Ebola virus outbreak

Donkey Oaty · 29-12-2014 07:44PM

NEWS ALERT: Anyone who was on the BA flight from Heathrow to Glasgow that landed at 23.30 is being asked to call the Radio Clyde Newsroom.

Source: Radio Clyde.

What possible insight any random passengers can give on the situation other than wild speculation is beyond me.

My name is URL · 29-12-2014 08:06PM

Iranoutofideas wrote: »

The fcuk is your major malfunction?

Some people just want to watch the world burn

Baggy Trousers · 29-12-2014 08:47PM

porsche959 wrote: »

BREAKING: The British healthworker, with Ebola, is a nurse who worked at the British built Kerrytown Ebola hospital run by Save the Children

I had forgotten about ebola. I hope she survives. The volunteer health workers going to west Africa are an inspiration.

Pwindedd · 29-12-2014 08:50PM

Donkey Oaty wrote: »

NEWS ALERT: Anyone who was on the BA flight from Heathrow to Glasgow that landed at 23.30 is being asked to call the Radio Clyde Newsroom.

Source: Radio Clyde.

What possible insight any random passengers can give on the situation other than wild speculation is beyond me.

I would imagine they're being given advice, information and instructions to go to hospital straight away if they get sick

ceadaoin. · 29-12-2014 08:54PM

Pwindedd wrote: »

I would imagine they're being given advice, information and instructions to go to hospital straight away if they get sick

I'm sure they have an NHS helpline set up for that and if the response in the U.S. is anything to go by, those passengers will be contacted directly. That says call the Radio Clyde newsroom,.They are probably just hoping someone on the plane calls to say the person was wildly vomiting everywhere or something.

Atlantic Dawn · 30-12-2014 10:47AM

Firstly I hope this healthcare worker makes a full recovery.

However what kind of idiotic system have they in place to spend hundreds of millions in preventing the disease spreading only to allow healthcare workers who are treating victims of the disease to return to their home countries?

Ficheall · 30-12-2014 10:58AM

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

However what kind of idiotic system have they in place to spend hundreds of millions in preventing the disease spreading only to allow healthcare workers who are treating victims of the disease to return to their home countries?

I'm guessing that since she was coming via Morocco, they would have needed her to tell them she'd previously been in Sierra Leone working with Ebola victims?

carfiosaoorl · 30-12-2014 11:06AM

Atlantic Dawn wrote:

However what kind of idiotic system have they in place to spend hundreds of millions in preventing the disease spreading only to allow healthcare workers who are treating victims of the disease to return to their home countries?

They can't stop people who are treating victims from returning home, that would be punishing them for trying to help. I'd imagine a lot less would go if they thought they couldn't return then the disease would spread a lot faster

SterlingArcher · 30-12-2014 01:01PM

carfiosaoorl wrote: »

They can't stop people who are treating victims from returning home, that would be punishing them for trying to help. I'd imagine a lot less would go if they thought they couldn't return then the disease would spread a lot faster

Punishing? It's common sense.

The people threating them could opt to put themselves in a quarantine before flying home and endangering not only themselves but friends and family. You think It's punishment to take every precaution?

It's stupid reckless behavior from medical professionals. It is not as if this is the first one bringing it back. This has happened a few times now. She should have made it clear where she was coming from and her background.

Helping people is one thing. Being complacent with other people's lives because of it, is another thing..

Donkey Oaty · 30-12-2014 01:05PM

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

However what kind of idiotic system have they in place to spend hundreds of millions in preventing the disease spreading only to allow healthcare workers who are treating victims of the disease to return to their home countries?

She was screened for symptoms on departure from Africa and also screened on arrival at Heathrow.

They caught this very, very early - good chance of a full recovery and with the minimum risk to other people.

To be fair, the UK authorities have handled this very well.

Sclosages · 30-12-2014 01:08PM

It's a bit pointless going to help people with Ebola if you then bring it back and infect other people. Sort of cancels out the good act.

Donkey Oaty · 30-12-2014 01:13PM

Donkey Oaty wrote: »

To be fair, the UK authorities have handled this very well.

Or so I thought - though just listening to one Casablanca/Heathrow passenger's account on Radio 4, the screening at LHR could definitely have been better organised.

MagicMarker · 30-12-2014 01:14PM

Oh no, a white person has it, now we know it's serious again.

Call Me Jimmy · 30-12-2014 01:38PM

Im sure if it was a black person returning to scotland it would get the same coverage

Escapees · 30-12-2014 03:45PM

Some points:

Charity and NGO workers are usually paid. While they may be putting themselves at unnessary risk out of the 'goodness of their hearts', they are also being financially compensated.

