General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDammit! If there is no chance of contagion why are they contacting passengers for the Dallas flight
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2776786/U-S-airlines-contact-government-Ebola-concerns.htmlUnited Airlines scrambles to alert HUNDREDS of passengers who came in contract with Ebola patient as it is revealed he entered U.S. at Washington Dulles before flying to Dallas
AverageJoe90
(10,745 posts)Although, to be honest, this certainly isn't a bad idea, given the problems that have developed in West Africa.
Cali_Democrat
(30,439 posts)It's obviously contagious.
boomer55
(592 posts)there is zero chance that the patient infected anyone else on the flight, said Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, director of the disease centers. Ebola is spread only by direct contact with body fluids from someone who is ill.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/01/health/airline-passenger-with-ebola-is-under-treatment-in-dallas.html?_r=0
Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)Somehow, some way.
"Zero chance" is layman's terms. There is no such thing as the number zero in science. There is always something. And when that something is a chance, even a very small one, of a horrible hemorrhagic fever being contracted by people through airline contact, maybe it's good to take precautions.
LeftyMom
(49,212 posts)Somebody who used the can at the back of the plane after him would be at some theoretical risk, for example. Low risk since apparently he wasn't showing any symptoms yet.
But it's a serious disease so you check and hopefully you stop it there. That's how Nigeria stopped it: a visitor had it. They did basic public health stuff, found his contacts and monitored them. We're at least as good at this as Nigeria.
This is basic public health stuff that gets done all the time for TB, STIs, etc.
LostInAnomie
(14,428 posts)Heard it on NPR.
boomer55
(592 posts)say one thing with absolute certainty and then later take actions that directly contradict what was said.
The authorities said with absolute certainty over and over again that there was ZERO chance, NO chance. NONE! NADA! no chance the passengers on the plane were exposed. period end of story.
ProdigalJunkMail
(12,017 posts)you can't say there is zero chance to the public and then go back and behave as if there is NOT zero chance. proves you are lying or are stupid or potentially both.
sP
uppityperson
(115,677 posts)Funny how they say mo alerts over the first flight or the hours he spent in his layover airport.
I'd like to see a reputable source. I checked UA website and nothing there. Nothing on news about this either.
Fridays Child
(23,998 posts)But could the virus mutate or evolve such that this would no longer hold true?
grahamhgreen
(15,741 posts)Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)transmitted by casual contact?
That sort of thinking caused much suffering and injustice in the 80's and 90's. 'Who knows if what they say is true, of course it can mutate, let's fire our gay employees now!'
Just know that the fire you are playing with burns human flesh.
Knowledge = Life
cali
(114,904 posts)boomer55
(592 posts)that there is zero chance of exposure?
cali
(114,904 posts)alcibiades_mystery
(36,437 posts)I want to repost as a compendium next week or so.
Thanks!
FSogol
(45,488 posts)ALBliberal
(2,342 posts)I am curious what sort of contact he had with an ebola victim and whether it's been traced back.
cali
(114,904 posts)He helped take a pregnant ebola victim to the hospital in a taxi and then returned with her when the hospital didn't have room for her, and helped carry her back into her home.
Javaman
(62,530 posts)or would you rather leave it chance?
tanyev
(42,559 posts)a proactive strategy against possible lawsuits, either legitimate or bogus.
magical thyme
(14,881 posts)They don't care if they leave people panicking. They care about 1. legal protection and 2. looking like they care.
Also, his temperature would have been checked leaving Liberia, but not necessarily checked arriving in Brussels, leaving Brussels, arriving in DC, leaving DC or arriving in Dallas.
That bothers me. They should be questioned and temps taken at both ends.