Nurse defies Ebola quarantine in Maine

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By ROBERT F. BUKATY

FORT KENT, Maine (AP) — A nurse who vowed to defy Maine's voluntary quarantine for health care workers who treated Ebola patients followed through on her promise Thursday, leaving her home for a bike ride.

Kaci Hickox and her boyfriend stepped out of their home Thursday morning and rode away on bicycles, followed by state police who were monitoring her movements and public interactions. Police couldn't detain her without a court order signed by a judge.

Hickox contends there's no need for quarantine because she's showing no symptoms. She's also tested negative for the deadly disease.

State officials were going to court in an effort to detain Hickox for the remainder of the 21-day incubation period for Ebola that ends on Nov. 10

FULL story at link.



A truck passes the rural home Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2014, in Fort Kent, Maine, where Kaci Hickox, a nurse who treated Ebola patients in West Africa, is staying. Hickox said Wednesday she plans to stop quarantining herself in rural Maine, signaling a potential showdown with state police monitoring her home and state officials preparing to legally enforce the quarantine. She said she'll defy the state if the policy isn't changed by Thursday. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20141030/us--ebola-nurse_quarantined-maine-c172851ffa.html

[wheniwasincongress]

1. She's won my heart

Very admirable. In interviews she has spoken specifically of science and facts and reasoning... She is smart and not one to mess with!

(But if they arrest her for defying quarantine, couldn't she possibly expose ebola to inmates at the jail? Hell they probably deserve it am I right?! that's what you get for smoking pot! )

[adigal]

22. I think she is going to end up under house arrest. I hope at least. nt

[Warpy]

32. Why? Are you that frightened of a healthy person?

There is no medical or public health & safety reason for a quarantine.

Le Putz is just grandstanding along with Christie. He'll likely relent after the election.

[roomtomove]

41. Really?......

Doctor Warpy?

[NutmegYankee]

76. If she was sick, she'd be in a hospital. nt

[Iamthetruth]

55. She has a self inflated ego and self importance

Is she smarter than the doctors that did not know they were infected, I doubt it. Her selfishness puts others in harms way.

[onecent]

81. Deal with it!

people in America better startworrying about our government...and jobs and social security and medicare....

and make SOME NOISE ABOUT IT.

[Iamthetruth]

83. We have been

For years, welcome to the party.

[Adrahil]

84. Well, the Maine Medical Association...

... today officially announced its opposition to the Governor's policy.

But don't let me interrupt your fearmongering.

[diddlysquat]

2. Good for her!

[CBGLuthier]

3. it should say self-absorbed woman who does not care about anyone other than

herself does whatever she wants because she is free.

She complained about the lousy initial treatment so they let her go to her own house but that is not good enough. I think after all this is over a little jail time should straighten her dumb ass out.

[Fred Sanders]

5. She is not a threat to anything but your own fear.

Science will straighten your dumb ass out.

[LawDeeDah]

39. :)

[Kelvin Mace]

6. Please tell me you are being sarcastic.

[riderinthestorm]

8. American HCWs have been treating Ebola patients in W Africa for decades

And coming home without any problems.

This recent outbreak has seen many, many HCW going over and coming back without any quarantine for the past few months, no problems.

The science does not support a quarantine. Stop with the fear mongering!

[roomtomove]

46. From the WHO website:

"More than 100 health-care workers have been exposed to the virus while caring for Ebola patients. "

And where do you get your "science"?

[riderinthestorm]

50. Thanks for substantiating what I said about "many" HCWs with the WHO number

Do you happen to know if that figure is the number of HCWs exposed during this most recent outbreak or the sum total since the first outbreak in the seventies? Its encouraging to know that out of 100 or so exposed, only one doctor (Spencer) has so far carried it back to the US.

My knowledge comes from reading and listening to the experts on this disease.

Welcome to DU!

[roomtomove]

70. Thanks for the welcome, BUT

I have been here for quite a while.
More (updated) info from the WHO:

"To date, more than 240 health care workers have developed the disease in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone, and more than 120 have died."

