Ebola outbreak - general thread #3

[Sonya610]

He said that in one previous outbreak they have traced it back to a boy bringing a chimpanzee into the village and the villagers ate it and got sick, it was only after this that he confessed that he had found the chimpanzee already dead....it was hot with ebola. And in another previous outbreak about 10 dead gorillas were discovered as well in the forest near the village where people had become sick. That is my concern re the animals.

If the dogs have antibodies do you know if they are looking into this? I know very little about medicine, but I thought antibodies could be used in vaccinations against the disease.

I am not an Epidemiologist so this is a crude explanation in layman's terms to the best of my understanding:

Chimps, Gorilla's and humans are EXTREMELY closely related species, so closely related there have even been attempts to cross breed (yes really, Russia tried a while back). Canines are a completely DIFFERENT species all together (not related at all).

Most viruses target certain types of species, a rare few viruses(rabies) can infect virtually all mammals. But most of the time that is not the case.

An example within our species would be the fact that some rare humans are completely immune to the HIV virus, I don't remember the details as I read about this years ago but I believe it had to do with receptors on certain cells, HIV needs two receptors to infect a cell but some humans carried a mutation and only had one receptor, that meant it was physically impossible for the HIV virus to infect their cells. They still created antibodies that showed they had been exposed to HIV, but the fact the virus could NOT PHYSICALLY invade or breed in their cells is what made them immune. Trying to make a vaccine out of their antibodies would have been pointless though.

Just like some folks are immune to HIV and that immunity CANNOT be replicated by other humans (at least not by modern science) the canine immunity to Ebola almost certainly can't be replicated by humans, canines are "completely different animals" and most likely their immunity is due to the huge biological differences.

 

[italianWSfan]

Article talks about how there are virtually no Liberian doctors treating ebola at this time and there is also a huge shortage of supplies, many clinics don't have running water or protective gear or bleach.



Honestly who are they kidding? They will NEVER be able to "stop" this using clinics and individual isolation and such. Best plan would be to quarantine off regions for an extended period of time and let it run it's course hopefully while air-dropping food and supplies (and stop those in infected regions from traveling to uninfected countries/areas).

sorry I have to disagree.
fencing the people in like animals and dropping food here and there and just wait until everybody is dead - your post cant be serious?
imagine it was you living in one of those countries.

 

[Sonya610]

sorry I have to disagree.
fencing the people in like animals and dropping food here and there and just wait until everybody is dead - your post cant be serious?
imagine it was you living in one of those countries.

If humanitarians from other areas want to go into those regions to help then let them, but they need to be quarantined before they return to non-infected countries so the disease does not keep spreading outside of West Africa.

 

[Elley Mae]

I see Bill Gates has contributed more than twice as much money as Australia has :facepalm:

I won't be surprised to see more wealthy people donating now, it is the end of the year.

 

[Elley Mae]

Article talks about how there are virtually no Liberian doctors treating ebola at this time and there is also a huge shortage of supplies, many clinics don't have running water or protective gear or bleach.



Honestly who are they kidding? They will NEVER be able to "stop" this using clinics and individual isolation and such. Best plan would be to quarantine off regions for an extended period of time and let it run it's course hopefully while air-dropping food and supplies (and stop those in infected regions from traveling to uninfected countries/areas).

bbm I have to say that with out the proper equipment in place I don't blame them. jmo idk

 

[WideOpen]

sorry I have to disagree.
fencing the people in like animals and dropping food here and there and just wait until everybody is dead - your post cant be serious?
imagine it was you living in one of those countries.

I want to agree with Soyna610 post #551

It seems logical to quarantine states or countries if need be to keep the worldwide spread and cost as low as possible. I think the suggestion is the most humane way possible to stop the suffering of many. Ebola needs to be stopped and contained at the source as quickly as possible. This does not mean that other nations can not send in medical and needed supplies and personnel to help save lives. If this is not contained and there are sporadic outbreaks and hot spots how will those confidently be controlled and stopped? To let Ebola spread worldwide is far more costly in terms of finances and lives lost if you ask me.

When your child is sick with fever the schools ask parents to keep them home until they have been free of fever for 12 hours. I do this to prevent other children and families from becoming ill. I get really angry with people who send their sick kids to school and then mine get sick. I do not have insurance and have to pay medical out of pocket or treat it at home. Spreading illness and disease without thinking of others well being/safety is cruel and in my case costly. It seems like common sense to me. What am I missing?

