Two American healthcare workers, described as in 'grave condition and worsening' are being infected by the Ebola virus are on their way to Atlanta's Emory University Hospital for treatment. As WSBTV reports, the hospital has a separate isolation unit set up in partnership with the CDC to treat serious infectious diseases. CDC officials have called this "the biggest and most complex Ebola outbreak in history." Sentiment across social media appears rather biased towards the negative on bringing the patients back. As we warned last night, there are significant implications should Ebola come to America [3]. WE also note that while the CDC is not screening airline passengers, customs and border agents are on heightened alert for 'people with flu-like symptoms."
The hospital has a special isolation unit set up in collaboration with the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to treat patients with serious infectious diseases.
At least one of the two will be taken to a hospital at Emory University, near the headquarters of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, according to CNN.
A spokeswoman told Channel 2 Action News she did not know when the patients would arrive, but confirmed the patients are from west Africa. The Associated Press reported the patient is an American aid worker.
"It is physically separate from other patient areas and has unique equipment and infrastructure that provide an extraordinarily high level of clinical isolation," a spokesman said in a release.
Sources told CNN the two Americans being evacuated are Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol. Both are described as being in grave condition but are stable after their health worsened overnight. Both healthcare workers have been in Liberia with the faith-based charity Samaritan's Purse.
The hospital said doctors, nurses and staff are trained in procedures to handle this type of patient.
The hospital is only one of four such facilities in the country.
...
“This is the biggest and most complex Ebola outbreak in history. Far too many lives have been lost already,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “It will take many months, and it won’t be easy, but Ebola can be stopped. We know what needs to be done. CDC is surging our response, sending 50 additional disease control experts to the region in the next 30 days.”
Protection...
Airline officials were told to notify the CDC before ill passengers board a plane. The CDC will then investigate ill passengers and quarantine them if necessary.
Channel 2's Dave Huddleston spoke with officials at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport who said customs and border protection agents are on heightened alert to watch for people with flu like symptoms.
At this time, the CDC will not screen passengers traveling from the affected countries, but will provide guidance to airlines for managing ill passengers and crew for disinfecting the aircraft.
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Donald Trump has a view...
Stop the EBOLA patients from entering the U.S. Treat them, at the highest level, over there. THE UNITED STATES HAS ENOUGH PROBLEMS!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 1, 2014 [5]