As protections for the workers has increased (with more knowledge of the disease) the rate of their infections has of course gone down. I suspect most these workers are native or foreign, or MSF workers/volunteers.

The WHO also recommends monitoring THOSE EXPOSED for 21 days, which is the outside of the current estimated incubation period.

I am appalled about the knee jerk comments on here supporting a nurse, who, though experienced, is somewhat selfish and self absorbed. It does no good for anyone who was exposed to reject any monitoring, including quarantine for a disease so deadly. This is not fear mongering, as I am not afraid of it, but just common sense, which is the type of dialogue that is necessary.

[riderinthestorm]

74. Self-MONITORING does not mean isolation...

The WHO recommendations are entirely within line with the CDC.

Like I said, I trust the experts - who don't recommend quarantining returning HCW.

Kaci Hickox accepts monitoring, as the science and experts recommend. Not the fear mongering.

THAT is the conversation here. I support the nurse because she's an expert, following expert recommendations instead of knee jerk political stunts. That common sense.

[roomtomove]

77. CDC recommendation

as of 10/27 is for voluntary isolation for high risk patients. Neither you or I can determine whether she is high risk. I suspect not, but the incubation period is 21 days.

[riderinthestorm]

78. VOLUNTARILY! Key word there... This nurse is an epidemiologist.

She knows exactly how this disease is spread.

An expert.

She knows.

Take your fear mongering elsewhere. You won't last long here spouting RW fear. Feel free to have the last word. I'm in no mood to engage ignorance.

[roomtomove]

80. So now you resort to name calling?

All I did was state the facts as I know them. No fear mongering, or knee jerk reactions here, or LW reactionary tactics when you have no argument left.
FYI, my LW credentials can outweigh yours by 1000%.

[mazzarro]

9. And your fear mongering is a better approach to her selfishnes, correct?

[whereisjustice]

11. she passed a blood test and has no symptoms. i should note, however, you are showing signs

of right wing extremism. You should get that checked out. There's a lot of that going around.

[demosincebirth]

52. All Ebola patients start off healthy. This is not like the regular flu, you know. And how is this

right wing extremism?

[randr]

14. Maybe a trip to the middle ages would straighten your dumb ass out

[Raine1967]

15. Really?!? Bill O'Reilly said the very same thing….

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/oreilly-nurse-defying-quarantine-should-be-taken-into-custody/

That is a sad statement, to be honest.

The woman does not have Ebola nor does she have symptoms. She has no reason to be quarantined!

I find it amazing that people would ignore basic facts and science.

[PSPS]

23. She's a witch!1 Kill hEr@1!!

[bayareaboy]

31. If she is a witch?

Then she won't float to the the top of the pond. Perhaps sinking to the bottom of the pond, I can't remember which.

On the other hand it looks like she is a ginger. Everyone knows they are witches.

[csziggy]

42. She turned me into a newt!

[rocktivity]

60. Here's what one of our own DU-ers made (WhenIwasInCongress)

rocktivity

[valerief]

30. Another one for the Ignore pile!

[Iamthetruth]

56. Agreed

It's a look at me stunt, nothing more.

[Scairp]

62. Riiight

And this same woman went all the way to West Africa to help treat people with a deadly virus because she is selfish and does not care about anyone other than herself. You. Are. An. Ass.

[riderinthestorm]

4. Oh my Gawd!!! Bike riding on a public rural road! Think of everyone she's exposing!

She's outside breathing!!!!

Fear111!!1!!!

(Today is going to be one hell of an Ebola roller coaster ride)

[onecent]

82. You go Rider, I'm on your side...I want some

popcorn also.....lol

[Fred Sanders]

7. You go girl, fuck the ebola governors and their exploitation of fear.

Lepage is going down, science guarantees it.

Anyone not supporting him over the tea bagger governor, please go somewhere else.

[Iamthetruth]

57. You should volunteer

Your family's home to her.

[Fred Sanders]

66. I would have no problem with that, you can hide under my bed.

[whereisjustice]

12. goddamn tribal witch doctors setting public policy, after a clean blood test and no symptoms

she should be left alone. What a national disgrace.