JMO

 

[Elley Mae]

Ex-Ebola Patient Kent Brantly Donates Blood to Fight Virus in Ashoka Mukpo

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/ebola-patient-kent-brantly-donates-blood-fight-virus/story?id=26038565

Previously, Brantly donated blood to treat Dr. Richard Sacra, who recovered from Ebola at the same Nebraska hospital where Mukpo is being treated.

 

[italianWSfan]

I want to agree with Soyna610 post #551

It seems logical to quarantine states or countries if need be to keep the worldwide spread and cost as low as possible. I think the suggestion is the most humane way possible to stop the suffering of many. Ebola needs to be stopped and contained at the source as quickly as possible. This does not mean that other nations can not send in medical and needed supplies and personnel to help save lives. If this is not contained and there are sporadic outbreaks and hot spots how will those confidently be controlled and stopped? To let Ebola spread worldwide is far more costly in terms of finances and lives lost if you ask me.

When your child is sick with fever the schools ask parents to keep them home until they have been free of fever for 12 hours. I do this to prevent other children and families from becoming ill. I get really angry with people who send their sick kids to school and then mine get sick. I do not have insurance and have to pay medical out of pocket or treat it at home. Spreading illness and disease without thinking of others well being/safety is cruel and in my case costly. It seems like common sense to me. What am I missing?

JMO

ok trying to explain my opinion. sorry if it sounds strange, i have always had problems with expressing thoughts and ifs in english.
if those regions are going to be quarantined off: i have never been to those countries, but we have heard that there are no appropiate facilities and proper equipment. how would sent-in helpers be able to help then? they cant drop off whole hospitals, can they? in some areas there is not even running water. more and more people would get infected and all facilities full, like its happening now. then we heard about the spanish nurse who got infected even though she was careful. i assume at some point the helpers will get ebola too, now if we dont let anyone out, they are most likely to die too. this in turn will cause that no more helpers will go to those regions anymore, because they simply cannot help. so everybody will be left to die. maybe i am wrong, but to me its seems this whole situation is not that easy.

and i think this scenario cant be compared with not being allowed to bring sick kids to school. it can be compared with not being allowed to bring sick kids to hospital.

IMHO

on a side note, i hate it too when parents bring their sick kids to school, especially because i also have a small baby at home who sticks everything into her mouth atm

 

[SStarr33]

Wow oh wow, I have just been reading the news reports posted above..........its happening and the panic is starting.....and very understandably so. The scariest thing I read is the news report above stating that the nurse had only entered the room twice and was fully protected clothing wise. Now if that is true then that is very worrisome. The borders to these countries need to be closed, and it needs to be contained there and now! I really hope an emergency meeting of world leaders is going to be called soon and some real solutions discussed. If something is not done and it is due to $$$ then they better bite the bullet and start spending, because this is going to creep into the western world and the while I personally think it will not go far through the population, the destruction economically from the panic it will cause is unpredictable.

I saw Bill Gates donated 50 million.....excellent stuff..........time for many other filthy rich folk out there to start donating as well.....

Gates needs to give more than 50 million. Way more.

 

[Yoda]

I want to agree with Soyna610 post #551

It seems logical to quarantine states or countries if need be to keep the worldwide spread and cost as low as possible. I think the suggestion is the most humane way possible to stop the suffering of many. Ebola needs to be stopped and contained at the source as quickly as possible. This does not mean that other nations can not send in medical and needed supplies and personnel to help save lives. If this is not contained and there are sporadic outbreaks and hot spots how will those confidently be controlled and stopped? To let Ebola spread worldwide is far more costly in terms of finances and lives lost if you ask me.

When your child is sick with fever the schools ask parents to keep them home until they have been free of fever for 12 hours. I do this to prevent other children and families from becoming ill. I get really angry with people who send their sick kids to school and then mine get sick. I do not have insurance and have to pay medical out of pocket or treat it at home. Spreading illness and disease without thinking of others well being/safety is cruel and in my case costly. It seems like common sense to me. What am I missing?

JMO

Agreeing also.

Quarantining doesn't mean abandoning. Quarantining is not evil or bad. It is a protective measure.

