Ebola virus outbreak

Hootanany · 30-07-2014 10:21pm

Anyone mention the outbreak in Washington yet in the monkey house

Turtwig · 30-07-2014 10:24pm

That was covered in some sensationalized book. Still very interesting though. Maybe we're naive but on current form Ebola should only be localised to small pockets. Still crappy for anyone who contracts it.

ceadaoin. · 30-07-2014 11:22pm

The One Who Knocks wrote: »

Oh FFS..

People are dying in West Africa because they are uneducated about ebola. Because they are coming into direct contact with the blood/vomit/faeces of an infected person. You can't get it by being in the same room as someone who's infected, and it's near impossible to get it from them coughing/sneezing as it's not airborne.

You need to understand how little the locals know about ebola. If every single person in West Africa was told "Do not touch sick people who show symptoms of Ebola including for example fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, headaches and sometimes heavy bleeding" and "Do not touch the dead bodies of suspected or confirmed Ebola patients." it would be gone in a matter of weeks!

For example, here's some questions posed to health workers through an ebola helpline: "Will eating raw onions once a day for three days protect me from Ebola? Is it safe to eat mangoes? Is it true that a daily intake of condensed milk can prevent infection with Ebola?" Some people even believe that it's the people in hazmat suits that have brought ebola to their villages. They are mostly clueless. Believe it or not, it's difficult to contract ebola.

It's also traditional to wash the bodies of the deceased, and this is continues to happen despite the implications.

So yes, while it's a concern if you live in West Africa and don't know how ebola is spread, to developed countries it's not currently, and probably never will be of great concern. It needs to evolve first.

It's really annoying to see how much of a feeding frenzy the media are having with this.

I have also read that people have been "rescuing" their relatives from quarantine and bringing them back home. They believe that the doctors are trying to kill them.

Mr.Micro · 30-07-2014 11:47pm

woodoo wrote: »

A pharmaceutical company no doubt have a cure but are just waiting for it to reach the west before releasing it.

Nope, there is no cure. Can be up to 90% mortality. With most viral infections....immunisation with a vaccine, before infection, if there is one, is the only treatment. There is no vaccine for Ebola as far as I know.

ardinn · 31-07-2014 12:00am

Because we arent bothered enough yet - Cue a false alarm about a case in europe, let the fear set in and politicians make some knee jerk decisions, and then "poof" A vaccine!

Turtwig · 31-07-2014 12:18am

ardinn wrote: »

Because we arent bothered enough yet - Cue a false alarm about a case in europe, let the fear set in and politicians make some knee jerk decisions, and then "poof" A vaccine!

If only it were that easy. Proof! A wild vaccine appeared.

ardinn · 31-07-2014 12:22am

Turtwig wrote: »

If only it were that easy. Proof! A wild vaccine appeared.

It's "poof"

:cool:

The One Who Knocks · 31-07-2014 12:23am

ceadaoin. wrote: »

I have also read that people have been "rescuing" their relatives from quarantine and bringing them back home. They believe that the doctors are trying to kill them.

Exactly. You just wouldn't get this sort of thing in a developed country.

The Backwards Man · 31-07-2014 12:26am

The One Who Knocks wrote: »

Exactly. You just wouldn't get this sort of thing in a developed country.

Indeed.

>.>

<.<

donegal__road · 31-07-2014 12:35am

I remember hearing on the news on our way to the airport in 2003, the World Health Organisation have advised against any unnecessary travel to Toronto because of the SARS outbreak.

I was living in Toronto at the time and was flying back the next day. I was living right beside where the SARS hot-spot was in Chinatown. 33 people had already died, a friend of mine was a nurse in the hospital where the outbreak was, and my father-in-law was quarantined for a week.... still didn't put me off heading over. People went about their business as normal.

TwoShedsJackson · 31-07-2014 12:02pm

The Indo realise we're all doomed, and have an article which is up to their usual standards of editing:

“There’s an isolation unit in the matter to deal with it in the Mater.”

Dr O’Flanagan said that SARS and other airborne pathogens have a far greater potential to become pandemics.

“The thing about SARS was that it was transmittable through the air, which meant it had greater pandemic potential.”