[randr]

13. It is truely amazing

Some people, led by the neanderthals at Faux news, are justifying this madness by evoking the word "quarantine" as if practicing a method from the middle ages is somehow justified in our world.

[adigal]

21. Yes, that medieval conservative state California just enacted a quarantine of 21 days

for returning health workers. The horrors!!!

[PSPS]

24. The California guidelines are nothing like this at all.

[adigal]

28. Seriously??? Are you kidding me??? Here they are:

'Anyone arriving in California from an Ebola-affected area and who has had personal contact with a person infected with the deadly virus will be quarantined for 21 days, according to an order issued Wednesday by the state's public health director."

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-california-orders-ebola-quarantine-protocols-20141029-story.html

County health officials will make the determination, and guess what they are going to determine??

You can have your own opinions, but not your own facts.

[notrightatall]

51. Except they have no authority to enact such measures.

read California law that I posted to you in another thread. You did not address it there, so I will not re-post for you to ignore once


FACTS !!

[still_one]

26. Do you even know what California's guidelines are?

[randr]

54. A state that would put a child in jail for the rest of their life

does not define medieval?

[JI7]

16. are people able to ride bikes when they get Ebola ?

[Omaha Steve]

17. Don't know

Since she doesn't have it.

[LisaL]

19. Dr. Spencer jogged 3 miles the day before.

[Progressive dog]

18. Good for her

[adigal]

20. She needs to be locked up - this 15 minutes of fame crap went to her head

She is possibly endangering others and should also lose her nursing license. I am so annoyed with this twit.

[PSPS]

25. By god yes! She's a witch!!#@@!# KiLL hER!@!@!

[adigal]

27. Actually, many of my best friends are nurses. What do they have to do with a medical situation??

Hmmmmmm....you were trying to be funny??? Fail.

[malthaussen]

29. I'll take the minority view here.

The ebola panic is wholly unjustified and a sign of the incredible ignorance of the American public and the governors responsible for the quarantine order.

Having said that, the panic is also real, however unreasonable, and defying it in this fashion is not going to serve to do anything other than pour gasoline on a raging fire. It might be a case of self-indulgence, it might be an effort to make some point about individual liberty. But really, how terrible a case of restraint of liberty is this quarentine? It is a short-term inconvenience devised as a sop to the rest of the community. It is not as though her fundamental rights were in any danger of permanent infringement. It is not as though she were making a bold, lonely defiance of some long-term discrimination. Ultimately, I guess, it boils down to a question of whether one should indulge a silly restriction for the sake of public order, or at least, public pacification, or if one should damn all such foolishness and do as she pleases. Personally, I lean towards indulgence, but I might well have leant in the other direction 30 years ago.

-- Mal

[elias49]

33. I have to agree.

You have to consider the whole community. Considering the number of people roaring on these boards about how 'easy' it might be to contract the disease, I would think more would favor cautious over-reaction. IF the disease were to jump, there'd be people with pitchforks at the local town hall asking how authorities could let something like that happen.
There are rights and there is common caution.

[Bragi]

34. Why you are wrong

Consider that:

1. Ebola cannot be transmitted other than by direct contact with body fluids of people who have contracted the disease and have the physical symptoms associated with the illness. (This is a medical fact. Suggesting other pathways for infection is unfounded speculation.)

2. The most important step needed right now to make the US and the rest of the world safe from the spread of Ebola is to stop the spread of the disease from where it is now present. (No-one who knows anything about the disease disagrees with this premise.)

3. Stopping the spread of the contagion from currently infected countries requires support from thousands and thousands of trained health workers who reside outside the infected zones. (The health care workers in the infected areas cannot control the spread of the disease without this outside support.)

4. If the US and other countries demand medically-unnecessary (but public-confidence-boosting) quarantine of health workers returning from infected areas, then this will discourage many/most health workers from volunteering to go to these places where they are needed to stop the spread of the disease. (This will increase the likelihood of the disease spreading outside currently infected areas.)

That's it. If logic and science do not prevail, and unneeded quarantines are put in place, then it is likely that reduced numbers of foreign health workers will lead to insufficient control of the disease, and its likely spread to countries with weak health systems. (Think India, or Pakistan, or the ever-impoverished Haiti, or some South American cities, etc.).