Right now, countries, and organizations, around the world are sending food and supplies. They are establishing field hospitals, testing labs, temporary shelters for orphans. Volunteers, US military, and healthcare professionals are arriving.

It would be logical and wise to have a quarantine location, a hotel, for anyone who wanted to leave the country. 21 days at the 'hotel' and then you may leave. I can't think of a reason anyone would have a problem with that. No one wants to get ebola and no one wants to expose their loved ones.

I also think that the US building the hospital for only healthcare workers will be extremely beneficial. Local health workers and international volunteers will have a facility they can be transferred to immediately to receive top notch care.


JMO

 

[SStarr33]

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/ebola-town-rapper-shadows-smash-hit-soundtrack-killer-plague-1458650

'Ebola in Town' - Rapper Shadow's Smash Hit is Soundtrack to Killer Plague

Shadow raps: "Don't touch your friend! No kissing! No eating something. It's dangerous!"

The lyrics advises: "If you like the monkey don't eat the meat, If you like the baboon, I said don't eat the meat, If you like the bat-o, don't eat the meat."

Talking about the success of his song, Shadow told Vice magazine: "This song is everywhere, in every town, every village, every county, every home. Radio is playing it, it's in homes. Everything is taking it, so it's like the biggest song in the country.'

Full lyrics here:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/goatsandso...-and-d-12-sing-an-infectious-song-about-ebola

 

[SStarr33]

Watch: Airport Security Gaffe Couldn’t Have Made It Any Easier For Ebola To Enter America

http://www.westernjournalism.com/journalists-given-worst-advice-returning-africa/

CNN’s Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen told Robin Meade on HLN’s Morning Express with Robin Meade that she and her two colleagues were not asked a lot of questions when they returned from Liberia while covering the Ebola crisis.

 

[otto]

I heard yesterday that there are 1.5 million ebola cases, many of which are not officially documented.

"With talk turning to the idea that Ebola vaccines and drugs may be needed to quell the West African outbreak, the tiny U.S. company that holds the licence for a Canadian-made vaccine says it is working as fast as it can to get that option tested and ready for use."

http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/u-s-li...la-vaccine-moving-ahead-with-trials-1.2044476

 

[Lyra500]

Looking at the pix of the gear the medical personnel are wearing - I am a nurse who hates having to work in gown, gloves and mask caring for a patient in isolation: hot, sweaty, cumbersome, especially in the summer...I cannot imagine what it is like to try to function in that gear let alone try to start an IV or carry out precise work, especially in a tropical climate.

I would think it must be almost unbearable since the treatment centres mostly seem to be tents outside in the sun - no airconditioning to make things easier.

That is why I think it must be so, so easy to lapse for a moment. I heard an interview with a medic who said that they are lietrally wringing wet when they take off the plastic jumpsuit - all it would take was a bit of sweat running
into your eye and going to wipe it away without thinking.

 

[WideOpen]

Sniped for brevity, thank you to the original poster.

Sept 2 - Thomas Eric Duncan purchased round trip airline ticket paid for Silson Global Business Liberia Ltd an Authorized Service Contractor for UPS.

Sept 4 - Thomas Eric Duncan walked away from his job w/o notice [He prefers to go by the name Eric.]

Sept 15 - Duncan assists an Ebola-infected pregnant women seek medical attention in Liberia, but they are denied by three hospitals and a clinic in Monrovia.

Sept. 16 - Nathaline Williams, the 19-year-old daughter of Duncan's landlord, was seven months pregnant when she died of Ebola.

Sept. 19 - Duncan leaves Liberia for the U.S. [3 days after Williams' death].

Sept. 20 - Duncan lands in the U.S. after layovers in Brussels and Washington.

Sept. 24 - Duncan starts to show symptoms of the Ebola virus.

Sept. 26 - Duncan goes to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital for his symptoms but is sent home with antibiotics

Sept. 28 - Duncan returns to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, still unwell.

Sept. 29 - Duncan is isolated with possible Ebola.

Sept. 30 - Dr. Tom Frieden, U.S. Centers for Disease Control director, confirms Duncan tested positive for the disease.

Oct. 1 - Five children w/ a connection to Duncan are put into quarantine as officials try to contact with everyone with whom Duncan had come into contact, up to 100 people. His family will remain quarantined until Oct. 19.

