Ebola virus outbreak

P.Walnuts · 10-10-2014 01:19PM

Slightly confused by how it is transmitted, so it is not airborne but transmitted through a variety of bodily fluids.... lets just say an infected person sneezes or coughs, that would be saliva vapour exiting the body (I assume) if that vapour is inhaled could that transmit the infection?

And if so is that not the definition of airborne?

My name is URL · 10-10-2014 01:31PM

P.Walnuts wrote: »

Slightly confused by how it is transmitted, so it is not airborne but transmitted through a variety of bodily fluids.... lets just say an infected person sneezes or coughs, that would be saliva vapour exiting the body (I assume) if that vapour is inhaled could that transmit the infection?

And if so is that not the definition of airborne?

Airborne really just means easily transmittable through aerosolized fluids, which ebola is not when it comes to monkeys and humans (pigs are a different story). It doesn't necessarily mean that the virus isn't present whatsoever in those fluids.

littlemac1980 · 10-10-2014 01:38PM

Here's a useful article about why the Virus won't go airborne:

http://www.businessinsider.com.au/will-ebola-go-airborne-2014-10

realweirdo · 10-10-2014 01:49PM

I think it becoming airborne is the least of people's worries, as it probably won't.

The bigger worry is of people carrying it around unknowingly for a couple of weeks. And also that there wouldn't be enough trained medical staff or isolation units in the west. Let's face it, our hospitals struggle to cope with flu in winter, so how will it manage with ebola?

Contact tracing will be key to defeating it in the west.

ceadaoin. · 10-10-2014 02:02PM

FullblownRose wrote: »

I thought they'd test them and know sooner, though...

The virus is only detectable in blood once a person starts showing symptoms. The people in Spain are still asymptotic so there's no point testing them yet. I think it's just the high risk ones who have been hospitalised, as a precaution.

10-10-2014 02:07PM

HI, Fullblownbrose,

saw this on CBS site, regarding how Doctors test for Ebola

'A number of tests can be used to diagnose Ebola within a few days of the onset of symptoms, which can detect the virus's genetic material or the presence of antibodies against the pathogen.

The most accurate of these is likely the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, a technique that looks for genetic material from the virus and creates enough copies of it that it can be detected, Hirsch said. "PCR is a really definitive test," Hirsch said. It can pick up very small amounts of the virus.

However, this test can be negative during the first three days an infected person has symptoms, said Dr. Sandro Cinti, an infectious-disease specialist at the University of Michigan Hospital System/Ann Arbor VA Health System.

"Somebody could be in the hospital for three to five days before a diagnosis [of Ebola] is confirmed," Cinti told Live Science. "The important thing is keeping the patient isolated until you can get to a diagnosis." Meanwhile, doctors will be running tests to rule out other diseases, such as malaria, which can be detected more quickly than Ebola, he said.'

They mention another test called ELISA.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-doctors-test-for-ebola/

Meglamonia · 10-10-2014 02:21PM

Ignorance has a large part to play,the people in Liberia don't believe that Ebola is real and continue to eat bushmeat and keep monkeys as pets ffs.

ceadaoin. · 10-10-2014 02:29PM

There is a 'probable' case in Paris in a woman recently returned from Liberia. This is not the same person involved in the false alarm yesterday.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ebola-outbreak-paris-authorities-investigate-probable-case-9787026.html

Smiles35 · 10-10-2014 02:40PM

This one's a false alarm

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/ebola-outbreak-full-scale-alert-as-aircraft-passenger-jokes-i-have-ebola-you-are-all-screwed-9786224.html

littlemac1980 · 10-10-2014 02:42PM

Here's a video of the people in Hazmat suits escorting the guy from the plane who made the joke that he had Ebola.

In fairness those look like some seriously good suits.

But that whistling sound (around the 2 minute mark)??? WTF is that?

It has to be one of the creepiest things I've ever heard.

ProfessorPlum · 10-10-2014 02:52PM

ceadaoin. wrote: »

Is there not a slight difference between contagious and infectious? Ebola isn't very contagious because it's not airborne. However, it is very infectious because it only takes a small amount of virus to enter your body to make you sick. So once you do come into contact with infected material it's easier to become infected than with other viruses.

Infectious means it's caused by a micro organism, contagious means that it can be passed from person to person

Jake1 wrote: »

HI, Fullblownbrose,

saw this on CBS site, regarding how Doctors test for Ebola

'A number of tests can be used to diagnose Ebola within a few days of the onset of symptoms, which can detect the virus's genetic material or the presence of antibodies against the pathogen.

The most accurate of these is likely the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, a technique that looks for genetic material from the virus and creates enough copies of it that it can be detected, Hirsch said. "PCR is a really definitive test," Hirsch said. It can pick up very small amounts of the virus.

However, this test can be negative during the first three days an infected person has symptoms, said Dr. Sandro Cinti, an infectious-disease specialist at the University of Michigan Hospital System/Ann Arbor VA Health System.

