This is one of the saddest things I’ve ever read. It’s an account of how patient zero, Thomas Eric Duncan, contracted Ebola in Liberia. But more than that, it’s a story that’s all too typical of the tragedy of this … Continue reading →
There is little question in my mind that Duncan, Dallas’ Ebola patient zero, knew he most likely had Ebola when he got sick, and particularly as he got sicker. His first trip to the hospital, and their negligent (perhaps even … Continue reading →
No, that’s not a joke headline. Nigeria has done fairly well in containing the spread of the disease, and we might think about copying them. Nipping this in the bud, while the number of exposed people is very small, is … Continue reading →
…came to this country from Liberia knowing he had been closely exposed to an Ebola patient in his home country [hat tip: Artfldgr]. Mr. Duncan, the first person to develop symptoms outside Africa during the current epidemic, had direct contact … Continue reading →
In the early 90s I wrote a research paper on HIV and contact tracing. Initially, I had assumed that HIV would be treated in the same way as other diseases spread by sexual contact such as syphilis, and that contact … Continue reading →
Commenter “Wolla Dalbo” has some questions the CDC should be asking itself. Remember, the Ebola patient in the US went to the Dallas hospital with symptoms and was sent home only to return again several days later, much sicker. Wolla … Continue reading →
It was inevitable that it would happen: a traveler to the US from West Africa has been diagnosed as having Ebola, having begun to exhibit symptoms about four days after arriving in this country. He has been hospitalized in Dallas … Continue reading →
[NOTE: Part I is here.] It turns out that the case of autistic 13-year-old author Naoki Higashida is more complex than that of Rom Houben. When I Googled his book (The Reason I Jump) online, I was expecting (hoping, anyway) … Continue reading →
Not the guy—the wheel. Because of my back and arm conditions, I stand to work, with my computer raised to somewhat higher than counter height. I also walk about three miles a day. I’d love to combine the two. That … Continue reading →
Back in 2009 I wrote a post called “Wanting to believe in miracles.” It was about the case of Rom Houben, a severely brain-damaged patient in Belgium who was said to be communicating complex thoughts through a method known as … Continue reading →
Africa is a beautiful place, they say. The cradle of humankind, mecca for animal lovers, exotic and wild, with spectacular scenery. Ridden with disease, violence, poverty, and corruption. There’s no dearth of possible culprits to blame: bad luck, bad climate, … Continue reading →
Trying to smoke out the ebola victims who might be reluctant to go to medical authorities, Sierra Leone has instituted a nationwide 3-day lockdown: In a desperate effort to bring the outbreak under control, thousands of health care workers began … Continue reading →