurtisll October 25th, 2014 at 8:52 pm
Excellent comment.
tiredoftea October 25th, 2014 at 8:55 pm
Presumably, Christie won’t be paying her and certainly won’t be helping her get paid.
tracey marie October 25th, 2014 at 9:38 pm
she might not have ebola now, but in a week she might
rg9rts October 26th, 2014 at 4:23 am
You know LOL
ChrisVosburg October 26th, 2014 at 12:39 pm
Strictly speaking, that’s true of every single person on the planet.
Kidding aside, I’ll grant you that she’s more at risk than most, though, which would necessitate self-monitoring. Even if for nothing more than concern for her own safety, let alone others, I’m satisfied that she is well aware of this and capable of conducting periodic self-checks.
Guy Lauten October 26th, 2014 at 12:47 pm
http://online.wsj.com/articles/nurse-quarantined-for-ebola-in-new-jersey-criticizes-treatment-1414238993
Gindy51 October 26th, 2014 at 11:13 am
Plus this stupidity is going to make a lot of folks who would otherwise volunteer to help out in Africa think double about going. Who would risk their life over in Africa only to come home healthy and be stuck in “prison” for 21 days. Read where they have her and it sounds like one of those tent prisons in Arizona.
StoneyCurtisll October 25th, 2014 at 8:54 pm
This is the type of BS that happens when we allow politics to supersede medicine and science.
tiredoftea October 25th, 2014 at 8:55 pm
Welcome to earth.
Carla Akins October 25th, 2014 at 9:24 pm
You mean the theocratic party?
StoneyCurtisll October 25th, 2014 at 9:27 pm
Indeed..
StoneyCurtisll October 25th, 2014 at 9:29 pm
Is there some way we can quarantine ignorance?
Carla Akins October 25th, 2014 at 9:30 pm
In our dreams
Larry Schmitt October 25th, 2014 at 9:30 pm
We already have, it’s mostly in congress.
Carla Akins October 25th, 2014 at 9:34 pm
baddumbum
StoneyCurtisll October 25th, 2014 at 9:42 pm
Now we have to put everyone congress has come in contact with on “lock down”..;)
Lets start with the lobbyist!~!
and the NRA.
fahvel October 26th, 2014 at 3:58 am
no! it has a very loud voice and jowls that make a bull dog jealous.
rg9rts October 26th, 2014 at 4:22 am
Gather the open carry bunch and surround the RNC convention
StoneyCurtisll October 26th, 2014 at 2:53 pm
With pitch forks and torches~!
To the castle~!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLvGnro4Cgw
rg9rts October 27th, 2014 at 3:37 am
We ride
Kick Frenzy October 25th, 2014 at 10:42 pm
Honestly, this didn’t really bother me.
Sure, they may not be medical professionals, but knowing that people can be carrying the virus and then not show it until days after returning makes me think it’s not such a horrible idea.
Sure, it’d be nice to be able to just get back to whatever you wanted to get back to, but as a nation, we have a chance to prevent a major outbreak that could easily get out of control without some sort of prevention in place.
It sure is a lot more effective than banning travel altogether.
But, I’m open to being proved wrong in my assumption that the good outweighs the bad in this situation.
greenfloyd October 25th, 2014 at 11:08 pm
While complete isolation is probably not necessary, it seems clear to me these high-risk individuals do need to be under constant monitoring during the incubation period. I’d suggest hourly temp checks and a lab work-up at least once every 24 hours. Hospital confinement?
rg9rts October 26th, 2014 at 4:21 am
County lockup?
Anomaly 100 October 26th, 2014 at 7:03 am
FEMA camps!
rg9rts October 26th, 2014 at 8:35 am
Go to the Gothamist and see what she says about christies idiots that “took care” of her…
Anomaly 100 October 26th, 2014 at 9:34 am
I read something about it yesterday but I’ll check that out, too.
rg9rts October 26th, 2014 at 9:53 am
You say you go back to the beginning of the tea party>>Back to the JBS days???
