WASHINGTON While federal and local officials rethink their Ebola containment strategy, they've also riled front-line health care workers by repeatedly pointing the finger at nurses as new infections surface.

Most recently, federal sources even suggested the second Dallas nurse to test positive for the virus "lied" to the CDC about her symptoms.

Nursing associations, though, are pointing the finger right back, saying the system is not doing enough to protect them.

Its critical that we do not blame individuals. We need to support our health care workers so they feel safe and empowered," Adam Wasch, a spokesman for the Texas Nurses Association, told FoxNews.com.

From the outset in Texas, hospital staff were faulted for releasing Liberian national Thomas Eric Duncan, who died last week of the virus.Indeed, the hospital later said it made a mistake discharging Duncan after he first came to the facility on Sept. 25. Saying he was feeling ill and had recently returned from Liberia one of the countries hardest-hit by Ebola Duncan was allowed to leave the hospital.He died on Oct. 8.

Since Duncans death, though, two nurses who cared for him have tested positive for Ebola -- and federal officials have seemed to initially fault them.

Blaming health care workers didnt sit well with National Nurses United, the nations largest union of registered nurses.

This month has been a nightmare frankly for the nurses, executive director Roseann Demoro told reporters on Wednesday, later adding, This is the responsibility of our elected officials to actually protect this nation. And we are asking the president of the United States to invoke his executive authority to protect the nurses.

The two nurses contracted the virus despite wearing protective uniforms meant to keep them safe. More than 70 others who had been in contact with Duncan are currently being monitored for Ebola and are unable to work.

At best, the information about the virus, and how its handled and transmitted, has been confusing. Equally confusing is the story over how two nurses and possibly many others were exposed to the deadly virus.

Originally posted here:

BLAME GAME Feds rile health care workers with Ebola claims