Ebola: "Out of Control in West Africa"

[Pete]

Well, Gatwick had a good scare today. But they say it was nothing and Ebola is not involved.

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

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by Pete

Well, Gatwick had a good scare today. But they say it was nothing and Ebola is not involved.

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

Yeah.

And they said that the patient was not contagious a few hours on the flight before she dropped dead.

This is not looking good.

TR

[PSM]

My ATC buds say that the aircraft bringing the infected doc back to the US was called The Ebola Gay.

Pat

[MR2]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

Yeah.

And they said that the patient was not contagious a few hours on the flight before she dropped dead.

This is not looking good.

TR

Does anyone else feel like they are in a B-movie as the prologue starts playing out?

[mark46th]

The next announcement will be about mutant mosquitos escaping from a research facility.

[Guy]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

Yeah.

And they said that the patient was not contagious a few hours on the flight before she dropped dead.

This is not looking good.

TR

Maybe they were just getting her out of the country so, they didn't have to deal with her condition?

[Golf1echo]

Nothing to worry about with containment facilities http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/20...9-anthrax.html certainly not the first incedent in ATL eek:

[Constant]

Originally Posted by Broadsword2004

If she dropped dead, wouldn't that be a good thing? Not her dying, but I mean how she died? As doesn't Ebola kill in a more slow, gruesome fashion? And they say that this version of Ebola has a longer incubation period, which makes it more dangerous. If a person appears fine and then boom, drops dead, wouldn't that mean it has a short incubation period?

If she was infected with Ebola it doesn't matter. It's still active after death and the potential for infection remains high if precautions aren't taken. She was vomiting a lot according to the article, due to her age I would suspect hypovolemia helped in her passing. Hypoxia, dehydration, vibrations causing motion sickness, etc could all have led to her getting suddenly ill along with her age. I'm not saying 70 year old are prone to suddenly dying, but throw in other issues, stress, etc, and she could.

Bottom line - no worry as long as standard precautions were taken.

**Edit to add** I'm not saying don't be prepared or pay attention to what is going on. I'm saying you as an individual, can only control you and what you're around. This has the potential of getting worse thanks to technology and travel ease.

[LarryW]

Now 50 American medical experts are headed to West Africa to fight this thing.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-28631777

Looking at the graph re: reported cases since 1976 makes me wonder why none were reported from 1980-1993. Was this a biologic phenomena or just shitty record keeping / data collection? I am a skeptical kind of sailor and am more curious about what I don't know than what I think I might know.

Also, America sent several SF fighters into the region a few weeks ago to help locate and recover the kidnapped girls. Where's that at?

I pray for the success and safe return of all our heroes. They're sure in the toilet of the world.

[sg1987]

Originally Posted by DDD

MOO, if you believe everything WHO says, you would never leave your house. I'm not trying to minimize the danger, but just because "Health Care Professionals" are trained in PPEs doesn't mean they PRACTICE them.
Is there a threat? Yes. Is it going to end life as we know it? No.

seems like you are correct...

"11 scientists from biosafety panel FIRED as CDC reveals bird flu breach"


http://www.georgianewsday.com/news/r...ach.html?print

[ProudGSMom]

A man, having recently returned from West Africa was admitted through the emergency department with a fever and symptoms. But, no worries, it is "unlikely" he has Ebolaa.

That was more than 24 hours ago.

Supposedly, the test to confirm Ebola has a rapid return of 30 minutes, according to a report presented to Comgress in April. These test kits have been deployed to NG units in all 50 states.

So, why is it that after 24 hours there is no definitive answer?

Interestingly, when the announcement was made that this man was admitted, it was also said from the time he walked into the ER until he was in isolation was 7 minutes. Therefore, there is no 'realistic" risk to the public, staff or other patients who may have been in the ER

Most interesting, to me, has been the choice of words. The statements have continued to state it is "unlikely" this man has Ebola. Likewise, there is no "realistic" risk.

Unlikely, yes. It would be very unlikely for anyone to walk into a NYC hospital with Ebola. And, because it is "unlikely", there would be no "realistic" risk.