Nice repetition, brings back the ol' 'what I did on my holidays' essay vibe. And now if you copy and paste something from their site they automatically tag on the link :rolleyes:

homemadecider · 31-07-2014 1:27pm

Interesting front-line take on the story in the Indo today, what's frightening is the crazy rumours going around saying that Ebola is being introduced to the population by medical staff. It means people are avoiding the hospitals out of fear - yikes!

Source: http://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/ebola-no-cure-no-vaccine-and-the-real-danger-of-panic-30472878.html

ceadaoin. · 02-08-2014 3:17am

The two american citizens who have contracted the virus are being flown back to Atlanta to be looked after in a hospital equipped for such outbreaks. As someone living in the US, this makes me uneasy even though I know they will be extremely well isolated and all proper precautions taken :eek:

http://online.wsj.com/articles/atlanta-responds-to-hearing-ebola-patient-to-be-treated-in-local-hospital-1406910226

snubbleste · 02-08-2014 5:20pm

American news network helicopter following the ambulance containing one of the patients from airport to hospital in Atlanta

PucaMama · 02-08-2014 6:10pm

why would they want to move such risky patients??

02-08-2014 6:33pm

Im surprised the guy walked into the unit. I would have thought he would have been stretchered in, due to weakness.

Privileged White Male · 02-08-2014 6:38pm

ceadaoin. wrote: »

The two american citizens who have contracted the virus are being flown back to Atlanta to be looked after in a hospital equipped for such outbreaks. As someone living in the US, this makes me uneasy even though I know they will be extremely well isolated and all proper precautions taken :eek:

Its not the Back Death or the Spanish Flu they have. There isn't going to be a terrible outbreak. Stop listening to the fear mongering on the news.

PucaMama · 02-08-2014 6:44pm

Privileged White Male wrote: »

ceadaoin. wrote: »

The two american citizens who have contracted the virus are being flown back to Atlanta to be looked after in a hospital equipped for such outbreaks. As someone living in the US, this makes me uneasy even though I know they will be extremely well isolated and all proper precautions taken :eek:

Its not the Back Death or the Spanish Flu they have. There isn't going to be a terrible outbreak. Stop listening to the fear mongering on the news.

black death or spanish flu are nothing compared to ebola. ebola may not be as infectious because of the need for contact, but far more dangerous. have you read the book The Hot Zone? i think everyone should be made to read the first chapter. you will get a description of what ebola virus does to its victims.

Privileged White Male · 02-08-2014 6:51pm

PucaMama wrote: »

Privileged White Male wrote: »

black death or spanish flu are nothing compared to ebola. ebola may not be as infectious because of the need for contact, but far more dangerous. have you read the book The Hot Zone? i think everyone should be made to read the first chapter. you will get a description of what ebola virus does to its victims.

Yes its a very nasty disease but so are the the two I mentioned. The media has hyped this up so much its ridiculous. If it gets to the west it will be quickly isolated and cotained. It doesn't spread through the air. And unlike in Africa we have far better sanitation, we don't attack health care workers and we don't break our relatives out of quarantine.

You're far more likely to die of the flu this winter than Ebola.

02-08-2014 6:51pm

From August 4th to 6th Mr Obama is finally holding his first US-Africa summit, bringing nearly 50 heads of state and government to Washington, DC.
Three leaders have cancelled due to the Ebola outbreak.

I wonder is it a safe time for such a meeting.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jul/31/african-leader-cancels-trip-us-over-ebola-outbreak/

02-08-2014 6:55pm

Privileged White Male wrote: »

PucaMama wrote: »

Yes its a very nasty disease but so are the the two I mentioned. The media has hyped this up so much its ridiculous. If it gets to the west it will be quickly isolated and cotained. It doesn't spread through the air. And unlike in Africa we have far better sanitation, we don't attack health care workers and we don't break our relatives out of quarantine.

You're far more likely to die of the flu this winter than Ebola.