Anomaly 100 October 26th, 2014 at 10:26 am
I do? i’ve never been a tea partier, always a liberal.
rg9rts October 26th, 2014 at 12:03 pm
You bio?
Anomaly 100 October 26th, 2014 at 1:22 pm
What does that even mean? “You bio”
rg9rts October 26th, 2014 at 2:19 pm
Your bio on your avitar…
Laughing at the teaparty since its inception…implies to me that you have been around a long time and may remember the JBS also founded by Koch the father. It later devolved into the teabaggers we all know and love
Anomaly 100 October 26th, 2014 at 5:15 pm
Oh, OK. Got it. Yeah, I’ve been around for elevnty hundred years.
rg9rts October 27th, 2014 at 3:35 am
I got it too a / to show you’ve been there …I’m slow sometimes
rg9rts October 26th, 2014 at 12:03 pm
Never said you were but the JBS goes way back
greenfloyd October 26th, 2014 at 10:02 am
I’m suggesting hospital, not a jail. Or is that what you are suggesting?
rg9rts October 26th, 2014 at 10:23 am
OMG some much good sarcasm gone to waste again
greenfloyd October 26th, 2014 at 10:58 pm
Ouch! I guess I’m /s impaired. 🙂
allison1050 October 26th, 2014 at 5:19 am
You never worked anywhere i medical did ya…your ignorance is amazing.
Kick Frenzy October 26th, 2014 at 2:49 pm
No, I didn’t.
Which is why I added that I was open to being proved wrong.
Unfortunately, “you’re ignorant” doesn’t really present a great case for why I’m wrong.
All your comment does is make you look like a douchebag.
allison1050 October 26th, 2014 at 5:35 pm
Happy to know that you can admit that you never worked in medical unlike myself who did work in nursing. You really should change the dial/channel of whatever it is your listening to KeeKee and try listening to the doctors who’ve been interviewed. Do you have any idea how easy it is for you to get a common cold or flu…you must not so all I can suggest is that you try washing your hands regularly and don’t ball up your tissue and reuse them again after washing your hands. You’ll get a cold or flu a long time before you’ll get ebola. Finally KeeKee, you show what a low class uneducated creature you are when you’re only able to resort to name calling like a 7 y/o. Next time you stay in a hospital you might have me as your caregiver on my unit or in Triage. ;o))
Kick Frenzy October 26th, 2014 at 10:14 pm
You didn’t prove anything, all you did was suggest that I’m under-educated and also ignorant as a part of that.
Do you have any idea how likely it is to die from a cold or the flu?
And how about your chances if you contract Ebola?
Kind of like comparing falling down the stairs and falling out a 4th story window.
And I didn’t call you any names… I suggested that what you wrote in your reply made you “look like” a douchebag.
I didn’t say you are one, just how your comment came across.
And don’t worry “dear”, I’m going to go read what Chris wrote right now.
allison1050 October 27th, 2014 at 3:17 am
Darling, it’s not a “debate” it’s a fact and reading is always a good thing you can really learn a lot.
greenfloyd October 27th, 2014 at 4:04 am
Cat fight!http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4wrL9z3Kvww
allison1050 October 27th, 2014 at 5:44 pm
lol
Kick Frenzy October 27th, 2014 at 1:24 pm
Are you sure you’ve worked in the medical field?
You seem to be under the impression that the flu is as deadly as Ebola and that’s something even the most basic of us should be able to recognize and being completely untrue.
If I get the flu, the most likely outcome is that I feel crappy for a couple days then I’m all better.
If I get Ebola, I can expect a 50/50 chance of making it out alive.
I’m not saying the flu isn’t widespread or that it’s hard to catch… I’m saying the fatality rate from the flu is extremely lower than the mortality rate from Ebola.
allison1050 October 27th, 2014 at 5:43 pm
Bad news KeeKee, Google flu and see how many people die every year from the flu…it’s actually frightening. Then look up how many people in the USA die every year from the flu and then get back to me. You statically have more chance of dying from the flu than you ever getting Ebola..you’ve already stated that you’ve never worked anywhere in medicine so therefore it’s slim to none that you’ll come in contact with body fluids.
