The second nurse to succumb to the Ebola virus, Amber Vinson, was defended by her family about her decision to travel prior to her diagnosis of the deadly virus. In a statement released on Oct. 19, the family expressed their concern about Vinson's actions being mischaracterized in the media.
"Suggestions that she ignored any of the physician and government-provided protocols recommended to her are patently untrue and hurtful," the statement reads. This was a response to critics who say that Vinson, 29, was careless for flying despite suspected Ebola infection.
"To be clear, in no way was Amber careless prior to or after her exposure to Mr. Thomas Eric Duncan. She has not and would not knowingly expose herself or anyone else," her family specified.
Duncan was the first U.S. Ebola patient who died on Oct. 8 at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital.
Following fellow nurse Nina Pham's diagnosis of the virus, the Dallas County Health Department got in touch with Vinson, and all 77 of them who worked closely with Duncan.
While on the phone with the agency, Vinson, who was then in Ohio, decided to fly back to Dallas out of precaution, although "her concerns were unfounded because her temperatures were within the appropriate measures and asymptomatic in all other areas."
Prior to the flight, Vinson informed CDC of her 99.5-degree fever. Not meeting the 100.4 threshold, CDC cleared her to fly. However, an unspecified government officer, via NBC, claimed otherwise. Furthermore, CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden said in a statement via IBTimes that "she should not have traveled on a commercial airline."
"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 continued.
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins apologized on Oct. 20 for the mistake in giving Vinson the permission to fly despite the risk, Yahoo reported.
Vinson's travel prompted Denver-based Frontier Airlines to take precaution. In an email from company president Barry Biffle, the airlines' CEO David Siegel sent the employees who shared the flight with Vinson on a 21-day leave, equivalent to the health-monitoring period. The passengers onboard the same flight as well as her previous travel to Cleveland on Oct. 10 were informed as well.
Vinson is currently being treated at the Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.