Ive read that the boldily wastes from these patients at Emory will be disposed of in the usual sewer management system.
I dont know the answer to this, so Im genuinely asking, can rats spread ebola? Could that lead to a problem

PucaMama · 02-08-2014 7:02pm

Jake1 wrote: »

Privileged White Male wrote: »

Ive read that the boldily wastes from these patients at Emory will be disposed of in the usual sewer management system.
I dont know the answer to this, so Im genuinely asking, can rats spread ebola? Could that lead to a problem

im not sure if it can, but if they do then it will be dangerous. also the sewers are hardly a secure thing that noone can reach. it really should be disposed like other dangerous biological waste

PucaMama · 02-08-2014 7:04pm

Privileged White Male wrote: »

Yes its a very nasty disease but so are the the two I mentioned. The media has hyped this up so much its ridiculous. If it gets to the west it will be quickly isolated and cotained. It doesn't spread through the air. And unlike in Africa we have far better sanitation, we don't attack health care workers and we don't break our relatives out of quarantine.

You're far more likely to die of the flu this winter than Ebola.

and yet if people are worried about things like swine flu they are overreacting too?? this lack of fear around ebola will make it even more dangerous. we are too complacent with these diseases.

Privileged White Male · 02-08-2014 7:09pm

PucaMama wrote: »

and yet if people are worried about things like swine flu they are overreacting too?? this lack of fear around ebola will make it even more dangerous. we are too complacent with these diseases.

I'm not honestly worried about Ebola. If it was airborne then maybe. The media have just hyped this bs up.

Ineedaname · 02-08-2014 7:26pm

The virus can be easily killed by soap and hot water. It also doesn't survive long if exposed to sunlight.

It simply wouldn't thrive anywhere with decent sanitation standards.

Joe Doe · 02-08-2014 7:27pm

No sure if correct but doesn't this particular strain have a 90% drop rate, rather than the 60% sometimes quoted.

The 21 day carry rate is a concern, you can bump into a lot of people over 21 days rather than say, if it was 3 days.

They're still trying to contact 30,000 whom may have been in close contact with 'one person' that flew to Nigeria. Initially it was a few hundred, but was since expanded.

Ineedaname · 02-08-2014 7:31pm

Joe Doe wrote: »

No sure if correct but doesn't this particular strain have a 90% drop rate, rather than the 60% sometimes quoted.

The 21 day carry rate is a concern, you can bump into a lot of people over 21 days rather than say, if it was 3 days.

They're still trying to contact 30,000 whom may have been in close contact with 'one person' that flew to Nigeria. Initially it was a few hundred, but was since expanded.

Casual contact with others won't spread the virus. Only direct contact with bodily fluids.

The One Who Knocks · 02-08-2014 7:38pm

PucaMama wrote: »

and yet if people are worried about things like swine flu they are overreacting too?? this lack of fear around ebola will make it even more dangerous. we are too complacent with these diseases.

No, fear is making it more dangerous.

The Ebola virus has been infecting and killing people in Central Africa since at least 1976, and the current “worst Ebola epidemic in history” has been going on in West Africa since March. But it is only in the past few weeks that a second deadly “virus” has emerged, as the news media has caught on to this story and has broadcast it around the world, infecting everyone with another contagious virus: fear.

Don’t get me wrong; Ebola is a bad bug, and well worth being concerned about. This particular Zaire strain kills up to 90 percent of its human victims. It often fools the immune system of a host into not recognizing it, and many victims end up in kidney and liver failure without even a fight. On top of this, Ebola is difficult to recognize, appearing first like any other flu with fatigue, fever, headache, muscle aches. Then you can start to have vomiting and diarrhea, and caretakers and close contacts of afflicted patients can catch Ebola even as they try to help contain it.

But fear and ignorance are spreading in West Africa along with Ebola, as natives mistrust the very humanitarian aid that is being brought in to help them. Physicians in the Ebola trenches are heroes, not sources of contagion, but not everyone sees them that way. Dr. Sheik Humarr Khan, whose work in Sierra Leone against several viruses -- including Ebola -- is legendary, died this week of the dreaded virus. His work should be celebrated.

But with this Ebola outbreak already killing close to 700 in West Africa, the best way to combat it is with solid science, and the biggest threat to this proven strategy is fear. Ebola isn’t spread by coughing and sneezing. Isolating sick patients and their contacts has worked in stopping previous Ebola outbreaks. The same kind of infection-control precautions are used that have also worked successfully with HIV/AIDS (gloves, gowns, masks).

