A truly frightening thought experiment about Ebola

[RDKirk]

What you are saying and what RDKirk mentioned is not accurate, you see fatigue is also a symptom of Ebola...

Fatigue is also a symptom of being overseas in a Third World country working long hours, flying to the US, and then jogging three miles.

 

[Queller]

Actually, he waited two days before deciding to seek medical attention. He became achy and feverish on Tuesday. He didn't go to the hospital until his fever spiked at 103. He'd been feeling badly for at least 48 hours, during which time he went on his little errand-running jaunts and recreational outings.

Could you at least get the facts straight from the story you posted?

He felt fatigued Wednesday night, had a fever of 100.3 (not 103) on Thursday morning and by Thursday night he had been diagnosed and was receiving treatment. That is barely 24 hours, not 48.

This doc was treating Ebola in West Africa. It should have been his first thought when he started feeling ill.

According to the story you posted, that was his first thought as soon as he felt ill.

Good point. Given that close contact, I am having a hard time imagining why Spencer wouldn't immediately think "Ebola" when he got sick earlier in the week.

Maybe because he wasn't sick earlier in the week? Here it is, straight from your story:
"According to a rough timeline provided by city officials, Spencer felt fatigue Wednesday and when he felt worse Thursday he and his fiancee made a joint call to authorities to detail his symptoms and his travels."

Timeline:

Wednesday night: Fatigue
Thursday morning: Fever of 100.3 and diarrhea
Thursday night: Diagnosed with Ebola and treatment in progress

 

[Queller]

Pfft! If what you say were true,t he question wouldn't be about a flu shot, it would be "Do you have any flu-like symptoms?"

Actually, his description is perfectly accurate and reasonable.

This is a politically correct screening process designed not to "offend" anyone by "accusing them" of having Ebola!

Too bad you have nothing to support this other than your opinion.

 

[Queller]

We aren't talking about hospitals -- or at least, I wasn't.

Then why did you give a list of questions being asked at a hospital and claim they were questions being asked by CBP personnel?

I'm talking about screenings of international passengers coming into the U.S.And actually, I posted those myself a few days ago -- and pointed out how inadequate they are, seemingly avoiding the direct questions necessary and instead engaging in a hyperbolic politically correct exercise.

Give us an example of a question you think CBP airport screeners (if there are any such screeners) should be asking?

Flu shots have nothing to do with Ebola, and asking if the incoming passenger has had his/her flu shot is just plain stupid and pointless.

Ebola's initial symptoms are almost exactly like those of the flu. That is why asking about receiving a flu shot is a screening question.

But feel free to pontificate further for those of us poor stupid peasants who don't know any better.

You said it, not me.

 

[ThisBrotherOfHis]

Then why did you give a list of questions being asked at a hospital and claim they were questions being asked by CBP personnel?

I didn't. Those are questions CBP officers are expected to ask when an international passenger arriving from west Africa in the U.S. displays a fever as indicated by the infrared skin temperature reader. Don't have a clue where you got the idea they were being asked in a hospital.

Give us an example of a question you think CBP airport screeners (if there are any such screeners) should be asking?

You've seen my bullet-pointed questions and mistaken them for questions asked at a hospital. Can't help your confusion, but I've already supplied the questions you wish illustrated.

Ebola's initial symptoms are almost exactly like those of the flu. That is why asking about receiving a flu shot is a screening question.

Wrong answers. But thanks for trying. As I said, asking about flu-like symptoms would be the correct question, not some drivel about flu shots.

You said it, not me.

Yes I did, didn't I? And you responed as expected.

 

[Queller]

I didn't. Those are questions CBP officers are expected to ask when an international passenger arriving from west Africa in the U.S. displays a fever as indicated by the infrared skin temperature reader.

Then perhaps when asked where you got the questions, you shouldn't link to a news story which lists those questions word for word but states they are from a hospital in Macon, Georgia.

The source for those questions is here. Sorry. I forgot to post the link the last time.

That link goes to a story about those questions being asked at a hospital, not by CBP officers. Did you even bother to read the story to which you linked?

Don't have a clue where you got the idea they were being asked in a hospital.

From the story you linked to here;

The source for those questions is here. Sorry. I forgot to post the link the last time.

That's where I got the idea.

You've seen my bullet-pointed questions and mistaken them for questions asked at a hospital. Can't help your confusion, but I've already supplied the questions you wish illustrated.

No, you linked to a story showing those questions being asked at a hospital. Here is your post where you linked to the story;

The source for those questions is here. Sorry. I forgot to post the link the last time.

So I'm still waiting for a link showing those questions in use by CBP officers. Also, now I want to see the story that shows CBP officers are scanning people with "infrared skin temperature reader" as you claimed above.

Wrong answers. But thanks for trying. As I said, asking about flu-like symptoms would be the correct question, not some drivel about flu shots.

No, as the story you linked to shows, those questions are asked of people who present at Medical Center-Navicent Health in Macon, Georgia with flu-like symptoms. When someone presents with flu-like symptoms, asking if they have had a flu shot is a good question to use to find out if those flu-like symptoms could be caused by the flu or possibly something more dangerous such as, I don't know, maybe ... Ebola?

Yes I did, didn't I? And you responed as expected.

By agreeing with your own characterization of yourself as a "poor stupid peasant who do[es]n't know any better"?

Let's keep in mind that this is the story to which you originally linked;

Doctors asking questions to screen for Ebola

It contains your "CBP Screener questions" word-for-word.

 

[GarfieldJL]

Fatigue is also a symptom of being overseas in a Third World country working long hours, flying to the US, and then jogging three miles.

While that is true, you missed my point, he could have been contagious before he had the 103 degree temp.

 

[RDKirk]

While that is true, you missed my point, he could have been contagious before he had the 103 degree temp.

The point I was responding to was this one:

Actually, he waited two days before deciding to seek medical attention. He became achy and feverish on Tuesday. He didn't go to the hospital until his fever spiked at 103. He'd been feeling badly for at least 48 hours, during which time he went on his little errand-running jaunts and recreational outings.This doc was treating Ebola in West Africa. It should have been his first thought when he started feeling ill.Good point. Given that close contact, I am having a hard time imagining why Spencer wouldn't immediately think "Ebola" when he got sick earlier in the week.

The idea that he should necessarily have concluded that an immediately post-mission malaise should have been anything more than an immediate post-mission malaise.

When the doctor did seek attention, it was actually at the first symptom of something that actually suggested any kind of infection. He did, in fact, seek medical attention at the first actual sign of what most people would have thought "might be a bug" and would have taken Nyquil or Cold-Eeze.

 

[mickyd1961]

 

[Joykins]

You know, what is really kind of chilling is what's going on in Mali right now, and not so very dissimilar from the OP. You don't see adults with Ebola walking around; they're too sick. But you can drag a sick, nosebleeding baby over 1000 miles in packed buses.

 

[mickyd1961]

Interesting article.
http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/201...lopment-testing-airborne-ebola-robert-wenzel/