My friend, The Weekly Flyer, posted about the latest twist in the Ebola scare this morning. Apparently, a Dallas healthcare worker who handled a lab specimen from the US’ first Ebola victim departed Galveston, Texas aboard the Carnival Magic on October 12. Here is a quote from Carnival about the matter.
Weekly Flyer says he would pack his bags and leave. He’d be in for a long swim.
That’s the current position of Carnival Magic according to marinetraffic.com. According to KHOU, the government of Belize refused a request by the US government to allow the individual to disembark and be flown home. Depending on who you consult, the ship is in anchorage off shore, and no guests are being allowed to disembark. I wouldn’t leave the ship to fly home, and being a poor swimmer isn’t the only reason. First, the “patient” hasn’t exhibited any symptoms, and is quarantined in her room. And if the news reports and Cruise Critic are to be believed, the person in question is actually a supervisor at the lab and didn’t actually “touch” any lab specimens. That won’t stop the media and anyone else from talking about this.
Certainly, I’m not a physician or epidemiologist. I’m a blogger that likes to cruise. I claim no expertise in this except the knowledge that ships are really good at quarantining people when they need to, but I doubt they’re equipped to deal with Ebola. Of course, I don’t think they need to in this case, but let’s get hysterical anyway. Not! Now…all this isn’t to say that the handling of the entire Ebola experience in this country hasn’t been botched from the get-go, but that’s for someone else to pontificate about.
-MJ, October 17, 2014
I don’t think there is a high risk to the ship, but what’s the deal with these healthcare workers traveling? I understand that you were looking forward to your cruise vacation, but do you really think it’s a good idea to travel so soon and in close proximity to so many other people? I am sure carnival would have been very understanding in regards to refunding or rescheduling this cruise given the possible exposure to Ebola. Any individual who comes or may have come in contact with Ebola and travels is extremely selfish and a potential danger to others.
Hysteria is a good word for it. You’d think it was the year 1438 or something and a plague epidemic.
@John,
Agreed.