This does not mean it did not happen, nor does it mean he has not tested positive, nor does it mean that since the "unlikely" seems to have happened that the risk is not "realistic".

I like words and word games. I don't like when they are being played as a way to obfuscate the truth or create plausible deniability. From what was said, it can be later said that it was never denied, just that it was said to be "unlikely".

Bottom line, it is unlikely that more than 24 hours later, it is not known if this man has Ebola. If he did not, that would be announced. Instead, we are told it is "unlikely". But not to be concerned people, there is no "realistic" threat. Go back to watching the Kartrashians.

I can't decide if I should invest in Alcoa or P&G.

[LarryW]

Fighting the Ebola outbreak is challenging enough in a country with state-of-the-art facilities and protocols. In West Africa the population density, lack of facilities, but most tragically the culture, fear, and ignorance of the general population exacerbates every solution. The cost associated to world organizations to fund this war is another factor that doesn't support a quick resolution. IMHO, the estimate of this taking "many months" to be stopped is extremely optimistic. The reported case in Saudi Arabia brings to mind the season for Hajj (early October 2014) and how well the world will react.

This is a long way from being over.

Ebola health worker: 'Sierra Leone is not able to deal with this outbreak'

http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/05/health...html?hpt=hp_t1

Atlanta (CNN) -- One of the countries hard hit by the Ebola outbreak in West Africa is not able to cope, a health worker said, calling on the international community to step up support.

Anja Wolz, emergency coordinator for Doctors Without Borders, spoke to CNN on Tuesday from an Ebola facility in Kailahun, Sierra Leone.

"I think that the government and the ministry of health here in Sierra Leone is not able to deal with this outbreak. We need much more help from international organizations -- as WHO, as CDC, as other organizations -- to come to support the government," Wolz said.

"Still we have unsafe burials; people who are doing the burial without disinfection of the body; still we have patients who are hiding themselves; still we have patients or contacts of patients who are running away because they are afraid."

The global concern over the spread of the virus has reached Saudi Arabia, where a man is in critical condition after recently returning from Sierra Leone.

The 40-year-old man has symptoms of a viral hemorrhagic fever, the Saudi Health Ministry said Tuesday. The source of his infection is unknown, but Ebola cannot be ruled out, the ministry said.

"This is the biggest and most complex Ebola outbreak in history," Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in a statement.

"It will take many months, and it won't be easy, but Ebola can be stopped," he said. "We know what needs to be done."

The virus has already been confirmed outside of the three main countries.

A Nigerian doctor has been diagnosed with Ebola nearly three weeks after a Liberian-American man with Ebola died after traveling to Lagos, Nigerian officials said Monday.

Nigerian Minister of Health Onyebuchi Chukwu told reporters that the infected physician had been treating Patrick Sawyer, a top government official in the Liberian Ministry of Finance who died of Ebola in a Nigerian hospital July 20.

Eight other people are being quarantined and three are awaiting Ebola test results, the health minister said.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization reports an outbreak of the virus in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria is believed to have infected 1,603 people and killed more than 887 this year, as of Friday.

The United States is planning to send 50 health experts to West Africa to help contain the outbreak, which President Barack Obama addressed in remarks Tuesday, saying the citizens of the affected countries are in Americans' thoughts and prayers.

Frieden said the 50 experts from the CDC will work to combat the outbreak and help implement stronger systems to fight the disease.

The Ebola virus causes viral hemorrhagic fever, which affects multiple organ systems in the body and is often accompanied by bleeding.

Early symptoms include sudden onset of fever, weakness, muscle pain, headaches and a sore throat. They later progress to vomiting, diarrhea, impaired kidney and liver function -- and sometimes internal and external bleeding.

An Ebola patient had not been treated within U.S. borders until last week, but the CDC has spearheaded efforts to prepare for the deadly virus.

It helped create an isolation unit at Emory University Hospital, which is being used to treat American doctor Kent Brantly, who contracted Ebola in Liberia and was evacuated to the facility in Atlanta over the weekend.