"Somebody could be in the hospital for three to five days before a diagnosis [of Ebola] is confirmed," Cinti told Live Science. "The important thing is keeping the patient isolated until you can get to a diagnosis." Meanwhile, doctors will be running tests to rule out other diseases, such as malaria, which can be detected more quickly than Ebola, he said.'

They mention another test called ELISA.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-doctors-test-for-ebola/

And this is the same reason the asymptomatic people can't spread this disease. In order to be able to spread disease, the person must be shedding virus. As we see from above, even early in the symptomatic stage of the disease it can be difficult to detect virus, so it's going to be impossible for that person to pass on virus to another. Could there be an outlier that could manage to attain higher than normal viral loads while remaining asymptomatic? Well anything is possible I suppose, but it would be so unlikely that I'm not going to worry about it.

ceadaoin. · 10-10-2014 02:55PM

My name is URL wrote: »

Airborne really just means easily transmittable through aerosolized fluids, which ebola is not when it comes to monkeys and humans (pigs are a different story). It doesn't necessarily mean that the virus isn't present whatsoever in those fluids.

From the CDC

Although coughing and sneezing are not common symptoms of Ebola, if a symptomatic patient with Ebola coughs or sneezes on someone, and saliva or mucus come into contact with that person’s eyes, nose or mouth, these fluids may transmit the disease.

fedor.2. · 10-10-2014 03:00PM

Meglamonia wrote: »

Ignorance has a large part to play,the people in Liberia don't believe that Ebola is real and continue to eat bushmeat and keep monkeys as pets ffs.

Man, I'd love a pet monkey. What adventures we could have.

FullblownRose · 10-10-2014 03:08PM

ProfessorPlum wrote: »

And this is the same reason the asymptomatic people can't spread this disease. In order to be able to spread disease, the person must be shedding virus. As we see from above, even early in the symptomatic stage of the disease it can be difficult to detect virus, so it's going to be impossible for that person to pass on virus to another. Could there be an outlier that could manage to attain higher than normal viral loads while remaining asymptomatic? Well anything is possible I suppose, but it would be so unlikely that I'm not going to worry about it.

I' probably repeating myself now but i have to wonder how long the average persn would be out and about in public and in contact with others, when they have symptoms and theyre therefore infectious- because the early symptoms are described as flu-like. Most people carry on as normal when they have the flu.

Spring Onion · 10-10-2014 03:16PM

FullblownRose wrote: »

I' probably repeating myself now but i have to wonder how long the average persn would be out and about in public and in contact with others, when they have symptoms and theyre therefore infectious- because the early symptoms are described as flu-like. Most people carry on as normal when they have the flu.

The question is when you're out and about in public, you and ebola, how often do you exchange bodily fluids?

littlemac1980 · 10-10-2014 03:20PM

Spring Onion wrote: »

The question is when you're out and about in public, you and ebola, how often do you exchange bodily fluids?

I'm forever trying to!

Ficheall · 10-10-2014 03:20PM

Spring Onion wrote: »

The question is when you're out and about in public, you and ebola, how often do you exchange bodily fluids?

Like coughing or sneezing in someone's general vicinity?

ProfessorPlum · 10-10-2014 03:27PM

Ficheall wrote: »

Like coughing or sneezing in someone's general vicinity?

We'll sneezing isn't generally a symptom of ebola, so it's probably just flu. Or even more likely, just the 'common cold' (côs we all know people who always seem to get 'the flu')

FullblownRose · 10-10-2014 03:35PM

ProfessorPlum wrote: »

We'll sneezing isn't generally a symptom of ebola, so it's probably just flu. Or even more likely, just the 'common cold' (côs we all know people who always seem to get 'the flu')

But you can sneeze for a non ebola reason while you have ebola- im not sick, ive no allergies, no cold or flu and not in a particularly dusty environment and i sneezed a few times already today. I automatically went to cover my face but Im sure a bit of moisture could have landed on my desk or anything i was standing close to andif i was in the early flu like stage of ebola and going out and about and sneezing away ..well..could be a problem.

Boogietime · 10-10-2014 03:40PM

Avalynn Microscopic Rocker wrote: »

I don't see why that has to be done, just sounds racist to me.

It's disgraceful what amount of racism you're letting out with your statement. I will try to show you in different ways as I fear you might not understand what I'm saying otherwise:

1. Person A: These following countries/regions are where the virus has started to spread from and/or where it's an issue: X, Y, Z
2. Person B: With no weight over the actual fact of the conversation (virus outbreak), I will point my finger to most the people in those countries, as they are not white!

Somebody makes a genuine comment reflecting a state of worrying and then someone else just acts the waggot and chimes in that the claim is racist since it happens that those countries have a black majority.

I still feel you haven't got this so let me put it in other words: If this was coming from any western european country, the message would have been the same, minus the names of the countries involved in the virus outbreak.