If this happens, the adverse global economic, political and social consequences will be enormous.

This nurse is a public health hero! She is doing what she is doing because she understands the above points, and is trying to ensure that US health workers are not discouraged by unnecessary quarantines, or other stigmatizing policies, from volunteering to go to infected areas.

[malthaussen]

47. Not a bad argument at all.

Although I confess, I would question the dedication of someone for whom a 21-day quarentine is such an impediment that it would cause them to decide to not volunteer their services.

Miss Hickox has already established that she is a public health hero by lending her services to the afflicted.

-- Mal

[christx30]

59. Could you abide with a 21 day quarantine?

How will you get pay your bills? Can you take out your trash? Who checks the mail? How will you get groceries? If you don't have cable or Inet, how will you have entertainment?
Hell, they should just offer her money to abide by the quarantine. Give me $100,000 and I'll hang out at home and won't go out for 21 days. But if you just tell me that I have to, you'd better send guys with guns to enforce it. Cause I have to go get a Big Mac.

[rocktivity]

64. Just have healthcare personnel in Ebola-affected countries spend their incubation periods THERE

with no patient or medical facility contact, before being allowed to travel, instead of "exporting" people who could go contagious 21 days later.


rocktivity

[marions ghost]

36. We are asked

to "indulge silly restrictions" all too often these days. It grates.

Why pander to political fear-mongering and media distortion? The principle of this thing is larger than just putting up with an inconvenience.

What is really frightening is seeing the reaction of this country to these few cases of Ebola. It's like witnessing a national panic attack--for no logical reasons. It seems to be displacement--everything else is too stressful, so let's focus on the handful of victims of a virus as though we are all at risk, and angst on it for weeks and weeks. It's insanity and I understand why the nurse is taking a stand against this insanity. I see that as UN-selfish of her.

We are a fragile, fearful and self-centered society.

[malthaussen]

49. I agree with you about what is "really frightening."

It is because of this real fright that I incline towards not stirring it up to greater heights of unreason. Supposing a court order is obtained to restrict the movements of Miss Hickox, what further measures might be contemplated to invade the liberty of others who might come within the aura of the disease? The question, IMO, is one of tactics: will a purpose be served by defiance? Will the country suddenly come to its senses because one nurse defies the panic? Or will it cause even more unrest? I tend to think the latter will be the case, especially as our rulers are ever-driven by the need to be perceived as "doing something" when a "crisis" is declared.

-- Mal

[marions ghost]

58. The response of the governors in this

is anything BUT reassuring. Full steam ahead in the wrong direction. What would it be like if there really were an epidemic that got out of control here? I can only imagine the horrible mess they would make of it.

These arrogant politicians think they are supposed to act on the irrational fears of their Fuxedup constituents--not on the advice of most of the doctors and research scientists around the country. That's what's wrong here. The disrespect and distrust of those in the medical profession is amazing--something that did not exist in previous decades. Prez Obama's fact-based, rational message on the subject is drowned out by the reactive noisy grandstanding of these clowns...

I think a purpose IS served by such defiance. It can make people think a little deeper and become more receptive to another side to the story. At least the ones who aren't hopelessly brainwashed. This can have a dampening effect on the hysteria as well. It's one of those times when the actions of a few key people have great import. In such cases as this, it's not a good idea to pander to the wrong factions. Truth is everything.

--We agree on the problem but maybe not on solutions? The more we give ground to hysteria and ignorance, fueled by nefarious interests, the more fragile we become. It is the mental health of this society that concerns me more than the bodily threats. You don't treat the problems by enabling them.

[Scairp]

63. It's not the minority view

By those who are bright. I frankly am appalled at how so many no-nothings ended up in the power positions of being able to set public health policy on the basis of fear and willful ignorance. It's very disturbing. I keep asking on boards like this one why, if Ebola is so easy to transmit, the index patient Duncan's family didn't get it and no one can give me a reasonable answer. Because if anyone was going to get it they were, and they didn't get it. Plus they've been through hell, had all their belongings destroyed and can't find a new place to rent to live in. I wish the media would follow up with them. They are in a bad spot right now and don't deserve the treatment they are getting in Texas.