Oct. 3 - Duncan's partner, Louis Troh, and her 13-year-old son and two nephews are moved to a private home in Dallas County

Oct. 5 - Duncan's health is listed as critical as officials say he has "taken a turn for the worse."


http://nydailynews.com/life-style/health/ebola-u-s-timeline-m-article-1.1964967

http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/Ebola-Texas-Liberia/2014/10/03/id/598474/


.

So we are approaching the 8-10 day mark where others may begin to show signs of infection. I understand it can take up to 21 days to show symptoms.
I am wondering who is in charge of reporting any new cases connected to Duncan? Who is it reported to? and will they try and keep this information out of the media and from the public?

Everyone there must really be on edge. It is a waiting game.

JMO

 

[SweetT]

sorry I have to disagree.
fencing the people in like animals and dropping food here and there and just wait until everybody is dead - your post cant be serious?
imagine it was you living in one of those countries.

We keep it up how we are now and we will be one of those countries, and so will you.

 

[Lyra500]

bbm I have to say that with out the proper equipment in place I don't blame them. jmo idk

Quite a few if them have already died and there was a pitiful number of doctors in Liberia in the first place. They were talking about it on Radio 4 this morning. Before this outbreak started, Liberia had 52 doctors (total!) for a population of around 4 million inhabitants.

 

[WideOpen]

Agreeing also.

Quarantining doesn't mean abandoning. Quarantining is not evil or bad. It is a protective measure.

Right now, countries, and organizations, around the world are sending food and supplies. They are establishing field hospitals, testing labs, temporary shelters for orphans. Volunteers, US military, and healthcare professionals are arriving.

It would be logical and wise to have a quarantine location, a hotel, for anyone who wanted to leave the country. 21 days at the 'hotel' and then you may leave. I can't think of a reason anyone would have a problem with that. No one wants to get ebola and no one wants to expose their loved ones.

I also think that the US building the hospital for only healthcare workers will be extremely beneficial. Local health workers and international volunteers will have a facility they can be transferred to immediately to receive top notch care.


JMO

Totally agree.
Restricting or quarantining travel out of the affected countries is necessary imo. For the greater good. Who and how many people can actually afford to travel out of their infected regions? My daddy always said, money doesnt buy happiness it buys freedom. IMO most Africans do not have the freedom to leave. Lets deal with this head on, continue supporting the building of an infrastructure capable of combating this where is started. Let's not wait until it is too late and has become a worldwide tragedy. There are many impoverished nations that do not have the $ or medical centers to treat this.

sorry if not so eloquent. not feeling well this am

 

[Detective Klimpt]

Quite a few if them have already died and there was a pitiful number of doctors in Liberia in the first place. They were talking about it on Radio 4 this morning. Before this outbreak started, Liberia had 52 doctors (total!) for a population of around 4 million inhabitants.

BBM. And they keep multiplying because apparently they either don't know about birth control or don't care. If they keep having children as poverty stricken as they mostly are, how can they ever be educated about preventing Ebola.

I can provide a link with stats showing just how many new and existing cases of HIV/AIDS exist in North Texas. It's broken down by age, race, gender, and even how it was acquired. Almost all are black males having homosexual contact. So, there ya go. There should be virtually no Aids cases if safe sex is practiced, but people continue to take the risk. How then, can we expect to stop Ebola in a country with antiquated resources, few doctors, and a population that is mostly educated?

Me...this is one advantage to being an older person. I will likely be dead and gone by the time an epidemic of Ebola or other life threatening disease takes control of usa.

 

[effervescent]

BBM. And they keep multiplying because apparently they either don't know about birth control or don't care. If they keep having children as poverty stricken as they mostly are, how can they ever be educated about preventing Ebola.

I can provide a link with stats showing just how many new and existing cases of HIV/AIDS exist in North Texas. It's broken down by age, race, gender, and even how it was acquired. Almost all are black males having homosexual contact. So, there ya go. There should be virtually no Aids cases if safe sex is practiced, but people continue to take the risk. How then, can we expect to stop Ebola in a country with antiquated resources, few doctors, and a population that is mostly educated?

Me...this is one advantage to being an older person. I will likely be dead and gone by the time an epidemic of Ebola or other life threatening disease takes control of usa.

They don't know, mostly. And if they do, it's generally not available or unaffordable. Clearly healthcare is about as unacceptable as it can get there, and I imagine reproductive health and family planning just isn't a priority.