AN EXPERT DESCRIBES NON-STUPID WAYS TO USE EBOLA QUARANTINES

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Chris Christie and Andrew Cuomo recently decided to quarantine medical workers who have come in contact with Ebola, despite many doctors and health experts telling them that their strategy is dumb. Ted Cruz and Rick Perry have also advocated for more fear-based isolation strategies. Doctors keep stressing calm, and explaining that American medical workers need to be able to travel to and from places like Liberia freely in order to fight the epidemic, and politicians keep itching to start quarantining everyone who has ever coughed.

Still, holding centers and isolation zones are are a fact of life in places like Liberia, and they need to be used carefully and correctly. I talked to Dr. Susan McLellan, a professor of both clinical and tropical medicine at Tulane University’s School of Medicine, who has also worked extensively in both Haiti and Rwanda. She told me what deceptively simple but effective things can be done, and why those things aren’t so simple in developing parts of Africa. She also told me about how fear can make everything worse.

VICE: What can holding centers in developing parts of the world can do to help stop the spread of infectious diseases?
Dr. Susan McLellan: In less developed parts of the world, it’s particularly difficult because copious running water, paper towels, and things like that are not necessarily easily available, so that makes a real difference. What places that are establishing treatment units are trying to set up is availability of heavily chlorinated water for cleaning as well as lots of personal protective equipment, and that ends up being the basics, as well as a way to feed people who are being admitted. 

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Crew on ship arriving in Falmouth from Ebola hit West Africa 'to be monitored'

Crew on ship arriving in Falmouth from Ebola hit West Africa 'to be monitored'

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First published 09:00 Thursday 30 October 2014 in News

Health officials have promised to monitor the health of the crew members arriving into Falmouth onboard two ships from Ebola hit Sierra Leone next month – including potentially taking their temperatures before they disembark.

Paul Cosford, director for health protection and medical director, at Public Health England, wrote to MP Andrew George after the West Cornwall member raised the issue at the Select Committee Ebola Inquiry.

Mr George, a member of the Health Select Committee, wanted reassurances when sharing the concerns of local people over the scheduled arrival of the ships, scheduled for the middle of November.

He questioned Mr Cosford, alongside chief medical officer Professor Dame Sally Davies and Professor Chris Whitty, chief scientific advisor at the Department For International Development.

Mr George said he has received a response from Mr Cosford, who wanted to give assurance that his local Public Health England colleagues were aware of the concern and would be “engaging proactively with the ships' captains and crew.”

Specifically, they would: n reiterate to the ships’ owners their responsibility and potential liability for ensuring their captains provide complete and transparent declarations in the maritime declaration of health forms; n email/fax a copy of the UK port screening questionnaire to the captains to complete for each person on board, preferably after departure, and send it back to us ahead of time. This questionnaire would be adapted as appropriate from that used in airports; n maintain daily radio contact in the last four to five days prior to the vessels’ arrival, while the receiving port/Maritime and Coastguard Agency would have daily crew health updates by radio with the captains; n consider temperature screening of all people on board before allowing unrestricted access to the population.

Mr George said: “Precautions need to be effective and proportionate. We will keep this under review and I report back to the Health Select Committee.”

Last week the Packet printed a letter from concerned Falmouth residents Elaine Clay, Wendy Barnwell and Julia Braddon, calling upon Prime Minister David Cameron and A&P Falmouth managing director Peter Child to delay the refit of the Gypsum Centennial (one of the two ships in question) at Falmouth Docks.

Their comments provoked a mixed reaction at thepacket.co.uk, with philiplong54 saying: “These ladies and others showing concern over these two ships are correct in their fears. We could find ourselves in a situation where we have a ship whose crew are suffering from Ebola upon arrival at Falmouth.

“What happens then where are they taken to Treliske or Derriford I don’t know, our hospitals struggle to contain Norovirus.”

Northcliffs agreed: “The ship should not be allowed here, disappointed that the government is allowing this to happen. They won't let planes come, why boats I ask?”

However, gwen4me was among a number of readers less concerned, writing: “There’s always a minority that will panic needlessly. Ebola is only one of many communicable disease that could come in by ship, that’s why we have Port Health facilities.”

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Palestinian suspected in drive-by shooting of Jewish activist killed, Israeli security services say

Shin Bet security services say the man was suspected of being behind the attempt on the life of Yehuda Glick, and had opened fire at Israeli security forces who were attempting to arrest him, when he was killed.

By Nir Hasson | Oct. 30, 2014 | 7:49 AM

Israeli security services say they shot and killed on Thursday morning a Palestinian man believed to have been involved in the Wednesday night shooting of a Jewish right wing activist Yehuda Glick.

The shooting took place at in the neighborhood of Abu Tor, on the seamline between west and east Jerusalem, at 7 A.M.

Shin Bet security services say the man was suspected of being behind the attempt on the life of Yehuda Glick, and had opened fire at Israeli security forces whom were attempting to arrest him, when he was killed.

In wake of drive-by shooting

Prominent U.S.-born right-wing activist Yehuda Glick was seriously wounded in a drive-by shooting Wednesday night outside the Menachem Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem.

The gunman was an Arab man who intentionally targeted Glick, said MK Moshe Feiglin, who leads the far-right segment of Likud and said he witnessed the shooting.

"The attempted murderer turned to him and confirmed in Hebrew, in a heavy Arabic accent, that it was Yehuda," Feiglin told reporters. He said Glick was in the middle of loading equipment into his car after attending a conference about the Temple Mount that was held at the Begin Center.

Glick, who often led groups of Jews to visit the Temple Mount, founded an organization advocating for Jews to be allowed to pray at the Temple Mount, which would mark a highly charged change to the delicate status quo.