It seems too coincidental that the nurse in question apparently developed symptoms pretty much as soon as she was back, safe and sound, on home soil. Hypothetically, if you were in a third world country with symptoms of Ebola, I think it's fair to suggest that you might be tempted to dismiss them for a day or so in order to first get a flight home, should it turn out to be the virus and you need treatment (better in thr UK I presume).

If the flights home were pre-booked weeks in advance, I wonder if the nurse in question was just returning for Christmas? If so, and she was due to go back to Sierra Leone shortly, then I really would question whether such 'breaks' should be permitted given the risks involved.

On the other hand, it could likewise become very interesting if it emerges that the flights home were arranged at the last minute... In any case, there should be an investigation of some sort to establish whether the nurse 'knowingly' put others at risk.

From my point of view, something doesn't fit with the whole story and the timing of things...

ceadaoin. · 30-12-2014 06:37PM

According to the telegraph she was screened at heathrow and passed. After being in the airport for an hour she went back to the screening area complaining of a high temperature. Despite her temp being checked numerous times over the next half hour, nothing abnormal was detected and she was cleared to fly.

I fail to see how it is her fault that she flew when sick in this case. She informed the relevant people that she felt unwell, either their equipment is not accurate enough or she didn't actually have a fever at the time. I think that given the fact she felt ill and would be considered as having a high risk of exposure to ebola she should have been prevented from flying as a precaution and perhaps transferred to a hospital for proper monitoring.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scotland/11317882/Ebola-nurse-should-not-have-left-Heathrow-says-chief-medical-officer.html

Sclosages · 30-12-2014 06:54PM

ceadaoin. wrote: »

According to the telegraph she was screened at heathrow and passed. After being in the airport for an hour she went back to the screening area complaining of a high temperature. Despite her temp being checked numerous times over the next half hour, nothing abnormal was detected and she was cleared to fly.

I fail to see how it is her fault that she flew when sick in this case. She informed the relevant people that she felt unwell, either their equipment is not accurate enough or she didn't actually have a fever at the time. I think that given the fact she felt ill and would be considered as having a high risk of exposure to ebola she should have been prevented from flying as a precaution and perhaps transferred to a hospital for proper monitoring.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scotland/11317882/Ebola-nurse-should-not-have-left-Heathrow-says-chief-medical-officer.html

This is the first time that I've heard anything like this but I know when I have a fever. I know because I get pains, aches, sweat, my head swells (well it feels like my eyes are about to pop), but my temp reads normal!

Turtwig · 30-12-2014 07:13PM

Sclosages wrote: »

This is the first time that I've heard anything like this but I know when I have a fever. I know because I get pains, aches, sweat, my head swells (well it feels like my eyes are about to pop), but my temp reads normal!

That's not necessarily a result of the fever though. The pains and aches you experienced could be due to things that happened during the fever e.g your glands expanding and becoming tender as they fought off an infection. A fever can often be a painless ache free experience.

The screening at airports is completely pointless anyway.

The fact the nurse was paranoid about having something would hopefully suggest she was extra paranoid about coming into contact with others. Think there's no too much of a knee jerk reaction with desires in restricting travel. Ebola, as cannot be over emphasised, is not that contagious.

Wish her a full recovery,

ceadaoin. · 03-01-2015 05:12PM

The condition of the Scottish nurse being treated in London has deteriorated and she is now in critical condition. Could be wrong, but I don't remember any of the other cases treated in western hospitals being given that status. I hope she pulls through.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/03/british-ebola-nurse-condition-critical-hospital-pauline-cafferkey

The condition of the British nurse diagnosed with Ebola has deteriorated and is now critical, the Royal Free hospital in north London says.

Pauline Cafferkey, a Scottish public health nurse who had been volunteering in Sierra Leone, was diagnosed with the virus after returning to Glasgow via Casablanca in Morocco.

A brief statement on the hospital’s website said: “The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust is sorry to announce that the condition of Pauline Cafferkey has gradually deteriorated over the past two days and is now critical.”

It did not comment further, but it is understood that the next 12 to 24 hours will be crucial.

Cafferkey’s worsening condition comes despite being diagnosed early and receiving treatment from some of the world’s foremost experts in infectious diseases.

Polo_Mint · 03-01-2015 05:13PM

The Poor woman. I thought if they caught it so early you have a good chance of beating it.

ProfessorPlum · 03-01-2015 05:56PM

Escapees wrote: »

Some points:

Charity and NGO workers are usually paid. While they may be putting themselves at unnessary risk out of the 'goodness of their hearts', they are also being financially compensated.

It seems too coincidental that the nurse in question apparently developed symptoms pretty much as soon as she was back, safe and sound, on home soil. Hypothetically, if you were in a third world country with symptoms of Ebola, I think it's fair to suggest that you might be tempted to dismiss them for a day or so in order to first get a flight home, should it turn out to be the virus and you need treatment (better in thr UK I presume).