A second American patient, Nancy Writebol, arrived from Liberia on Tuesday. She will undergo treatment at the same unit.

Emory is one of four U.S. institutions capable of providing such treatment.

But in the nations hardest-hit and not as prepared, the reality is grim. Even in the best-case scenario, it could take three to six months to stem the epidemic in West Africa, Frieden said.

Ebola spreads through contact with organs and bodily fluids such as blood, saliva, urine and other secretions of infected people. It has no cure. The most common treatment requires supporting organ functions and maintaining bodily fluids such as blood and water long enough for the body to fight off the infection.

Ebola also claimed the life of a medical director at a hospital in Liberia's capital, Monrovia. Dr. Patrick Nshamdze tested positive Tuesday after being sick for two weeks. He died Saturday.

In Sierra Leone, where government officials have asked citizens to stay away from work, the military has deployed at least 750 medical officials to 13 locations, military spokesman Col. Michael Samura said.

Health officials are screening incoming and outgoing passengers at the country's main international airport with a device that takes people's temperature from their eyes at a distance.

People showing signs of fever are quarantined and their blood is tested.

On Tuesday, Liberia responded to British Airways' decision to suspend service to Monrovia because of the outbreak.

"The government of Liberia regrets that British Airways has suspended flights to and from Liberia until the end of August. However, we fully understand that international airlines must keep the safety of customers and crew as their highest priority," it said.

"We will continue to work around the clock with our international partners to ensure all our key international ports of entry are secure from any transfer of Ebola, both incoming or outgoing."

ProudGSMom I can't decide if I should invest in Alcoa or P&G.

Not an easy decision, is it?

[Sigaba]

Originally Posted by ProudGSMom

A man, having recently returned from West Africa was admitted through the emergency department with a fever and symptoms. But, no worries, it is "unlikely" he has Ebolaa.

That was more than 24 hours ago.

Supposedly, the test to confirm Ebola has a rapid return of 30 minutes, according to a report presented to Comgress in April. These test kits have been deployed to NG units in all 50 states.

So, why is it that after 24 hours there is no definitive answer?

Interestingly, when the announcement was made that this man was admitted, it was also said from the time he walked into the ER until he was in isolation was 7 minutes. Therefore, there is no 'realistic" risk to the public, staff or other patients who may have been in the ER

Most interesting, to me, has been the choice of words. The statements have continued to state it is "unlikely" this man has Ebola. Likewise, there is no "realistic" risk.

Unlikely, yes. It would be very unlikely for anyone to walk into a NYC hospital with Ebola. And, because it is "unlikely", there would be no "realistic" risk.

This does not mean it did not happen, nor does it mean he has not tested positive, nor does it mean that since the "unlikely" seems to have happened that the risk is not "realistic".

I like words and word games. I don't like when they are being played as a way to obfuscate the truth or create plausible deniability. From what was said, it can be later said that it was never denied, just that it was said to be "unlikely".

Bottom line, it is unlikely that more than 24 hours later, it is not known if this man has Ebola. If he did not, that would be announced. Instead, we are told it is "unlikely". But not to be concerned people, there is no "realistic" threat. Go back to watching the Kartrashians.

I can't decide if I should invest in Alcoa or P&G.

FWIW, <<LINK>>

NY REGION
Ebola Virus: Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City Tests Patient
Male Patient, Who Has Ebola-Like Symptoms and Returned From West Africa, Has Been Placed in Isolation

By WILL HUNTSBERRY
Updated Aug. 5, 2014 7:18 a.m. ET

A male patient who recently returned from West Africa with symptoms consistent with the Ebola virus is being tested for the disease at Mount Sinai hospital in New York City, where he was admitted early on Monday morning, officials said. WSJ's Dipti Kapadia reports.

A man who recently returned from West Africa with symptoms consistent with the Ebola virus is being tested for the disease in New York City, where he was admitted to a hospital early on Monday morning, officials said.

