DALLAS, Tx.–Ebola is the main topic in Dallas and is foremost on the minds of many Americans after Sunday’s news that a Texas health care worker was diagnosed with the potentially deadly disease. She had contact with the first victim, who died Wednesday at Texas Presbyterian Hospital. Now Mississippi’s Rep. Bennie Thompson (D), who is the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, has suggested some CDC procedures may need to be reconsidered.
“The CDC attributes the new infection to a breach in protocol,” said Thompson, “whiuch raises the question whether ordinary hospitals that may not have had specialized training on caring for seriously ill patients safely should be responsible for the long-term care of an Ebola patient where there are beds available in one of our nations biocontainment units.”
Thompson released a statement Sunday.
“In the coming days, I encourage the CDC to consider whether it is appropriate to recommend transferring Ebola patients to one of our nation’s biocontainment units upon diagnosis, if there are beds available.”
Thompson said that in the meantime, he encourages the CDC to work with state and local health care providers to ensure that guidelines for Ebola patients are strictly followed.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the Texas nurse who compassionately and courageously cared for the first U.S. Ebola patient and was diagnosed with the disease this weekend,” he said.
