by Melinda
Pillsbury-Foster
Dr.
Tom Frieden is the
Director for the Center for Disease Control. Tom blogs and tweets.
Because so many revelations are coming out about the unpreparedness
of the CDC to cope with an Ebola pandemic I decided to find out about
Tom, who is in the driver's seat on the issue here in the United
States.
Tom's
most recent blog included this reassurance. “The
United States is helping lead the global response to the epidemic,
but we cannot do it alone. That is why President Obama launched our
sixth Grand Challenge. Fighting Ebola: A Grand
Challenge for Development is
designed provide health care workers on the front lines with better
tools to battle Ebola.”
The
first question which sprang to mind was, “what does this guy mean?”
I discovered by following the link leading to the 'Grand Challenge
for Development.' In a nut shell, Tom wants people to get together
and innovate and share their ideas.
This
is disturbing. I remember Tom being quoted as saying, some time ago,
that we were entirely prepared for a break out of Ebola; there was
nothing to worry about. Joining together in conversation about ideas
when a second health worker has just merrily traveled on a plane to
multiple locations, including Cleveland, does not strike me as good
planning.
I
thought maybe there would be more sign of Tom knowing what he is
doing in his tweets. I went to look. I found, “2nd
Texas health worker #Ebola
case is very concerning. My thoughts are w/patient & their
family.”
Kind though, but not reassuring. Next, “#Ebola
situation is changing daily. We will continue to share what we know
when we know it.” This
also fails the reassuring test.
Cleveland
is not far from here. Residents of Cleveland, Fort Lauderdale and
Dallas and other connecting cities for the 132 passengers who shared
that flight could be infecting the whole US now. Some of them may
be in Ashtabula, as I write.
Also,
the World Health Organization rebutted the 21 day
incubation period, saying it could be as long as 42 days.
But
wait! Tom says in a communication dated October 2 we have nothing to
worry about. Tom said, “Every
health care worker must meticulously follow every single infection
control protection we recommend.”
But
Tom, they did that. What do you have to say now – or should we
wait for the next tweet?
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