And finally, let's give this one more try: this virus (and most of them, while we're at it) doesn't give a **** about your race, or your general viewpoint on anything
and.....
wait for it.......
not even about how much of a racist you are being right now.

Hope this clears out the fog for ya.

0byme75341jo28 · 10-10-2014 03:54PM

*facepalm*

I honestly think the "ebola panic" is nothing but a fabrication by the media to make us feel hatred towards our African counterparts. It is sickening and I am surprised none of you can see through it.

Boogietime · 10-10-2014 03:55PM

Avalynn Microscopic Rocker wrote: »

*facepalm*

I honestly think the "ebola panic" is nothing but a fabrication by the media to make us feel hatred towards our African counterparts. It is sickening and I am surprised none of you can see through it.

Kind sir, you misplaced the facepalm: it has to be after your tinfoil hat rant, not before it.

WakeUp · 10-10-2014 04:17PM

Avalynn Microscopic Rocker wrote: »

*facepalm*

I honestly think the "ebola panic" is nothing but a fabrication by the media to make us feel hatred towards our African counterparts. It is sickening and I am surprised none of you can see through it.

thats unfair. people from the west and other places are heading out there to try and help these people, putting themselves and others at risk and in some cases losing their lives. the west is just expected to sort this out though doing that costs both money and lives. without our help west Africa is lost. without our help the continent of Africa may be lost. they cant sort this out on their own I dont know where you are getting your information from I wonder are you paying attention. I would consider myself liberal about a number of things and liberal thinking has its place though when the time comes , and it might come, when hard decisions need to be taken, the liberal mindset with regard to this outbreak would be best served just standing aside. because that mindset isnt hard wired nor capable of making the decisions that might need to be taken. and its has nothing to do with race or creed or whatever. without our help and expertise west Africa is phucked. and they know it.

ProfessorPlum · 10-10-2014 04:49PM

Boogietime wrote: »

Kind sir, you misplaced the facepalm: it has to be after your tinfoil hat rant, not before it.

In this thread it's become difficult to tell what's real and what's Makie upie, but I think he might be being sarcastic.

youtube! · 10-10-2014 04:51PM

Avalynn Microscopic Rocker wrote: »

*facepalm*

I honestly think the "ebola panic" is nothing but a fabrication by the media to make us feel hatred towards our African counterparts. It is sickening and I am surprised none of you can see through it.

I am surprised everyone hasn't yet latched on to the fact that you are trolling

Saipanne · 10-10-2014 04:58PM

Ok, I just realised that this is no longer just a poor man's disease, and is now a really scary thing.

Jebus help us all!

Judgement Day · 10-10-2014 05:09PM

Just listening to Dr.Ciara Kelly on the Right Hook - dear God, if half what she's says about the HSE response is true we had better start ringing our undertakers. Apparently GPs have been issued with 1 (!) completely inadequate (her words) paper type suit to wear when treating potential Ebola cases. If you think you may have the virus, you're advised to report to your doctor's surgery and take a seat. Preferably travel by public transport and cough over as many people as possible. Shades of the Joe Jacob iodine tablet farce. :rolleyes:

My name is URL · 10-10-2014 05:11PM

ceadaoin. wrote: »

From the CDC

Although coughing and sneezing are not common symptoms of Ebola, if a symptomatic patient with Ebola coughs or sneezes on someone, and saliva or mucus come into contact with that person’s eyes, nose or mouth, these fluids may transmit the disease.

Yes but that doesn't mean it's airborne. If someone sneezes or coughs on you from close proximity it would be considered direct contact.

For it to be considered airborne the virus would need to remain viable and travel a greater distance while suspended within an aerosol droplet or attached to a dust particle etc, which isn't the case.

Saipanne · 10-10-2014 05:11PM

Judgement Day wrote: »

Just listening to Dr.Ciara Kelly on the Right Hook - dear God, if half what she's says about the HSE response is true we had better start ringing our undertakers. Apparently GPs have been issued with 1 (!) completely inadequate (her words) paper type suit to wear when treating potential Ebola cases. If you think you may have the virus, you're advised to report to your doctor's surgery and take a seat. Preferably travel by public transport and cough over as many people as possible. Shades of the Joe Jacob iodine tablet farce. :rolleyes:

I heard that. Shocking stuff.

tomthetank · 10-10-2014 05:15PM

Judgement Day wrote: »

Just listening to Dr.Ciara Kelly on the Right Hook - dear God, if half what she's says about the HSE response is true we had better start ringing our undertakers. Apparently GPs have been issued with 1 (!) completely inadequate (her words) paper type suit to wear when treating potential Ebola cases. If you think you may have the virus, you're advised to report to your doctor's surgery and take a seat. Preferably travel by public transport and cough over as many people as possible. Shades of the Joe Jacob iodine tablet farce. :rolleyes:

Holy jesus. So if literally one of us contracts the virus there's no mechanism in place to keep it from spreading? May as well take a direct flight to Monrovia at this rate.

Ebola virus outbreak

Comments