Kick Frenzy October 27th, 2014 at 6:57 pm
Wow, you’re so bent on making fun of me you don’t even realize you’re missing the point.
I never said Ebola was easier to catch or that it was even likely at all… what I said was that the mortality rate of Ebola is significantly more dangerous than that of catching the flu.
Please make sure you have a decent point before replying again… this is becoming tiring.
allison1050 October 27th, 2014 at 7:41 pm
You continue to deliberately misunderstand KeeKee, #1 I’m not making fun of you when I continue to suggest that you change the dial/channel of whatever it is you’re listening to. When I tell you to try using Google and even tell you what to ask how do you get “making fun” of you out of that? For the last time KeeKee look up using Google or even Wikipedia to ask your questions if you really want to know how many people die every year from flu versus Ebola. I handled body fluids every damned shift I worked in nursing homes, medical rehabs and hospitals. I’ve picked up crawling babies of of hospital room floors and handed back to their mothers and told them that hospitals are filthy places because they are. Why do you think ER’s are freezing cold…it’s the 1st line of defense in killing bacteria. Everyone who’s ever worked in medical can tell you about all of the different illness’ that are possible to get and don’t.
Kick Frenzy October 28th, 2014 at 1:03 am
Wow.
When you use words like “darling” and “dear” in a patronizing manner, when you use a derogatory version of my name (“KeeKee”), when you call me ignorant and uneducated, as well as a “low class uneducated creature”… those are all moments when you are making fun of me and treating me as if I’m a child or an idiot.
But that’s not my main concern, I don’t really care if you call me names or question my education.
What I’m pointing out is that if I contracted Ebola, I would be in much more acute danger of dying than if I contracted the flu.
Once again, I’m not referring to likelihood… that much is obvious, even if you don’t think I recognize it.
Let me give you an example…
The case fatality rate of A(H1N1) is 0.45%
The case fatality rate of Ebola is up to 90%
Now, keeping in mind that we have a vaccine for the flu, which one would you rather take your chances with?
Do you get my point now?
ChrisVosburg October 26th, 2014 at 12:31 pm
Unfortunately, forced quarantine on return would serve mainly to discourage medical professionals from volunteering to combat Ebola in West Africa, which I’ll remind you is where the real battle needs to be fought, not in fricking Joisey.
I’m especially disheartened by Chris Christie’s backhanded smear of these volunteer heroes by implying that they can’t be trusted to self-monitor upon return. They obviously would be first to acknowledge that they are at risk, and for their own safety as well as others, would do so without hesitation.
Kick Frenzy October 26th, 2014 at 3:16 pm
I also worried about it discouraging people from going to combat Ebola overseas.
Although, while the battle needs to be fought on a distant battlefield, it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t man the walls back at home.
I’m especially disheartened by Chris Christie in general (I live in NJ)…
…but he (and Cuomo) have a point.
While I think doctors can generally be trusted to report health isues of their own, there seems to be a lack of making sure they’re Ebola-free before travelling about the city.
For instance, Craig Spencer, the doctor who traveled on two subway lines and a taxi and also went bowling… then shortly after developed symptoms and had to be hospitalized after he was confirmed to have Ebola.
Fortunately, so far it seems he wasn’t contagious while he did these things, so nobody else got infected.
But what if it’s a different doctor who feels fine, but then develops symptoms while on a long flight or trip on a train?
That’s the type of thing that could lead to a widespread epidemic instead of a small controlled issue.
So, yes, quarantine may suck… but a country wide epidemic would be immeasurably worse.
ChrisVosburg October 26th, 2014 at 5:04 pm
You’re way overstating likelihood of contagion through casual contact as well as likelihood of contagion at initial onset of symptoms.
So a few basic facts need to be restated.
Ebola cannot be transmitted until after fever and other initial symptoms (headache, soreness, weakness) have presented. In fact, blood tests for Ebola will be negative before presentation of initial symptoms, and for up to three days after, which sort of gives you an idea of how contagious the patient is at this point. Thus, a patient with these initial symptoms is nowhere near as contagious as he’s going to be in the acute phase of the infection, as the virus really digs in and the patient starts in with the puking and diarrhea.
