Nurse Wins Case Of Being Forcefully Quarantined as Ebola patient

A judge in the US has ruled in favour of a nurse fighting a state quarantine order since returning from treating Ebola patients in West Africa.
Judge Charles LaVerdiere ruled Kaci Hickox did not need to be isolated or restricted in her movements because she is not showing symptoms of the virus.

It came hours after UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned discrimination against aid workers.

And it was a blow to the Maine governor who had sought a 21-day quarantine.

The judge said the nurse must comply with health officials over monitoring but does not need to stay away from public places, as the state had requested.

Governor Paul LePage said he disagrees with the court’s findings but will comply.

“As governor, I have done everything I can to protect the health and safety of Mainers,he said on Friday that the judge has eased restrictions with this ruling and I believe it is unfortunate. However, the state will abide by law.”

The state of Maine had gone to court to impose restrictions on the nurse until 10 November, when the 21-day incubation period for Ebola was set to expire.

Following the ruling, Ms Hickox called it a good day”, but that her thoughts, prayers and gratitude were with those battling the virus in West Africa.

More than 13,700 people have been infected in total, the vast majority in the West African countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

Nearly 5,000 people have died of Ebola, but only nine patients have been treated for the virus on US soil.

Ebola, which is only spread through close contact with the bodily fluids of a sick patient, has an incubation period of up to 21 days.

People are not infectious until they show symptoms, usually a fever.

-akpraise.com