Unfortunately, when people are afraid, they take fewer infectious precautions, and spread more virus. This is why regional quarantines haven’t always worked historically. It is probably prudent for Liberia to close most of its borders and to have Ebola testing centers at the ones that remain open, as long as this doesn’t spread panic. While it is also reasonable to issue travel advisories and screen patients for viral symptoms coming in and out of West Africa, and the CDC is wise to issue Level 2 travel precautions (avoid direct contact with Ebola patients), anything beyond this at this point would be counterproductive.

It is very unlikely that someone will contract Ebola from casual contact on a plane. It is even more unlikely that if Ebola does appear in the U.S., that it will lead to a sustained outbreak here, because of our public health system. The challenge to provide supportive care while properly isolating patients is much greater in Liberia, Sierra Leone, or Guinea than it would be here.

Living close together, being unaware of how viruses spread, and even burial rituals have helped to spread Ebola in West Africa. This epidemic will still likely be contained and not spread to other countries. If it does spread, it will likely not be sustained, in part because Ebola is so deadly it usually kills the host before he/she has a chance to spread it.

Several vaccines and anti-viral drugs have showed promising results in animals, and human testing is under way, though no treatment or vaccine will be ready for market soon. In the meantime, the best treatment for both Ebola and the spreading fear of Ebola is to offer the world information and perspective, and for those afflicted in Africa -- careful isolation.

When it comes to a health scare, the news media has never been great at providing this kind of calm, rational perspective. The time to start is now.

- Dr. Marc Siegel, a practicing internist, joined FOX News Channel (FNC) as a contributor in 2008.

Joe Doe · 02-08-2014 7:43pm

Ineedaname wrote: »

Casual contact with others won't spread the virus. Only direct contact with bodily fluids.

Agree it's slim chance, but wonder if sweaty hand shake then hand near mouth/eyes, or water droplets from sneeze in a confined space be inside that classification...

Calibos · 02-08-2014 7:55pm

After 16 pages the same posters are posting the same paranoid ill-informed nonsense. There's just no explaining to some people :rolleyes:

MadYaker · 02-08-2014 9:16pm

People are getting far too worried about this. The virus doesn't stand a chance in a country with half decent hygiene standards and that has a populace which doesn't believe in witchcraft and listens to what their government tells them.

People in Sierra Leone are still hand washing the dead ffs. There have been cases of hostility towards western medical staff as some communities believe that they are in fact spreading the virus themselves.

ceadaoin. · 02-08-2014 9:18pm

Privileged White Male wrote: »

ceadaoin. wrote: »

The two american citizens who have contracted the virus are being flown back to Atlanta to be looked after in a hospital equipped for such outbreaks. As someone living in the US, this makes me uneasy even though I know they will be extremely well isolated and all proper precautions taken :eek:

Its not the Back Death or the Spanish Flu they have. There isn't going to be a terrible outbreak. Stop listening to the fear mongering on the news.

I'm not. I know logically that it has little chance of it spreading in a country with decent sanitary standards, as well as the fact that they will be in a special containment unit. It just doesn't sit right with me that people with this disease have been brought into the country. I can't help that there is a 'what if' scenario in the back of my mind. I'm not in full on doomsday prepping panic mode or anything. Not yet anyway

The One Who Knocks · 02-08-2014 9:23pm

Calibos wrote: »

After 16 pages the same posters are posting the same paranoid ill-informed nonsense. There's just no explaining to some people :rolleyes:

I give up!

Privileged White Male · 02-08-2014 9:30pm

ceadaoin. wrote: »

Privileged White Male wrote: »

I'm not. I know logically that it has little chance of it spreading in a country with decent sanitary standards, as well as the fact that they will be in a special containment unit. It just doesn't sit right with me that people with this disease have been brought into the country. I can't help that there is a 'what if' scenario in the back of my mind. I'm not in full on doomsday prepping panic mode or anything. Not yet anyway

That's because the media have hyped up Ebola so much. The plague is still around. Saw a program the other night about an American who caught it, in the US. He had to get both legs amputated. That's a horrible disease but chances are you're not too worried about it.

Capt'n Midnight · 02-08-2014 10:24pm

ardinn wrote: »

Because we arent bothered enough yet - Cue a false alarm about a case in europe, let the fear set in and politicians make some knee jerk decisions, and then "poof" A vaccine!

