A Dallas nurse infected with the deadly Ebola virus arrived in Atlanta Wednesday evening to begin her treatment at Emory University Hospital. The nurse, identified as Amber Vinson, 29, landed at Peachtree DeKalb Airport and walked under her own power from her plane to a waiting ambulance.
The ambulance arrived at Emory about 8:25 p.m.
Vinson’s arrival capped a day of extraordinary developments in the rapidly developing Ebola story. Among them: Vinson, one of two infected Texas healthcare workers, flew on a commercial flight from Cleveland to Dallas/Fort Worth on Monday while running a temperature. She had flown from Dallas to Cleveland on Friday to plan her wedding in Ohio. But she was symptomatic when she flew home again on Monday, officials said.
Several news organizations reported late Wednesday that Vinson had called federal health officials before her Monday flight to report that she had a slightly elevated temperature but that she was cleared to fly nonetheless. None of the reports cited identified sources, and the report could not be confirmed immediately.
CDC Director Tom Frieden said earlier in the day that the nurse should not have gotten on a commercial flight. All of the Dallas health care workers the infected patient were not supposed to take any form of public transportation while they were being monitored for signs of the disease.
Government officials also said the nurse knew before heading home that one of her colleagues, nurse Nina Pham, had been diagnosed with Ebola. While in Cleveland, she was contacted by health officials and told that her health would need to be more closely monitored for Ebola, the CDC said. It was unclear whether she was ordered not to fly.
Both nurses apparently became infected with Ebola while caring for a Liberian man who died of the disease at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, Frieden told reporters during a press conference Wednesday afternoon.
“We also are talking with all the specialized hospitals about their ability to take patients if needed,” U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell said, in the joint conference call with Frieden.
Frontier Airlines reported in a statement this afternoon that a plane carrying Vinson received a thorough cleaning after landing in Dallas before resuming service, contrary to some earlier reports.
Airline workers followed normal cleaning procedures that are consistent with guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to the statement. The plane was cleaned in Dallas and again in Cleveland last night, Frontier stated.
Starting Thursday, Hartsfield-Jackson will be screening travelers from Ebola-stricken countries Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone for fever and other signs of the virus. Screenings will also be taking place at New York’s JFK Airport, Washington Dulles Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport and Chicago O’Hare Airport.
Return to AJC.com and MyAJC.com throughout the afternoon for updates on the Ebola patient heading to Atlanta and the latest on what you need to know about deadly disease.
Ebola at Emory
So far, Emory University Hospital has treated three patients with Ebola. Doctors successfully treated and released Dr. Kent Brantly and missionary Nancy Writebol earlier this year. A third patient, who was transferred to Emory on Sept. 9 but has not been identified for confidentiality reasons, is still being treated at the facility, according to a statement just released by Emory.
The patient wishes to maintain anonymity but requested that the hospital release the following statement:
“Given the national focus on Ebola, particularly with the diagnosis in two health care workers, I want to share the news that I am recovering from this disease, and that I anticipate being discharged very soon, free from the Ebola virus and able to return safely to my family and to my community. As a result of the virus, my condition worsened and I became critically ill soon after I arrived at Emory. Through rigorous medical treatment, skillful nursing, and the full support of a health care team, I am well on the way to a full recovery. I want the public to know that although Ebola is a serious, complex disease, it is possible to recover and return to a healthy life. I wish to retain my anonymity for now, but I anticipate sharing more information in future weeks as I complete my recovery.”
The CDC and Texas Health Presbyterian specifically requested the latest patient be transferred to Emory. The patient will be treated in the same isolation unit as the three others. Emory is one of four hospitals in the country with specialized isolation units used for treating cases involving highly infectious diseases. The three-bed unit at Emory is physically separate from other patient areas.
Texas nurse
The latest Texas nurse infected with the virus had a temperature of 99.5 degrees before she boarded a plane headed from Cleveland to Dallas, the CDC reported. All health care workers who came into contact with the Liberian patient, Thomas Eric Duncan, in Dallas were supposed to be self-monitoring themselves for signs of the disease, including fever. Ebola is only contagious after an infected person begins showing symptoms.
None of the workers were supposed to take any form of public transportation, including airplanes, while being monitored. It can take up to 21 days for someone infected with Ebola to begin showing symptoms. The first symptoms include sudden onset of fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache and sore throat, according to the World Health Organization.
Frontier flight
The CDC on Wednesday said it is reaching out to the 132 passengers who were aboard the nurse’s Oct. 13 flight, Frontier Airlines flight 1143 from Cleveland to Dallas/Fort Worth. Passengers are asked to call 1 (800) CDC-INFO. Public health professionals will then interview passengers about the flight, answer questions and arrange for follow, according to the CDC.
Passengers who are determined to be at potential risk of infection will be actively monitored, according to the agency. The nurse also traveled from Dallas/Fort Worth to Cleveland on Frontier flight 1142 on Oct. 10.
“The safety and security of our customers and employees is our primary concern,” the airline said in a statement. “Frontier will continue to work closely with CDC and other governmental agencies to ensure proper protocols and procedures are being followed.”
Transporting patients
Cartersville-based Phoenix Air, which transported previous Ebola patients to metro Atlanta, would not confirm it is flying the Dallas nurse here as well. However, the company is the only operator that does this type of transport.
Phoenix has done about a dozen Ebola-related missions, and now has a contract with the State Department to be on call 24/7 on 12-hour notice.
But if the Ebola problem broadens, said Randy Davis, Phoenix Air’s general counsel, “We are concerned about getting overwhelmed” and the company is equipping an additional Gulfstream III aircraft for the transports. “It’s a challenge and we’re trying to rise to the occasion.”
The aircraft are specially-equipped to transport the patients. As of yet, “We have had no problems,” Davis said. The company’s employees are all fine, he said.
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