Nurse in Maine should be arrested

Her so called fever was pronounced by a non-medical person. It was a no-touch thermometer used on a flushed face. Known to be inaccurate in certain situations. Actually, it is not best thermometer period. If a temperature elevation is noted, it needs to be verified by a more accurate thermometer. In this case, a more accurate test showed that she did not have a fever.

So, she never had a fever.

This again illustrated how initial inaccurate reports from the media taint our thoughts and help create these fears that should not exist to the same degree if we still had accurate, thorough reporting today instead of the "get it out there first and correct it later" philosophy of today.

A good news story on Ebola would be a story covering all the inaccuracies that have been reported since the story of Mr. Duncan was first released.

CNN says the airport screeners determined she had a fever.  Whether she did or did not is not what set this ball in motion...it was the forehead scanner the screeners used which do not do as good a job as a thermometer (obviously).

And as soon as it was taken again with a proper thermometer no fever was detected. So again she bever had a fever. They had already held her illegally for hours by that point.

Ah...but that's where the problem is.  It's like the TSA - once you begin the process, you have to complete it, so technically, no it was not illegal.

You are assuming there is some common sense in all of this.  There's not.

I agree.  I felt bad for her as the protocols were changed while she was traveling and it came as a surprise to her, but now she is just loving being the one of the most hated women in America.  

Really?? I don't think so. Not even close.

It does absolutely no good to spread false information.  Ebola and AIDS are completely different viruses that have different risk profiles.  HIV patients live for decades - and even untreated can live for years without realizing they have the disease.  You are most likely to catch HIV from an ASYMPTOMATIC individual who had no idea they have the disease.  The risk to the health personnel treating patients is low and normal infectious control procedures are perfectly adequate to protect them.  Ebola patients live a few WEEKS once infected.  you CANNOT catch Ebola from an ASYMPTOMATIC individual.  You are most likely to catch Ebola from caring for a patient in the final days of their disease of handling the body after death.   

And in case anyone misunderstands, I am not advocating a quarantine, I am advocating for CORRECT information. The biggest risk for Ebola in the United States is for those who will be treating ill patients. It is essential that our MEDICAL community is given correct information, and the proper protocols are put into place. That did NOT happen in Dallas.

But she was held for hours and tested numerous times with no fever. They held her until they basically got a fake reading. I stand by what I said.

I hope the dumb bitch ends up having Ebola.

Awww snap. Yes I did.

Here's a thought: Many here have had questions and concerns about women's health and Melissa has stepped up and given her thoughts about these issues. Shouldn't her medical knowledge about Ebola and viruses in general be just as valid and valuable as it is with women's health? Just sayin'.

I have not read all the replies.

Before Dr. Brantly and Mrs. Writebol were rushed to Emory for treatment ebola wasn't really on our radar.

When they were transferred we saw aerial shots of Dr. Brantly in his hazmat suit with the heathcare workers in theirs. The media reported his condition worsened before he eventually got better.

Then nothing until Mr. Duncan arrives in Dallas and that crisis begins. We learned from that situation that we are not prepared in the way the CDC proclaimed. As a result, Duncan's loved ones were left for five days on the apartment risking their infection and they refused to self quarantine but were made to quarantine by authorities. The good news is none of them contracted ebola. The bad news is that the protocols were not in place with adequate protection is the hazmat suits and two nurses became infected.

You can dismiss this as unfounded fear but the fear is real.


The truth is doctors, nurses and volunteers have been to and came back from Africa before all of this happened. It just wasn't on our radar. I think this nurse could use this quarantine time to do Skype interviews about what is going on in Africa. She could also use the unique opportunity to shape public perceptions and help educate the public. Instead she is provoking the public.

WTH is wrong with you?

I'm starting to really dislike the term "abundance of caution."

Considering this story, and the one about the group of parents who convinced a school superintendent to order a Maine teacher to stay home for 21 days because she TRAVELED TO THE DALLAS METROPOLITAN AREA for a conference, I have considerably more concern about the fallout of panic and misinformation - under the the guise of "caution" - than I have concern about the disease.