Remind us again how the AIDS vaccine research is getting on

The One Who Knocks · 02-08-2014 10:43pm

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Remind us again how the AIDS vaccine research is getting on

I think the multi-billion dollar treatment industry is more profitable. With Ebola a vaccine would be pretty much the only option for "big pharma."

iguana · 02-08-2014 11:03pm

ceadaoin. wrote: »

It just doesn't sit right with me that people with this disease have been brought into the country. I can't help that there is a 'what if' scenario in the back of my mind.

But would it sit right with you if two people who stand a decent chance of survival in an American hospital were left to die because of irrational fear? That two mothers would be left to mourn their children? That a small girl and boy would be left without their father and two grown boys left without their mother? That a man and a woman be left without their wife and husband? Two groups of friends and relatives left without a loved one? That two people who's vocation in life was to give up their own comforts and safety to selflessly help others, two people who are worth so bloody much to this world would be just left to die, for no actual reason at all?

I know which scenario sits better with me.

inocybe · 02-08-2014 11:15pm

MadYaker wrote: »

People are getting far too worried about this. The virus doesn't stand a chance in a country with half decent hygiene standards and that has a populace which doesn't believe in witchcraft and listens to what their government tells them.

People in Sierra Leone are still hand washing the dead ffs. There have been cases of hostility towards western medical staff as some communities believe that they are in fact spreading the virus themselves.

Half decent hygiene huh? Have a look at this

http://www.afro.who.int/en/clusters-a-programmes/dpc/epidemic-a-pandemic-alert-and-response/epr-highlights/3648-frequently-asked-questions-on-ebola-hemorrhagic-fever.html

Sweat and saliva are included in bodily fluids. Can be caught from clothing and bedsheets of the infected. And I'm pretty sure the large number of medical staff infected would have been practising a lot more than half decent hygiene.

ceadaoin. · 02-08-2014 11:24pm

iguana wrote: »

But would it sit right with you if two people who stand a decent chance of survival in an American hospital were left to die because of irrational fear? That two mothers would be left to mourn their children? Two groups of friends and relatives left without a loved one. That two people who's vocation in life was to give up their own comforts and safety to selflessly help others, two people who are worth so bloody much to this world would be just left to die, for no actual reason at all?

I know which scenario sits better with me.

Where exactly did I say that they should be left there to die? Did I say that it is the wrong thing to do? No, I didn't say that so please don't put words into my mouth. I clearly said that I know it is highly unlikely that anyone will become infected because of the 2 patients. Just because it makes me slightly uneasy doesn't mean I don't know it is the right thing to do. They are american citizens so the US government should do everything possible to help them.

LuckyLloyd · 03-08-2014 8:09am

ceadaoin. wrote: »

I'm not. I know logically that it has little chance of it spreading in a country with decent sanitary standards, as well as the fact that they will be in a special containment unit. It just doesn't sit right with me that people with this disease have been brought into the country. I can't help that there is a 'what if' scenario in the back of my mind. I'm not in full on doomsday prepping panic mode or anything. Not yet anyway

These people brought their expertise into a hellish situation trying to save huge numbers of people. Essentially representing the best of their nation. Not bringing them home would be something that shouldn't sit right with people.

snubbleste · 03-08-2014 10:55am

snubbleste wrote: »

IrishAid/taxpayer gives €144k towards fighting ebola in West Africa.
http://www.thejournal.ie/ebola-virus-aid-1572006-Jul2014/

We helped fund a sign!
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/76679000/jpg/_76679843_ebola-poster-at-an-angle.jpg

phill106 · 03-08-2014 11:29am

Has no one seen the walking dead?!

Joe Doe · 03-08-2014 11:13pm

Ebola terror at Gatwick as passenger collapses and dies getting off Sierra Leone flight.

Just spotted this up on newsnow (the news aggregator with kw/topic filter) Aug 03, 2014 22:30, so still all TBC but...: story....
Again, still to be fully verified, but the plane was quarantined as officials desperately tried to trace everyone who had been in contact with the woman, 'just in case'....

