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As Ebola escapes Europe’s defenses, Madrid scrambles to contain the virus

MADRID (AP) — Health officials in Spain are scrambling to contain the Ebola virus, quarantining four people at a Madrid hospital where a nursing assistant got infected and even getting a court order to kill the woman’s dog.

The first case of Ebola transmitted outside Africa is raising questions about how prepared wealthier countries really are. Spanish health workers are complaining that they lack the training and equipment to handle the virus.

Meanwhile, medical officials in the United States are retraining hospital staff and fine-tuning infection control procedures after the mishandling of a critically ill Liberian man in Texas, who might have exposed many others to the virus after a hospital sent him away.

In Africa, the U.S. military is preparing to open a 25-bed mobile hospital for health care workers with Ebola, before building 17 promised 100-bed Ebola Treatment Units in Liberia. The virus has taken an especially devastating toll on health care workers, sickening or killing more than 370 in the hardest-hit countries of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, where doctors and nurses were already in short supply.

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146-c-20-(Alan Clendenning, AP correspondent)-“protect this nurse”-AP correspondent Alan Clendenning reports public health officials in Spain are facing criticism over the infection of a health worker who was helping to care for an Ebola patient in Madrid. ((actual cut length is :14 seconds) (7 Oct 2014)

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148-c-20-(Alan Clendenning, AP correspondent)-“finish their investigation”-AP correspondent Alan Clendenning reports Spanish health authorities are hearing criticism from all sides over a nursing assistant’s Ebola infection. (7 Oct 2014)

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147-c-20-(Alan Clendenning, AP correspondent)-“from his room”-AP correspondent Alan Clendenning reports this case highlights the dangers that health care workers face in caring for Ebola patients, even within a state-of-the-art medical facility. ((actual length of this cut is :14 seconds) (7 Oct 2014)

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149-c-16-(Alan Clendenning, AP correspondent)-“of Spain’s economy”-AP correspondent Alan Clendenning reports markets have been affected by the Ebola infection and quarantines because of fears that Spain’s important tourism industry may be hurt. (7 Oct 2014)

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159-w-35-(Sagar Meghani (SAH’-gur meh-GAH’-nee), AP national security correspondent, with General David Rodriguez, commander, U.S. Africa Command)–The top U.S. general in Africa is putting a price figure on the military efforts against Ebola. AP National Security Correspondent Sagar Meghani reports from the Pentagon. (7 Oct 2014)

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152-a-09-(General David Rodriguez, commander, U.S. Africa Command, at news conference)-“a 6-month period”-General David Rodriguez, commander of the U.S. Africa Command, says the military’s Ebola mission will not be cheap. (7 Oct 2014)

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155-a-07-(General David Rodriguez, commander, U.S. Africa Command, at news conference)-“the Ebola virus”-General David Rodriguez, commander of the U.S. Africa Command, says the majority of American troops will not come into contact with Ebola patients, but those specially-trained personnel manning mobile testing labs will. (7 Oct 2014)

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153-a-08-(General David Rodriguez, commander, U.S. Africa Command, at news conference)-“get tested continually”-General David Rodriguez, commander of the U.S. Africa Command, says some American military personnel will come in contact with Ebola patients. (7 Oct 2014)

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154-a-09-(General David Rodriguez, commander, U.S. Africa Command, at news conference)-“primary skill set”-General David Rodriguez, commander of the U.S. Africa Command, says the American troops who will be in contact with Ebola patients inside mobile labs are highly trained. (7 Oct 2014)

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APPHOTO AK112: People walk by an advertising calling for financial help to fight Ebola in Africa in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014. Three more people were placed under quarantine for Ebola at a Madrid hospital where a Spanish nurse became infected, authorities said Tuesday. More than 50 other possible contacts were being monitored. The nursing assistant, who had cared for a Spanish priest who died of Ebola, was the first case of Ebola being transmitted outside of West Africa, where a months-long outbreak has killed at least 3,500 people and infected at least twice as many. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki) (7 Oct 2014)

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Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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