Others have been treated and treated successfully, such as Dr Kent Brantly [click]
and
Freelance 'Vice' cameraman, Ashoka Mukpo [click]
Whilst we are all pleased for those who have received treatment and are doing well.. it highlights further the case of Thomas Duncan
Much has already been written about this, so please feel free to check articles in
the Daily Mail [click]
The Guardian [click]
Apparently, Thomas Duncan had informed nurses that he had travelled from Liberia. Early reports implied that he had kept it a secret.
But he hadn't.
The question now is whether the fact that Duncan was a black man contributed to the poor response that he received. [click]
42 yr old Thomas Eric Duncan travelled to America in hope of a new life. Having survived that terrible 'un'civil war in Liberia, he had reunited with his long lost love, and mother of his child.. and they were due to marry.
Ordinarily.. it would have made for a wonderful love story
But it was not to be. Duncan died within days
To be black with Ebola in America [click]
RIP Thomas Duncan, our sympathies and condolences are with his family and friends
I felt very sad when I heard that Thomas Duncan had died from the ebola that he contracted, Dawna. And my heart goes out to his family and friends. They also have gone through a difficult time, dealing not just with his death, but with being isolated/quarantined as well. I think in America there was a complacency that it could never happen here and an arrogance that our health system was prepared to deal with ebola. When it dealt with knowing someone was arriving with ebola, the system was able to handle it, but the very first time someone just walked in off the street, there was a breakdown. Now we have a nurse sick in Dallas. The unthinkable is happening, one by one. I hope that vaccine production will ramp up more quickly, but I'm not holding my breath.
ReplyDeleteHis loss must be quite devastating or them, and frightening for them now also esp those under quarantine. It's true what you say , knowing a patient with Ebola was coming the system coped, but a patient walking in off the street... and it didn't go so well. Yes I heard about the nurse.. and apparently she was wearing the protective gear?.. wow.. this is seriously contagious!. I honestly hope she will be okay.
DeleteThe CDC claimed America was prepared to deal with Ebola, but how many hospitals have the complete anti-contagion "uniforms" (for lack of a better word) on hand? How many hospitals have the space to quarantine the sick and allow for the decontamination of healthcare workers? When I worked in a nursing home, we had two or three "isolation" rooms. When those rooms were full and we had a patient with MRSA, the person was in his regular room, with the barrels for the contaminated laundry and food containers set up as a barrier of sorts. It was ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
In the UK they say they're ready. Say they expect we may see cases in London. It is my hope they are truly ready - ready.. and not just rhetoric ready. I cant imagine how difficult it must be for those ( as you've experienced) working in the health care profession! but I feel they often have to make good.. and make do with less and less. Which yes.. is ridiculous.
ReplyDelete