http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/health/2014/10/15/second-dallas-hospital-worker-diagnosed-ebola/17290677/Ebola nurse got CDC OK for Cleveland trip
Jordan Armstrong, Tanya Eiserer, Marjorie Owens and Walt Zwirko, WFAA 6:54 p.m. CDT October 15, 2014
DALLAS — The second Dallas nurse diagnosed with Ebola shouldn't have traveled on a commercial flight due to her exposure to the virus prior to her diagnosis, said Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
But the CDC has now confirmed that it gave Amber Vinson permission to make a trip to Cleveland.
Vinson, 29, was identified by a family member as the nurse diagnosed with the virus. Like 26-year-old Nina Pham, who was diagnosed before her, Vinson was among those who had frequent contact with Duncan during his treatment at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas.
Frieden called the first days of Duncan's diagnosis and isolation at the hospital the highest risk moments. He pinpointed those days between October 28 through October 30.
"These two health care workers both worked on those days and both had extensive contact with the patient when the patient had extensive production of bodily fluids because of vomiting and diarrhea," he said.
Officials say Vinson was a passenger on Frontier Airlines Flight 1143, which flew from Cleveland, Ohio to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport on Monday — the day before she was admitted into the hospital. At a news conference in Cleveland, officials said Vinson made the trip north to prepare for her upcoming wedding and visit with her mother.
However, because of her exposure to the virus, Vinson shouldn't have traveled on the commercial flight, the CDC director said on Wednesday. Frieden revealed the nurse registered a low-grade fever of 99.5 degrees before she boarded the plane.
It was later confirmed that the CDC gave Vinson permission to get on the plane because she was showing no other symptoms of the virus, and her temperature didn't reach the threshold of 100.4 degrees.
"She wasn't bleeding or vomiting," Frieden said. "The level of risk around her would be extremely low, but because of the extra margin of safety, we will be contacting [all those who were on the flight]."
The CDC announced during a teleconference Wednesday afternoon that Vinson was stable would be moved to a critical care facility at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.
An ambulance left Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital on Wednesday afternoon to take Vinson to a waiting medical evacuation jet at Dallas Love Field.
"She's a fine young lady, educated," said Martha Shuler, whose son was previously married to Vinson. "She's a good girl."
The 80-year-old woman was the family member who identified Vinson as the third person to be diagnosed within the United States and the second to have contracted the disease in the country.
Shuler said her son was very upset to hear that Vinson had contracted Ebola. She said that even though they were divorced, Vinson and her son had remained in contact.
She said her son spoke to Vinson's mother after the diagnosis.
Lory Harris has known Vinson since childhood. Her daughter grew up with Vinson and they attended the same church. She said Vinson's mom told her several months ago that she was engaged to be married.
"All I know is she's a sweetheart," Harris said. "That's how I remember Amber, as sweetheart."
Frieden said they have identified three contacts close to Vinson who will now join others under health monitoring.
As a precaution, the CDC is contacting all 132 passengers on that flight, which landed around 8:16 p.m.. They have asked passengers to call 1-800-CDC-INFO.
Frontier Airlines says the plane stayed at D/FW Airport overnight, and has since been cleaned. It traveled to Cleveland on Tuesday and was cleaned again. The airline says Vinson traveled to Ohio from North Texas on Flight 1142 on Oct. 10.
"The safety and security of our customers and employees is our primary concern. Frontier will continue to work closely with CDC and other governmental agencies to ensure proper protocols and procedures are being followed," the airline said in a press release.
Wednesday morning, Mayor Mike Rawlings confirmed that Vinson lives alone without pets at The Green in the Village Apartments, in the 6000 block of Village Bend near Skillman, just north of Lovers Lane.
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The nation's top doctor says Amber Vinson should not have been allowed to travel on a commercial flight