[NutmegYankee]

73. If she had not been interegated as a criminal, and then locked up on barbaric conditions...

She probably wouldn't be fighting this like she is. But they did do that to her, and she's not taking it.

[SoapBox]

35. She's just piss'n me off.

And no, I'm not being funny,

Her arrogance...her nasty bitter attitude...her "I know it all" attitude makes me mad!

I would hate to have this know-it-all for my healthcare professional...what a creep with ZERO concern for anyone else but herself, especially when she had been dealing with a deadly disease.

[Fred Sanders]

43. What is wrong? Is she removing your hard earned FEAR from you? Not to worry, the media will

have plenty more FEAR for you to clutch.

You personal opinions mean butkas to science, but rave away, you have a lot of company in your FEAR.

[Scairp]

65. Did you think about these words?

According to you she is arrogant, a know it all with a "bitter" attitude. I guess she was in West Africa trying to meet guys and not risking life and limb tending to dying Ebola patients. Jesus...

[NutmegYankee]

75. Yeah, sure... Zero concern for others to the point of actually GOING to Africa to treat victims

I'm proud of this woman! She really demonstrates what it means for this country to be the "home of the brave".

Screw the fear. I have ZERO sympathy for those afraid.

[Contrary1]

37. I think that those who have been infected by Foxitis...

Last edited Thu Oct 30, 2014, 05:30 PM - Edit history (1)

should be kept under quarantine until November 5th.

The health of the nation depends on it.

** EDIT: That should have read "exposed to Foxitis"; since according to many, one doesn't need to be infected to be under forced quarantine...just exposed.

[marions ghost]

38. Seconding that

FOXITIS -- no known cure....

I am much more afraid of it, though I know I'm immune....

[LawDeeDah]

40. Foxitis: no known cure with a lot of diarhea of the mouth, vomiting and brainrot

with little bill o'reilly's oozing out of one's pores in the form of feces.

[marions ghost]

44. little billos oozing out the pores.........!

yeah that's the end stage all right...

We need to work on that vaccine....

[longship]

45. Good for her!!!

To quarantine her would be an outrage. And she has every right to protest any attempt to enforce her imprisonment based on fear.

Remember, she was held against her will in a tent outside in NJ before Chrispy relented.

I would be pissed, and vocal about it, too.


No symptoms; no danger. It is as simple as that.

[FSogol]

48. Seriously: "Good for her." There is one ebola case* in this country and everyone is afraid of one

healthy nurse riding her bike in Maine?



* Dr. Craig Spencer is the one case. All others have recovered except for Mr. Duncan who didn't get treatment in time.

[KinMd]

53. How ISIS could defeat the USA

..send some guys over and ride bikes while saying they have ebola...it'll be like one of those old Godzilla movies where thousands runaway in terror.

[rocktivity]

61. You do realize, of course, that if she should test positive

Chris Christie could "I told you so" it all the way into the White House...


rocktivity

[Fred Sanders]

67. No downside for the ebola governors, you say if she takes ANOTHER test? What side are you on?

"What if" is the mother of fear.

[rocktivity]

68. I say it's a huge upside for them if she flunks the test

whether she infects anyone else or not.


rocktivity

[Fred Sanders]

69. And if she does not test postive, which she will not, bagger Lepage will say he did his duty to

"protect" Maine and slink off to make an ad glorifying himself, do you see?

[Brigid]

71. Why all the hate for Kaci Hickox?

Because she won't be bullied by fearmongering, pandering, grandstanding politicians and the public that is buying into their bullshit? Oh no, couldn't be that.

[NutmegYankee]

72. Some people fear Strong, Brave, Principled women.

They're consider "selfish".

[Politicalboi]

79. I wish gun deaths were taken this seriously by media

Where's the hoard of news heads flocking to some gun nuts house who owns 16 guns and has a shit load of ammo. More of a threat than any Ebola could be.

[DeSwiss]

85. Ha!