A blood sample was being sent Monday to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, where it will take 24 to 48 hours to determine if he has the disease, officials said.

The man presented at Mount Sinai Hospital with a high fever and gastrointestinal problems, officials said. Authorities wouldn't identify the man or the country he had been to and the reasons for his visit.


A hospital spokeswoman said: "All necessary steps are being taken to ensure the safety of all patients, visitors and staff."

The city's health department said in a statement, "After consultation with CDC and Mount Sinai, the Health Department has concluded that the patient is unlikely to have Ebola. Specimens are being tested for common causes of illness and to definitively exclude Ebola."

Ebola is spread through close contact with bodily fluids, not casual contacts, officials said.

More than 700 people have been killed by Ebola in West African countries including Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone in recent weeks, according to the World Health Organization. Symptoms include fever, fatigue and diarrhea.

Ross Wilson, the chief medical officer for the city's Health and Hospital Corp., said people would be less likely to die from the disease in the U.S. than rural West Africa, because of treatments like breathing machines and anticlotting medication.

"The ability to survive Ebola is based on the level of life support that can be offered while it's attacking various organs," Dr. Wilson said.

Mt. Sinai Hospital had begun planning for potential Ebola cases over the weekend.

Last week, a different male patient came back from West Africa with Ebola-like symptoms, according to Ian Michaels, a spokesman for the Health and Hospitals Corp. He arrived at Kennedy International Airport last Wednesday and had the sudden onset of symptoms, which included a high fever and headache.

He was admitted to Bellevue Hospital Center, where he was immediately placed in isolation and tested for the virus. Doctors were able to rule out Ebola before the test results came back, because the patient experienced a quick recovery, inconsistent with the virus, according to Mr. Michaels.

The CDC outlines its testing options for Ebola here. A CDC FAQ on Ebola dated 1 Aug 14 is available there.

IRT to the testing capabilities of NG units, Carmen J. Spencer, joint program executive officer for chemical and biological defense, clearly stated on 8 April 2014 the following (emphasis added).

By partnering with the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and the Food and Drug Administration, we have made accessible additional diagnostic assays for high consequence, low probability biological threat agents for use during declared public health emergencies.

[LarryW]

It's getting worser and worser. Nearly 1,000 dead (that we know of) and ~ 1,800 reported cases (meaning at least another 900 dying). The health care systems in these countries is not able to manage such an outbreak, but is especially ill equipped to manage the panic that goes along with it.

Ebola virus: Liberia health system 'falling apart'

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-28731633

The charity Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) has told the BBC that Liberia's medical services have been completely overwhelmed by the Ebola outbreak.

The MSF co-ordinator in Liberia said official figures were "under-representing the reality", and that the health system was "falling apart".

Nearly 1,000 people have died and 1,800 have become infected in West Africa.

Meanwhile, neighbouring Guinea has denied earlier reports that it had sealed its borders.

On Saturday Liberian police broke up a protest against the government's response.

The Ebola outbreak - the worst ever - is centred on Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, but has spread to other countries in recent months.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday that the virus was a global health emergency.

The MSF co-ordinator for Liberia, Lindis Hurum, told the BBC: "Our capacity is stretched beyond anything that we ever done before in regards to ebola response."

She said five of the biggest hospitals in the capital Monrovia had closed for more than a week.

"Some of them have now started to re-open but there are other hospitals in other counties that are just abandoned by the staff.

"We are definitely seeing the whole health care system that is falling apart."

(Cont.)

[Stobey]

This is just a curious question to those doctors here. No one knows about insect vectors (like mosquitoes, ticks, etc.); but my question is about flies. There are many bodies of Ebola victims lying in the streets of Monrovia. These bodies are decomposing as others walk by them. We all know how flies love things like vomit, blood, feces. (That's why I hate friggin' flies.) What if one of those nasty little suckers decided to "chow down" and then landed on other people - or food?

Apparently only a few viral RNA strands of this strain are necessary (according to what I have read about this new (?) strain) for contamination to take place. No, I am not trying to be an alarmist. I would just like to know.