A second healthcare worker has tested positive for Ebola. Amber Joy Vinson flew from Cleveland Hopkins Airport to Dallas/Fort Worth on Monday evening, the day before she starting having symptoms. Vinson was a passenger on Frontier Airlines. The Airlines issued the following statement.
“At approximately 1:00 a.m. MT on October 15, Frontier was notified by the CDC that a customer traveling on Frontier Airlines flight 1143 Cleveland to Dallas/Fort Worth on Oct. 13 has since tested positive for the Ebola virus. The flight landed in Dallas/Fort Worth at 8:16 p.m. local and remained overnight at the airport having completed its flying for the day at which point the aircraft received a thorough cleaning per our normal procedures which is consistent with CDC guidelines prior to returning to service the next day. It was also cleaned again in Cleveland last night. Previously the customer had traveled from Dallas Fort Worth to Cleveland on Frontier flight 1142 on October 10.
Customer exhibited no symptoms or sign of illness while on flight 1143, according to the crew. Frontier responded immediately upon notification from the CDC by removing the aircraft from service and is working closely with CDC to identify and contact customers who may traveled on flight 1143.
Customers who may have traveled on either flight should contact CDC at 1 800 CDC-INFO.”
The Ohio Department of Health is reporting the Vinson was visiting family in the Akron area from October 8-13. The Department of Health is working with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to identify people who were in close contact with her.
Yesterday, Tom Frieden of the CDC regretted not having a more aggressive approach when Thomas Eric Duncan was first diagnosed with the deadly virus. Previously, Frieden said that Ebola could be treated at any hospital.
“We could’ve sent a more robust hospital infection control team and been more hands-on with the hospital from day one about exactly how this should be managed.”
Healthcare workers around the country are stating they are unsure of protocol regarding the killer virus.
H/T: The Political Insider & Cleveland.com