Top Doc says more will be infected in Dallas

Top doc: 'Several people were exposed,' more will be infected by Dallas Ebola case



By Paul Bedard | October 1, 2014 | 9:36 am





Topics: Health Washington Secrets Texas Health Care CDC Dallas Ebola



Photo - Marie Nyan, whose mother died of Ebola, carries her 2-year-old son, Nathaniel Edward, to an ambulance after showing signs of the virus in the Liberian village of Freeman Reserve on Tuesday. AP Photo
Marie Nyan, whose mother died of Ebola, carries her 2-year-old son, Nathaniel Edward, to an...

Photo - A map showing global health issues under the surveillance at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is seen in the agency's Emergency Operations Center, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2014, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
A map showing global health issues under the surveillance at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control...

A former Food and Drug Administration chief scientist and top infectious disease specialist said that several people were exposed to the Ebola virus by the unidentified patient in Dallas, America’s first case, and it’s likely that many more will be infected.

Dr. Jesse L. Goodman, now a professor of medicine at Georgetown University Medical Center, said while the nation shouldn’t panic, it’s best to prepare for the worst.

“It is quite appropriate to be concerned on many fronts,” he said in a statement provided to Secrets. “First, it is a tragedy for the patient and family and, as well, a stress to contacts, health care workers and the community at large. Second, it appears several people were exposed before the individual was placed in isolation, and it is quite possible that one or more of his contacts will be infected,” he added.

What’s more, he conceded that it was “only a matter of time” that the swift-killing African virus arrived in the U.S.

“If anyone did not agree before, bringing the epidemic in Africa under control is an absolute emergency and requires a massive effort and global commitment now long overdue. This is a matter not just of preventing death and suffering in Africa, but, as this case brings home to the U.S., of global safety and security,” he warned.

He also strongly suggested that the one case will not be the end.

“While there is an expectation that this case, and likely future ones, can be contained, it is important not to be overconfident and to continuously, now and in the future, reexamine both how the virus is behaving and also the public health and medical response to see what can potentially be improved,” he said.

Like others in the medical field, Goodman asked why it is that the Ebola case wasn’t detected earlier and he demanded that testing protocols be reevaluated.

“It is critical for hospitals and health care workers everywhere to be sure they are alert, obtain travel histories and, if there is any question at all it could be Ebola, contact CDC and, while sorting things out, act to isolate a sick patient returning from an epidemic area,” he said.

Georgetown’s medical staff has been on high alert for Ebola, as have other local hospitals. What’s more, Georgetown University has been closely following the case because it has close to ties to many of the impacted countries and has educators who have traveled to the region.

Nonetheless, Goodman suggested that travel now be limited to the area.

“If less people traveled, risks may be reduced, and active follow-up and education of travelers could also be facilitated.”
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner's "Washington Secrets" columnist, can be contacted at pbedard@washingtonexaminer.com.   




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OriginalHappyCamper wrote: The Doctor in the above post needs to be promoted to the head of the CDC. He is asking the right questions and making the right statements. Maybe that is why he is teaching instead of in the Government service.

Makes me think of CRS, DrPH

Jen147 wrote: I know not PC to "profile"... but Good Grief!!  One look at this guy & to hear him speak (I'm assuming he didn't talk like a Texan) and it just so happens that there's the worst ebola outbreak in history going on & no one thought to say have you traveled outside the US recently?   I'm assuming a lot I understand since they have not released his ethnicity.

They sure are holding back a lot of pertinent details (pertinent to the survivalists cause-not theirs of course) that we really have the right to know. It sure is funny -well not funny but peculiar that when it comes to the advancement of their causes, no details are spared. They don't want to help us come to the determination that they let us down and further that its going to happen again and again and again.

you are totally right.. ignorance is the big word that causes this much mess all over... but never worry..i really think that this ignorance will cost also lives of the health personell that doesnt understand how serios situations they might confront.....

if you watched the news conference yesterday, then you saw the local hospital folks bragging that they had just finished certification for handling ebola and were more than able to deal with it.

*smile*  Really?  Now that the whole story is out, what do you think of their performance on this one?

We all better prepare for an Ebola pandemic. Unless they seal off the borders of these affected countries it is only a matter of time. I'd like to scream this from the rooftops, but the people in charge really don't care to shut down the borders. Sound familiar?

The people in charge of WHO know full well that given enough time this will spread to other countries, so someone is pulling the strings to do this on purpose. There are 2 reasons for this, 1) population control 2) someone gets filthy rich off of the vaccine or BOTH!

Elver wrote: We all better prepare for an Ebola pandemic. Unless they seal off the borders of these affected countries it is only a matter of time. I'd like to scream this from the rooftops, but the people in charge really don't care to shut down the borders. Sound familiar? The people in charge of WHO know full well that given enough time this will spread to other countries, so someone is pulling the strings to do this on purpose. There are 2 reasons for this, 1) population control 2) someone gets filthy rich off of the vaccine or BOTH!

Elver, I am starting to think you are on to something here.