[important]UPDATE 1 PM CDT WEDNESDAY: Since I wrote this it’s been reported that 5 school-aged children in Texas may have been exposed to Ebola by the first patient diagnosed with the virus in the United States. The children had contact with the patient and are being monitored at home, Texas Gov. Rick Perry said today in a press conference. “Let me assure you, these children have been identified and are being monitored.”[/important]
[warning]UPDATE 2 PM CDT WEDNESDAY: The five children did attend school after the exposure, according to Dallas Independent School District superintendent Mike Miles, though he said none have shown any symptoms yet and thus shouldn’t be contagious. Miles listed these four schools they attended. Again, I urge parents to remain calm and not to overreact.
- Conrad High School
- Dan D. Rogers Elementary
- Hotchkiss Elementary School
- Tasby Middle School[/warning]
As you know by now, the first case of Ebola in the USA was confirmed by the CDC in a patient right here in Dallas, Texas. While it’s likely unnerving to any Dallas resident, it’s especially scary to us parents.
I’m confident the Dallas Ebola outbreak will be rapidly contained. That said, as rational as we may like to think we are, this is scary stuff. It was hard for many Dallas parent to send their kids to school today.
I pray no children were exposed to the man who contracted Ebola in Liberia and brought it here to North Texas. Per the CDC’s press conference, most people exposed will be identified and closely monitored.
I assume those who were exposed will not be allowed in public places such as classrooms until the 21 day incubation period has passed? But you know what they say about “assuming”, right?
It’s the uncertainty about all of this that’s most disconcerting. I strongly recommend the CDC increase their transparency concerning all of the steps they are taking to stop this contagion.
Fear can cause people to make bad choices. The best antidote for fear, especially unfounded fear, is is knowledge. As a dad, I want to know everything possible in order to protect my family.
As I understand it Ebola doesn’t become communicable until a person is symptomatic (fever, headache, body aches…) and requires direct contact with bodily fluids (vomit, blood…) to catch it?
That’s the good news; it’s not as easy to catch as the flu or a cold. Dallas is a big city. Do we know if those exposed live in a relatively confined area of the city? Were school children exposed?
Personally I don’t need or want to see it 24/7 on the news, as I’m sure it will be via some cable news networks. It blows this out of perspective. CDC: please do keep updating www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola, okay?
3 comments
There is way too much fear mongering going on right now. As long as you or your children don’t swap spit with someone infected, get blood on them from someone infected, or other bodily fluids on them then they are fine. And you are correct, you can’t pass it on until AFTER signs start showing of being infected so if this guy came into contact with this kids before he was showing signs, they are fine, even if he spit on them or did something strange like that.
Author
Hi Scott. Thanks for being the voice of reason on this. I agree this is being blown out of proportion by the cable news. If it gets the news more viewers they make more money. Remember how long CNN reported about that Malaysian airplane? That said, I hope the CDC and the Texas Health Department let us know which schools (per my update above just now) those 5 exposed kids attended.
Terrific post however , I was wanting to know if you could write a litte more on this subject?
I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit more.
Kudos!