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CDC workers face trouble at home returning from W. Africa

Workers from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta returning from working in West Africa are being faced with troubles at home.

Spouses, partners and children of some of the CDC workers are being told to stay home and not go to work even though they have very low, to no risk, of the Ebola infection.

Bryan Amman returned home to Atlanta last Monday from Sierra Leone.  His ex-wife teaches at a school in Newton County, and was sent home from school because she picked him up from the airport.  His two children were also escorted from class and sent home.

“They were asked not to return until they had a letter of health,” Amman explained. “I’m glad they are looking out for the best interest of the children, but at the same time you need to have some caution because that can create some unnecessary fear.”

Amman was not sick and his work did not involve infected patients while in Sierra Leone flagging him as low risk. He does not live with his ex-wife, and his sons were with her while he was in West Africa.  The children and his ex-wife have been allowed to return to school, but not before getting a note from a doctor saying they did not have Ebola.

Joe Merlino also works at the CDC, and his wife, a teacher, was also sent home even though he did not work with Ebola patients and was not sick.

“They indicated in order for her to come back they would need a letter,” Merlino told WSB.

In light of these situations, the CDC has decided to issue a letter to Georgia educators to teach them about Ebola so they did not impose unnecessary restrictions. The letter will also explain the screening process the workers go through upon re-entering the United States.

“We are aware of the potential, but it’s a very small risk and we are very well trained in how to handle ourselves over there… we’ve been doing this a long time,” Amman said.

Merlino echoed the same sentiment saying, “We certainly would not put our families or any other Americans in harm’s way.”

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