Ebola outbreak - general thread #1

[Yoda]

The Ebola outbreak may be over in two countries -- Nigeria and Senegal.
No new Ebola cases have been diagnosed in Nigeria since Aug. 31, suggesting that the outbreak has been contained, according to a report Tuesday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The only case confirmed in Senegal was reported Aug. 28 in a man who survived.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/09/30/ebola-over-in-nigeria/16473339/

 

[Yoda]

CDC is sending a team to Dallas in case the patient is confirmed to have ebola.

JMO It is my understanding that the test results take a few hours. So if his sample was sent to CDC in Atlanta last night, I think they would have the results by now.

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/metr...ealth-officials-cdc-team-headed-to-dallas.ece

 

[jjenny]

CDC is sending a team to Dallas in case the patient is confirmed to have ebola.

JMO It is my understanding that the test results take a few hours. So if his sample was sent to CDC in Atlanta last night, I think they would have the results by now.

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/metr...ealth-officials-cdc-team-headed-to-dallas.ece

Yikes. Sounds like this could be the actual case of Ebola.

 

[Peliman]

Latest Update Sept. 30, 2014: The CDC has confirmed a person in Dallas definitely has the Ebola virus.

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2014/09/29/north-texas-hospital-evaluating-patient-for-potential-ebola-exposure/

 

[oh_gal]

I kind of feel like the US is suffering from some delusion that it can't happen here (because we're such a "super power" and so "advanced"). Well, apparently, it's happened here. It's time to enforce some tougher travel restrictions.

 

[fhc]

Latest Update Sept. 30, 2014: The CDC has confirmed a person in Dallas definitely has the Ebola virus.

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2014/09/29/north-texas-hospital-evaluating-patient-for-potential-ebola-exposure/

They have interviewed people from this area, that have recently returned from funerals for their relatives in NW Africa that died from Ebola. Not surprised at all, that it is here. It could be someone that enjoys traveling, as well as, a business traveler. In today's global society, no one is immune. It could be someone from here in Flower Mound, where I live, or any suburb of Dallas. Although, we have our own Presby Hospital here. All we know, is that this person went to a 'care facility' and was transferred to Presby Dallas.

 

[Peliman]

News conference expected at 5:30 EST from Atlanta CDC.

 

[mck16]

They have interviewed people from this area, that have recently returned from funerals for their relatives in NE Africa that died from Ebola. Not surprised at all, that it is here. It could be someone that enjoys traveling, as well as, a business traveler. In today's global society, no one is immune. It could be someone from here in Flower Mound, where I live, or any suburb of Dallas. Although, we have our own Presby Hospital here. All we know, is that this person went to a 'care facility' and was transferred to Presby Dallas.

News conference at 5:00. Some scary stuff. jmo

 

[fhc]

What is concerning is that a Dr. on our local news today couldn't say how long the Ebola virus could remain on an inanimate object, such as a table, taxi seat, grocery basket, etc. The example was a facial tissue that had been used by someone infected. The Dr. said something to the effect that no one would pick up a used tissue and use it...

It would be nice to know how long this virus can live on surfaces.

 

[EGirl]

What is concerning is that a Dr. on our local news today couldn't say how long the Ebola virus could remain on an inanimate object, such as a table, taxi seat, grocery basket, etc. The example was a facial tissue that had been used by someone infected. The Dr. said something to the effect that no one would pick up a used tissue and use it...

It would be nice to know how long this virus can live on surfaces.

I just read an article on Yahoo (will try to go back and get the link) that said it can live several days. So.. what if some one sneezes on the fruits and veggies in the grocery story and I pick it up while I have a paper cut?

 

[zwiebel]

I'm hoping it is someone who has travelled abroad recently, and not contracted it in the US. Also hoping someone will be able to post tweets from the presser here - I can't do it at the moment, with computer probs I'm having.

 

[Lyra500]

Well Nigeria and Senegal have shown that proper contact tracing and isolation can deal with an outbreak effectively. The outbreaks there are close to being declared over as there have been no new cases for over 21 days.

If they can do that, then there is no reason why other countries cannot do the same. We will all have the advantage of being on guard and (hopefully) being able to identify the index case right at the beginning rather than discovering what the infection is three months down the line. This will be hugely advantageous for effective contact tracing - also having a relatively well educated populace will help (although I have read some depressingly ill informed comments in some places).

 

[EGirl]

http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/27/world/ebola-virus-explainer/

the virus is believed to be able to survive for some days in liquid outside an infected organism

 

[fhc]

I'm hoping it is someone who has travelled abroad recently, and not contracted it in the US. Also hoping someone will be able to post tweets from the presser here - I can't do it at the moment, with computer probs I'm having.

It was confirmed that this person had recently returned from the area in NW Africa infected with the Ebola virus outbreak.

 

[EGirl]

I'm hoping it is someone who has travelled abroad recently, and not contracted it in the US. Also hoping someone will be able to post tweets from the presser here - I can't do it at the moment, with computer probs I'm having.

It's a guy in Dallas that just returned from Liberia.

 

[Yoda]

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/live-video/

http://ktla.com/2014/09/30/ebola-virus-diagnosed-in-u-s-patient-in-texas-cdc-confirms/

live press conference links

 

[Lyra500]

It was confirmed that this person had recently returned from the area in NE Africa infected with the Ebola virus outbreak.

It's a guy in Dallas that just returned from Liberia.

Liberia is in West Africa.

There have been outbreaks in West Africa (Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria & Senegal) and Central Africa (Democratic Republic of Congo).

 

[mck16]

Presser is on. CNN. Now.

 

[zwiebel]

What is concerning is that a Dr. on our local news today couldn't say how long the Ebola virus could remain on an inanimate object, such as a table, taxi seat, grocery basket, etc. The example was a facial tissue that had been used by someone infected. The Dr. said something to the effect that no one would pick up a used tissue and use it...

It would be nice to know how long this virus can live on surfaces.

This says it is almost always transmitted through close personal contact with an infected person near death, or after death. From bodily fluids/secretions. So with proper isolation and disinfection, it should be possible to contain it in the US.

However, the article also says the virus has been detected in seminal fluid of patients 7 weeks after they have fully 'recovered'. And that animals, including dogs, have been found to have developed immunity in Africa - so maybe acting as hosts.

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/lab-bio/res/psds-ftss/ebola-eng.php

 

[zwiebel]

Presser is on. CNN. Now.

I forgot how to work my TV.