Spaniard With Ebola Beats the Disease, Test Shows
Summary
Teresa Romero, a Spanish nursing assistant, was diagnosed with Ebola in Madrid, Spain. She has managed to undergo treatment and get rid of the disease in nearly three weeks. The 44-year-old was infected after treating West African priests with Ebola in August. She had touched an infected glove to her face which ignited her illness, first diagnosed on October 6. Romero tested negative with no traces of the disease in her bloodstream as of Sunday, October 19. She must complete one final test for Ebola before she can be released from the hospital. Her husband and the 15 other people she had come into contact with after nursing the infected missionaries have tested negative for the disease. Each person is constantly being tested until officials are certain that the disease hasn’t spread. Teresa Romero is very happy about the return of her good health and eager to be released from the hospital.
Analysis
I think that Romero’s diagnosis and treatment was handled professionally and efficiently. I feel that all patients that currently have Ebola should be treated with the same approach and motivation. I think that doctors in Madrid should have been more aware of the infection sooner. The nurse had dealt with Ebola patients in August and it wasn’t until October 6th that she began receiving medical attention. I also believe that Romero should have been more aware of the disease and acted sooner once she began experiencing high fevers.
Discussion Questions
- What are some ways that Teresa Romero and Madrid doctors could identify the disease sooner within patients?
- Do you think that Romero should be released once her second negative Ebola test is completed, or should she spend more time in medical care?
- What do you think the people Romero contacted should do after being in contact with someone infected with Ebola?
Teresa Romero after first Ebola treatmenthttp://www.people.com/article/spanish-nurse-cleared-ebola
With the profuse number of patients coming in to check for ebola, I think it's hard to do an in depth check if they have other patients waiting. And with doctors who aren't that experienced with this disease, it's hard decipher the symptoms.
ReplyDeleteI agree, could the woman still have Ebola? Perhaps the hospital was only curing the symptoms?
DeleteI think that Romero should be released because even though Ebola is a highly contagious and deadly disease, it should be handled just like any other outbreak of a disease. If somebody had a contagious disease that wasn't Ebola, they probably would have been released after they first tested negative for that disease, and Ebola shouldn't be treated any differently.
ReplyDeleteI found this article really interesting. To answer discussion question number 2, I think that they should do at least 2 more check ups just in case.
ReplyDeleteI think that the Spanish hospital dealt with the situation very well. They got Romero tested and held in the hospital as soon as they knew. I don't think the hospital has a better way to test for Ebola. It is a good thing that the people she came into contact with were and are continuing to test them for Ebola. The situation seems well under control and I'm glad they did as good a job as they did.
ReplyDeleteSpain should have gotten more experienced doctors to check the disease. I think Romero should have been released because she was already tested once negative and if she gets negative again then that she means she doesn't really have the disease.The people who contacted Romero should probably see a doctor.
ReplyDeleteI believe there is nothing they could do but just pay more attention to people with high fevers. I don't believe Romero should be released after her her second negative Ebola test because you never know what could happen with this diseases. After someone comes in connect with someone who has Ebola I think they should contain themselves and watch out for the signs of Ebola. Overall Kelly you did a great job and had very good discussion questions.
ReplyDeleteI think that Romero should be able to go home after one more check up because if they take to many check ups, then the doctors are just wasting time that she could be with her family. I think everyone who came in contact with Romero should be checked up at least two times to make sure that they are not infected, but each check up should be at least a week apart.
ReplyDeleteI think Teresa stay in the hospital for at least 3 negative test, I think this because waiting a little bit longer is better than having many other people possibly infected with the virus. But after those test I think she should be able to leave the hospital.
ReplyDeleteKelly, your article was very interesting and you did a nice job on starting deb discussion questions. In my opinion. she should not be released after her second negative Ebola test. I think she should be kept under further surveillance for a few more weeks just in case. Ebola is a worldwide issue, and I think it would be better to be safe than sorry in this situation. We cannot have other people catching the disease because it would increase the spread.
ReplyDeleteI think that Romero shouldn't be released from the hospital right after her second test, even if she really wants to get out of the hospital. The doctors shouldn't just think of her freedom, they should also think about the other people that will be infected. What if she finds out that she still has Ebola and spreads it to her friends and families, wouldn't there be an Ebola problem in another country?
ReplyDeleteI believe this article is very interesting due to the fact that there is still Ebola in Africa. I agree with you on how the treatment was taken care of efficiently and professionally. I also believe that the same treatment and care should be provided to people with Ebola still in Africa.
ReplyDeleteThis article is very interesting and i think that the hospital in Spain is obviously doing something right if they were able release and cure a patient with this deadly disease. I think that she should be released but only if there are 100% positive.
ReplyDeleteI think that if you are in contact with someone who had got infected by the disease, you should be checked just in case or maybe even make sure the situation doesn't go any further.
ReplyDeleteI think that Teresa should be able to go home after one more checkup, because she already managed to get rid of the disease in nearly three weeks. Also, she was tested negative on October 19th. I think her husband and the other 15 people should be tested again just in case.
ReplyDeleteAny time someone has a dangerously high fever should be tested for Ebola. Also people who treat Ebola patients should get tested frequently. I think the nurse should stay under medical care a little longer because 2 tests that are negative are probably not as accurate at per say 4.
ReplyDeleteI think other countries including the U.S., should look at possible options on destroying Ebola all together.
ReplyDeleteReading this article has made me think, What was scientifically different between her and all those who died? Could the doctors have been wrong? Could the woman have survived a very similar disease?
ReplyDeleteI think that teresa should be released from the hospital after her second test because generally once you fight off a disease you will not get it back. I think that one negative test isn't enough to release someone because it could have been messed up. I feel that the people she came into contact with should be closely monitored and kept from too much interaction with others.
ReplyDeleteOne way that the doctors could identify that the patients had the disease within them is that they could keep doing what they are doing. They have been being consistent in this situation, so far. I think they would just need to improve more by immediately treating the infected patient, wearing proper protective gear, and immediately perform tests on the infected person, and the people that they were in contact with. I think that they should perform a third test on Romero, and the people she was in touch with, just to make sure and be positive that she is okay to leave the medical care. They should also stay in touch with her in case something occurs relating to this matter. Also, as I mentioned before, the people that Romero was in contact with should definitely be treated in the medical care. They should be given tests and treated to see whether or not they have Ebola.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you on how the patients are treated, and should be treated with the same care and motivation. In my opinion she should stay under quarantine for a week or two just to confirm the depletion of the virus inside her. After all this isn't a joke and shouldn't be taken lightly because it can spread and there is no good thing that can come out of her going into public while there may still be a chance that she has ebola.
ReplyDelete