“Unfortunately, we have an advantage from watching what happened in Dallas,” Mr. Cuomo told thousands of health care workers Tuesday at an Ebola training session at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. “Because Dallas didn’t have a chance to prepare like we have a chance to prepare.”
Two days later, his boast was put to the test, as Dr. Spencer, 33, reported a fever of 100.3.
A day later, Dr. Spencer was in stable condition and in good enough spirits to be talking to his family and friends by cellphone. Doctors were maintaining his electrolyte balance and checking his vital signs, but had not found it necessary to move to more drastic treatment.
Still, it was far from clear that he would get better rather than worse, and the possibility that experimental treatment could be needed was being discussed. Through it all, officials have been working hard to tamp down fear. City workers handed out informational leaflets in English and in Spanish on his block and near subway stations in his neighborhood.
Mark Levine, the city councilman for the neighborhood, said the campaign would have been much harder without advance planning.
“After the Texas incident, they reviewed every procedure from top to bottom,” Mr. Levine said. “New York City could not have been more prepared for an incident like this.” (NY Times)