Summary: A Spanish nurse got infected with the Ebola virus after caring for an infected priest. So far the Ebola virus has sickened or killed more than 370 doctors working in the hardest-hit countries of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, where doctors and nurses were already in short supply.She was wearing hazmat suits both times she was in the room with the priest but Spanish authorities think she contracted the virus while changing the man’s diaper. So far none of the other nurses/doctors caring for the priest or any other people she had been in contact with have contracted Ebola virus. For extra precaution Spanish authorities had the nurse’s dog euthanized and then cremated without even testing it for Ebola first. The nurse is now in complete isolation so that the disease does not spread.
Photo of Ebola
Analysis: The major problem with this is the fact that a medical professional, working with other medical professionals and various patients has contracted the virus. That is the absolute worst thing that we can have happen. If this outbreak wasn’t contained as soon as it was who knows the number of other people in the hospital or in this nurse’s social life could’ve been infected. Although this is a serious matter, I do not believe that Spanish authorities needed to kill her dog without testing it first. We have not done studies on if dogs can spread the virus to humans or even how the virus affects dogs.
Discussion Questions:
Do you think doctors working with Ebola patients take enough precautions?
Was it necessary for Spanish authorities to euthanize the nurse’s dog?
Should ALL of the people she came in contact with be quarantined?
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I believe that we are not taking enough precautions with the nurses in West Africa. All countries need to join in and work together to see how the disease spreads, so we can protect others. Although it was only one nurses that showed the symptoms, we need to protect them all so that they do not spread it after work.
ReplyDeleteI do not know if the doctors are taking enough precautions with the ebola patients. It depends on each nurse. One of the nurses may be taking enough precautions but another might not and they might get ebola.
ReplyDeleteNo I do not think that it was necessary for the authorities to euthanize the nurse's dog right away because you said that nobody even tested the dog for ebola.
Yes I think everyone who she came in contact with after she changed the man's diaper should be quarantined.