Ebola in US: Obama criticises anti-Ebola measures in the US

US President Barack Obama criticised the new anti-Ebola measures adopted in three US states for the lack of clarity and negative consequences they might have on the Ebola outbreak in Africa. New

By: Editorial Team | | Published: October 27, 2014 7:59 pm

Tags: Barack Obama Ebola in US Ebola infection In the news

Use protective gear: For healthcare workers and medical staff, it is absolutely mandatory to use protective gear including gloves, special masks and a body suit to prevent exposure to the virus. Even healthy individuals living in affected West African countries should use gloves and mask to prevent spread of the disease.

US President Barack Obama criticised the new anti-Ebola measures adopted in three US states for the lack of clarity and negative consequences they might have on the Ebola outbreak in Africa. New York, New Jersey and Illinois announced that they would quarantine air travelers having contact with Ebola-affected patients in West Africa. (Read: Mandatory Ebola quarantine guidelines for health workers changed)

The Obama administration said Sunday in a statement that the imposition of ‘certain measures’ could unnecessarily dissuade medical personnel from volunteering in the fight against Ebola in West Africa. The first person to be affected by the new protocol, Kaci Hickox, told the CNN news channel that her unnecessary isolation was a violation of human rights and was unacceptable. Hickox, a nurse who returned to the US after a stint with Doctors Without Borders in Sierra Leone, was isolated even after testing negative for the Ebola virus. (Read: 8 tips to prevent Ebola infection)

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and his New York counterpart, Andrew Cuomo, were widely criticised for the move, including by the federal authorities. ‘The best way to protect us is to stop the epidemic in Africa, and we need those healthcare workers, so we do not want to put them in a position where it makes it very, very uncomfortable for them to even volunteer to go,’ said Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. (Read: 10 reasons that make the Ebola virus deadly for humans)

He reiterated his support for the Obama administration’s position on tackling Ebola in West Africa by helping people there as the best measure to fight the epidemic. Doctors Without Borders, in a statement, lamented the lack of clarity of the new state measures and underlined the necessity of ensuring proper treatment and the rights of health personnel returning from Africa. In a related development, Craig Spencer, the first person diagnosed with Ebola in New York and whose case provoked the strong reaction from the authorities, was reported to be in serious, but stable, condition. According to medical sources, Spencer is in the second stage of the disease and is being treated with the blood of an Ebola survivor.

What is the Ebola incubation period?

The Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a serious clinical condition caused by a virus. Also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, the virus spreads through close contact with the body fluids of an infected person. Ebola is considered to be a clinical emergency all over the world and hence it is important to be aware of its symptoms and incubation period to prevent health issues.

The incubation period of the Ebola virus is 2 – 21 days which means that a person infected with the virus takes around 2 to 21 days to show symptoms of this disease. Although in most cases the symptoms appeared after 8-10 days after being infected with the virus. It is in this period of incubation that the virus attacks the immune system. Read more about What is the Ebola incubation period?

With inputs from PTI

Photo source: Getty images

Published : October 27, 2014 7:59 pm

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