If the flights home were pre-booked weeks in advance, I wonder if the nurse in question was just returning for Christmas? If so, and she was due to go back to Sierra Leone shortly, then I really would question whether such 'breaks' should be permitted given the risks involved.

On the other hand, it could likewise become very interesting if it emerges that the flights home were arranged at the last minute... In any case, there should be an investigation of some sort to establish whether the nurse 'knowingly' put others at risk.

From my point of view, something doesn't fit with the whole story and the timing of things...

Ah come on now. Financially compensated? A qualified nurse or doctor could make multiples of what NGO's are paying almost anywhere. Also, many, if not most of these short term emergency relief postings are voluntary, so, no, financially compensated wouldn't be a term I'd use.

I'm also disappointed that you accuse (albeit in a not so round about way) this woman of knowingly putting others at risk without one shred of evidence.

I wish her, and all the other volunteers who put them selves in harms way so that the rest of us don't have to, a full recovery.

Stheno · 03-01-2015 06:59PM

Polo_Mint wrote: »

The Poor woman. I thought if they caught it so early you have a good chance of beating it.

My thoughts too, I hope she pulls through

Gael23 · 03-01-2015 07:32PM

Things are not looking good for the nurse in Scotland,

Donkey Oaty · 12-01-2015 04:34PM

Good news - statement issued today:

'The Royal Free Hospital is pleased to announce that Pauline Cafferkey is showing signs of improvement and is no longer critically ill. She remains in isolation as she receives specialist care for the Ebola virus.'

dxhound2005 · 22-01-2015 07:50PM

The outbreak appears to be nearly over.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/22/us-health-ebola-who-idUSKBN0KV0Z320150122

The final death toll will be under 10,000 which is sad but pales in comparison to the yearly figure for malaria in Africa, around 500,000.

snubbleste · 03-05-2015 10:19AM

Woman may have caught Ebola after having sex with survivor in Liberia

Tests conducted on the man found no trace of the disease in his blood, but the virus was present in his semen.
Scientists previously thought Ebola could survive in semen for up to 3 months, but in this instance the disease would have been transmitted more than 5 months later.

03-05-2015 02:10PM

Now that it's half past.. The tags are greatl armageddon, blackdeath, catastrophic, curious george, death, doom, panic, quantum presbyterians

Egginacup · 03-05-2015 04:35PM

Has the US pulled out the 5000 troops it sent there for fuck knows what purpose (maybe the "war on ebola"), or have they quietly set up a command and control centre and are sticking around as "advisers"?

ceadaoin. · 03-05-2015 04:43PM

Egginacup wrote: »

Has the US pulled out the 5000 troops it sent there for fuck knows what purpose (maybe the "war on ebola"), or have they quietly set up a command and control centre and are sticking around as "advisers"?

Well they clearly stated what their purpose was - building treatment centres and training local medics.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2015 – Most Defense Department personnel who deployed to West Africa to support the U.S. Agency for International Development and international partners in fighting Ebola at its source already have returned to their home stations, and nearly all will return home over the next two months, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said last night.
In a statement, Kirby said DoD will identify 100 personnel who will maintain a continued presence in the region, working to strengthen the disease preparedness and surveillance capacity of the national governments.
“DoD personnel will build on a strong military partnership with the armed forces of Liberia to enhance their Ebola response efforts and provide disaster response training to the government of Liberia,” the admiral said.
Life-saving Resources
Starting in September, the Defense Department has delivered critical life-saving resources, built Ebola treatment units, trained hundreds of local and international health care workers and provided logistical support to humanitarian and public health workers who provided care throughout West Africa.
At the height of the epidemic, 2,800 DoD personnel were deployed to West Africa. About 1,500 of those personnel have returned home, Kirby said, and nearly all of the rest will be home by April 30. All have or will undergo established controlled monitoring procedures, he noted.
To support the 10,000 civilian responders who remain on the ground in West Africa, he added, the Defense Department will leave behind assets that can help health workers stem potential future outbreaks.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is grateful to the men and women of the U.S. military and their families who supported Operation United Assistance, Kirby said. “Their swift response demonstrates the need to maintain readiness, capacity and capabilities to respond to the diverse array of challenges facing the United States and our partners,” he added.

techdiver · 12-05-2015 04:23PM

So, a few months on and the "crisis" had passed. Where are all the doom mongers? I thought we all should be dead by now??

Can some of them explain what went wrong with their predictions?? :-)

I'm sure the same people will be eagerly waiting for the next "event", to jump upon and stir up fear....

Ebola virus outbreak

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