CDC told Ebola nurse to get on a plane, even though she called to report her fever

Ever since the first reports that Thomas Duncan had tested positive for Ebola back on September 30th, the U.S. government has delivered one constant, forceful, message. They are taking this very seriously, they are capable of handling the situation, and they have protocols in place to contain those who may be carrying the disease. If you've been anywhere near a newscast in the last two weeks, you've undoubtedly heard those claims.

Unfortunately, those same newscasts won't exactly instill great confidence. That's particularly true after last night, when we learned that the CDC actually told infected Dallas nurse Amber Vinson that she could fly on a commercial airliner - despite the fact that she called in to report a fever. As CBS Dallas Fort Worth reports:

“Although she (Vinson) did not report any symptoms and she did not meet the fever threshold of 100.4, she did report at that time she took her temperature and found it to be 99.5,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden. Her temperature coupled with the fact that she had been exposed to the virus should have prevented her from getting on the plane, he said. “I don’t think that changes the level of risk of people around her. She did not vomit, she was not bleeding, so the level of risk of people around her would be extremely low.”

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So, Vinson called the CDC, told them about her fever, and they knew she had been in contact with a high profile, now deceased, Ebola patient. A bureaucrat looked at his clipboard and basically said "99.5 isn't too bad, so don't worry about it. Go ahead and fly." Since she wasn't bleeding, vomiting, or enduring explosive diarrhea - all things that should probably keep you off a plane even if you haven't had contact with an Ebola patient - she was not considered "high risk." Therefore, she was given the green light. There are those who will say that we should probably give the CDC the benefit of the doubt. This was probably just a quick phone call that got lost in the shuffle. Obviously, this was a one time thing. ...Except it wasn't.

CBS News Medical Correspondent Dr. John LaPook reports that Vinson called the CDC several times before boarding the plane concerned about her fever.

She called "several times" and was still given the go-ahead? That's how seriously they were taking things? The simple fact that she was worried enough to call more than once should have raised a major red flag. Now, "from this moment forward," the government is promising it will do things a bit differently.

Vinson first reported a fever to the hospital on Tuesday (Oct. 14) and was isolated within 90 minutes, according to officials. She did not exhibit symptoms while on the Monday flight, according to crew members. However, the CDC says passenger notification is needed as an “extra level of safety” due to the proximity in time between the flight and the first reported symptoms. Those who have exposures to Ebola, she should not have traveled on a commercial airline,” said [CDC director] Dr. Frieden. “The CDC guidance in this setting outlines the need for controlled movement. That can include a charter plane; that can include a car; but it does not include public transport. We will from this moment forward ensure that no other individual who is being monitored for exposure undergoes travel in any way other than controlled movement.” Frieden specifically noted that the remaining 75 healthcare workers who treated Thomas Duncan at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital will not be allowed to fly.

That's super, but "from this moment forward" is a phrase that Frieden should never have been forced to utter. When you're dealing with a public health crisis that has the potential to be as deadly as an Ebola outbreak, the no-fly policy should have been in place from day one. Now, it's obvious that not ALL of the blame should fall on the CDC here. Vinson shares at least some of it. If she was concerned enough about her fever to call in multiple times, common sense should have told her not to put a plane load of 132 passengers at risk. At the end of the day, though, the CDC has given us another example where a federal agency is constantly telling us tales of their sincerity, competence, and ceaseless concern, ...while demonstrating the exact opposite.