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ISIS militants execute more than 40 tribesmen in Iraq’s Anbar

By AFP | Baghdad
Wednesday, 29 October 2014

Islamic state of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants executed 46 people and besieged 500 families in the Iraqi city of Heet, Al Arabiya News Channel’s correspondent to Anbar reported on Wednesday.

The militant group reportedly besieged displaced families residing in the Anbar desert for the past three days as well, amid fears of a mass killing nearing.

Security and tribal sources said ISIS also singled the Abu Nimr clan and executed 35 young men in the area of Ramadi, as well targeting houses and properties of the Al Koud, the family ruling the clan.

Earlier on Wednesday, AFP reported militants had killed 40 members of the clan, which had fought against them in the province of Anbar.

The killings were confirmed by a police colonel and a leader from the anti-jihadist Sahwa forces.

The killings may be aimed at weakening the resistance ISIS faces from local tribes and clans.

Government forces suffered several setbacks during their attempts to battle the militants group in the province in recent weeks, signaling a warning that the large area may fall under ISIS’ control.

While ISIS did not claim responsibility for the killings yet, but Human Rights Watch said there is evidence that the group had executed between 560 and 770 men -- mostly captured soldiers --earlier in the year.

ISIS executed hundreds of members of a Syrian tribe that fought against them, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group.

ISIS spearheaded an offensive that has overrun much of the country’s Sunni Arab heartland since June, sweeping security forces aside.

Iraqi security forces, Shiite militias and some Sunni tribesmen are fighting to push IS back, but have made only limited local progress so far.

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Wayne Rooney returns to training ahead of derby clash

Manchester United couldn’t have picked a better time of visiting their noisy neighbours. Manchester City are in crisis, and Manuel Pellegrini admits that as well.

City squandered a two advantage to finish the game 2-2 against CSKA Moscow in theChampions League, followed by a 2-1 defeat against West Ham at Upton Park. And last night, they were knocked out of the Capital One Cup tie after losing out 2-0 to Newcastle United at the Etihad.

On the other hand, United, courtesy of a dramatic late goal against Chelsea, are buzzing with confidence at the moment. And the spirit within the camp should be lifted further with skipper Wayne Rooney and Radamel Falcao both are expected to be fit to face Manchester City in the derby.

The 1-1 draw with Chelsea was the last match of Rooney’s three-game suspension and the England skipper would come straight into the side in expense of Juan Mata. 

Rooney’s fitness had become the subject of some debate after he was seen limping at a sponsorship event on Monday, but he trained yesterday and is likely to returnagainst City. Louis van Gaal is also hoping to have Colombian striker Radamel Falcao after he missed the Chelsea game due to calf injury in training. 

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Manager Manuel Pellegrini's unbeaten record in League Cup broken as Newcastle United knocks out Manchester City

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini's unbeaten record in the League Cup was broken as his side was knocked out of the competition by a youthful Newcastle United squad, who recorded their first win in 12 attempts at the Etihad Stadium.

Teenage forward Rolando Aarons put the visitors ahead just six minutes into the game with an angled drive into the far corner. City's Stevan Jovetic was denied to score an equaliser by Newcastle keeper Rob Elliot before the tourists' skipper Fabricio Coloccini sliced against the post before half time.

Moussa Sissoko slid in the second goal midway in the second half as Newcastle reached the last eight, The BBC reported.

Now Newcastle would travel to Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the next round, bidding for a place in the semi-finals for the first time since 1975-76. The players embraced in a celebratory huddle at the final whistle after reaching the quarterfinals of a domestic cup competition for the first time under boss Alan Pardew.

Newcastle supporters had called for Pardew to be sacked after a poor start to the campaign in which their team failed to win any of their first six Premier League matches.

However, the pressure has been relieved after a recent revival with Newcastle earning three straight wins. Pardew had been boosted by successive Premier League victories overLeicester and Tottenham, but decided to name a youthful and inexperienced side to face the Premier League champions.

City enjoyed plenty of possession but lacked incision in the final third as Newcastle, whoseperformance showed a wonderful mixture of defensive resilience and attacking intent, clinched a deserved victory, the report added. 

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Arsenal set to hold talks to sign £34m French star

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s fondness for young French stars are well known. The former French Economics Professor has the history of signing young turks on the cheap and mould them into future superstars. Reports from English Media Outlet DAILY EXPRESS claim then the Gunners are believed to have already begun talks to sign Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte in the upcoming January transfer window. The North London side are also reportedly believed to meet Laporte’s astronomical release clause of £32m. Such desperation is understandable from the Premier League giants.

Arsenal have severe defensive issues currently and Wenger has already claimed that he will strengthen in the upcoming transfer window. Besides Per Mertesacker and Laurent Kosceilny, the Gunners don’t have a quality centre back. Meanwhile injuries to Koscielny has forced Calum Chambers and even left back Nacho Monreal in the middle of the defense. Wenger would be willing to get rid of such problems as he aims to launch a silverware winning season after last season’s FA Cup exploits.

Laporte would be a tremendous addition, no doubt for Arsenal. The 20 year old earned envious glances last season for his immaculate displays and has made 53 La Liga appearances and represented France at under-21 level. He might be allowed to leave if the price is right but the basque club are tough to deal with. The 6ft 2in defender also recently signed a contract extension that ties him to Bilbao until 2018. However, collective poor form this season from Bilbao could change the context of a potential transfer.

Arsenal have very few options in the heart of the defense and would now be kicking themselves to let Thomas Vermaelen leave for Barcelona in the summer. Laporte brings with him real quality, but given his age he is extremely expensive. But we have seen clubs paying over the wall likeManchester City paying £32m to Porto for securing the services of Eliaquim Mangala this summer.

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