Joe Doe · 03-08-2014 11:25pm

After the D'Mirror's 'newspaper selling headline' {Ebola terror at Gatwick as passenger collapses and dies getting off Sierra Leone flight}

...a 'non newspaper selling' sentence at the bottom of article says:

“The patient’s symptoms suggest that Ebola is unlikely but as a precaution this is one of the tests being undertaken." So is all still rather speculative.

They say she showed no symptoms during the flight, but things went downhill quickly towards arrival, my money is maybe on a very very sever allergic reaction to fish pie, nuts or something, tragic all the same.

ceadaoin. · 04-08-2014 1:02am

Joe Doe wrote: »

After the D'Mirror's 'newspaper selling headline' {Ebola terror at Gatwick as passenger collapses and dies getting off Sierra Leone flight}

...a 'non newspaper selling' sentence at the bottom of article says:

“The patient’s symptoms suggest that Ebola is unlikely but as a precaution this is one of the tests being undertaken." So is all still rather speculative.

They say she showed no symptoms during the flight, but things went downhill quickly towards arrival, my money is maybe on a very very sever allergic reaction to fish pie, nuts or something, tragic all the same.

BBC says the test was negative

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-28634903

A test for Ebola has been carried out on a female passenger who died after arriving in the UK from The Gambia.

The Department for Health said the test on the woman, who landed at Gatwick Airport on Saturday, came back negative on Sunday afternoon

.

snubbleste · 04-08-2014 6:24pm

Second case in Lagos. Doctor who treated the traveller contracted ebola 15 days ago.

70 other people believed to have come into contact with the Liberian traveller were being monitored, with eight placed in quarantine including three who were "symptomatic"

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/08/nigeria-ebola-doctor-contracts-virus-20148413329144139.html

04-08-2014 8:25pm

The CD have now issued Airlines with safety guidelines on handling Ebola.

http://time.com/3078337/ebola-cdc-guidleines-aircrew-airines-cabin-crew-passengers/

Crew members on a flight with a passenger or other crew member who is ill with a fever, jaundice, or bleeding and who is traveling from or has recently been in a risk area should follow these precautions:

- Keep the sick person separated from others as much as possible.
- Provide the sick person with a surgical mask (if the sick person can tolerate wearing one) to reduce the number of droplets expelled into the air by talking, sneezing, or coughing.
- Give tissues to a sick person who cannot tolerate a mask. Provide a plastic bag for disposing of used tissues.
- Wear impermeable disposable gloves for direct contact with blood or other body fluids.

rest of Guidelines here.

http://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/air/managing-sick-travelers/ebola-guidance-airlines.html

Glock Lesnar · 04-08-2014 8:45pm

Probably already posted but I'm not reading 17 pages to check but the recent Vice documentary about the breakout in Liberia would make you angry. The people are dog ignorant, outright denying the existence of ebola, continuing to eat smoked fruit bat which spreads the disease, you'd have to be mad to want to help people that don't want to help themselves.

04-08-2014 8:55pm

Glock Lesnar wrote: »

Probably already posted but I'm not reading 17 pages to check but the recent Vice documentary about the breakout in Liberia would make you angry. The people are dog ignorant, outright denying the existence of ebola, continuing to eat smoked fruit bat which spreads the disease, you'd have to be mad to want to help people that don't want to help themselves.

I think they may be taking it more serious now families of Liberians living in America are trying to get flights for them to the US. I would say some of the Africans living here will have same concerns about there familes.

Plus I also read that Delta Airlines are evacuating Americans from Liberia. But not sure how true it is.

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/269766891.html

http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=319712

ProfessorPlum · 04-08-2014 9:02pm

Glock Lesnar wrote: »

Probably already posted but I'm not reading 17 pages to check but the recent Vice documentary about the breakout in Liberia would make you angry. The people are dog ignorant, outright denying the existence of ebola, continuing to eat smoked fruit bat which spreads the disease, you'd have to be mad to want to help people that don't want to help themselves.

That's a bit harsh. Peoples entrenched tradition and cultural beliefs are very hard to shift. Speak to any devout Catholic / Muslim / (insert slmost any belief system). It's not simply that they don't want to help themselves. They certainly don't want to die of Ebola, but it seems they are ignorant of the risks and suspicious of outsiders telling them to act in conflict of their long held beliefs.

Ebola virus outbreak

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