Ebola is transmitted in direct mutual bodily fluid contact, such as a carrier spitting in your eye or puking in your face, hitting one or more orifices. It’s gotta be up close and personal, which is why medical professionals in direct contact with Ebola victims are so much more likely to catch, despite the protective gear. Inserting tubes, drawing blood, swabbing sores, you get the idea.
So your hypothetical Doctor on a plane or train has a vanshingly small chance of infecting other passengers for two reasons: first, the early stage of the infection, and second, the impossibility of airborne transmission.
Craig Spencer was not experiencing any of these initial symptoms while tubing around and bowling, so again, had a vanishingly small chance of having infected others while doing so. He woke up next morning with a fever and checked in for treatment, and I promise you, he couldn’t get there fast enough. Self-preservation is an extraordinarily strong motivator, is it not?
Kick Frenzy October 26th, 2014 at 10:22 pm
It certainly is!
And yes, you’re right.
I’m aware of all of the conditions you listed and described.
It’s part of the reason why my example was for a long flight or train ride… giving time for a low-grade fever to progress and for the person to possibly become infectious.
I know it’s extremely unlikely and that it requires contact with bodily fluids (and not just brushing against someones sheen of sweat on a hot day).
However, the point I’m trying to make is that there must be care taken for the possibility existing that someone could conceivably infect someone else.
No matter how unlikely it is, it’s not impossible.
With a disease as potent as Ebola, it seems we should be taking extra precautions to prevent an outbreak where we can.
I’ll admit that a 21 day quarantine seems excessive.
It’s also true that it could dissuade doctors and nurses from traveling to where they’re needed the most.
I’m just not sure if it’s such a bad idea to have some sort of quarantine for those returning from those areas, now that we know people have come back with Ebola who weren’t showing symptoms (nor contagious) when they returned, yet developed it in the following days.
On the bright side, at least there should be vaccines out by early to mid 2015.
It’s not soon enough, but at least it’s happening.
HessenBalkan October 26th, 2014 at 3:42 am
I think they are just trying to scare the crap out of the american people. This is what my daughter sent me today 🙂
http://9gag.tv/p/a9x2ne/the-difference-between-us-vs-uk-ebola-news-coverage?ref=fbl9
rg9rts October 26th, 2014 at 4:21 am
tag
HessenBalkan October 26th, 2014 at 12:53 pm
lol
rg9rts October 26th, 2014 at 4:20 am
Lets give equal billing to Andy(we’ll frack after the election) Cuomo.
allison1050 October 26th, 2014 at 5:17 am
Cuomo and Christie are such little girls.
edmeyer_able October 26th, 2014 at 12:27 pm
christie “little”? not so much.
allison1050 October 26th, 2014 at 2:10 pm
lol! ;-))
ChrisVosburg October 26th, 2014 at 12:19 pm
Re the claim that the nurse “developed a fever,” this is disputed both by the nurse herself and the doctor initially treating her at Newark University Hospital.
Yes, a quickie forehead scanner used at the airport supposedly found a temperature of 101 degrees, but the nurse notes that she was flushed and angered after four hours of forced confinement and seemingly pointless questioning there, and that this was not an accurate measure of body temperature. She’s right about that.
Forehead scanners are quick and convenient, to be sure, but can be notoriously inaccurate. An honest-ta-gawd oral thermometer is still the most accurate measuring device for this, and sure enough, at Newark, such an oral device was used and found her temp to be a more normal 98 or so.
This is extremely important: The accuracy of medical devices should be more of a consideration than just convenience and speed.
edmeyer_able October 26th, 2014 at 12:26 pm
An interesting question was just posed on CNN, do we now quarantine the care givers taking care of the doctor who has ebola?
Patti October 26th, 2014 at 8:35 pm
I think Cuomo and the tea-bag gas bag should run for President on the same ticket. That way we can tell both of them to stuff it at the same time.
LauraKY October 27th, 2014 at 8:54 am
She has NO fever. She never had a fever.