Why are they bringing Ebola to the US?

[Sabine Grant]

It sounds like "yes" from the article Sabine posted.

The particular virus in this outbreak, known as the Zaire ebolavirus, is the deadliest type of the disease; it has killed 79 percent of those infected in previous outbreaks.

It depends how long antibodies will remain present in the immune system and their count. An American survivor of Ebola was interviewed on CNN this evening. Mind you that he contracted Ebola prior to 1976, recovered but was only later identified as having been infected with Ebola. He stated that several draws of his blood occurred over the course of 2 decades (CDC study) in order to store his anti bodies. However such draws stopped as his anti body count dropped too low.

The human immune system possesses the remarkable quality to "remember" a viral intrusion and will usually react to a renewed intrusion of the same virus by producing anti bodies. So far it does not appear that there is any conclusion as to whether a previously Ebola infected individual and survivor is now permanently immune. Or if the immunity decreases with time. Considering that there are several strains of Ebola (to include the Reston version which is airborne however if killing monkeys, humans do not get sick as they automatically produce anti bodies), immunity to one would not guarantee immunity to another strain.

 

[Sabine Grant]

...
Further, none, supportive care involves far more than just "intravenous liquids".

Like what? cleaning up after diarrhea?

Here is your opportunity to broaden your knowledge of what such supportive care implies,

http://ebola.emedtv.com/ebola/ebola-treatment.html

http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/treatment/index.html

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/216288-treatment

If you have any questions as to why the following treatments,

1) Monitoring intravascular volume and administration of Heparin to prevent blood clotting

2) Maintenance of 02 saturation.

3) Antibiotics (other routes than oral due to frequent emesis), meaning by infusion.

4) Maintenance of BP to avoid extended hypotension (renal damages)

5) Maintenance of electrolytes and nutrition.

6)Transfusions of platelets or blood.

7) Comfort care which implies palliative/pain management (thus the mention of "good nursing")

feel free to ask.

And in case you believe that such medical care is somehow effectively available in a nation like Liberia,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_In_Liberia

especially in the midst of an epidemic.

they have to bring them to the US for that?

"that" is considerably far more than what you had anticipated.

what kind of precedent are we setting here, and for what reason?

Precedent? As if the US is the only nation who has ever med evacuated its citizens from a foreign nation. I have no idea why such dramatic reaction to the med evac of infected US citizens requiring the type of care documented in the links I am providing.

By the way, had you done your own homework, you most probably would not have come up with" and cleaning up diarrhea".

 

[blastula]

Not to worry. A miracle has saved the day.

American Ebola patients released - CNN.com

"Today is a miraculous day," Brantly said at a news conference Thursday. "I am thrilled to be alive, to be well and to be reunited with my family."

And that's coming from a doctor, no less.