Ebola in the US

[LongBlade]

Something that is not really being discussed, is the possibility of an ebola virus reservoir being established in some animal species in the US.  It is believed that fruit bats are the largest reservoir in Africa; they are just carriers and not affected by the virus (there are five strains of the virus).  Primates do carry the virus but do become sick and die.  The virus has not been detected in a lot of animals, but has been detected in dogs, pigs and horses according to the information I have seen.  So is this something we should worry about?

Yup.

I did hear they euthanized that Spanish nurse's dog. Sad, but probably a good idea.

I've also heard of the danger of pockets developing in 3rd world countries in South America, but hadn't heard the suggestion that it might enter the fauna in these parts. Good call. Bad deal for us.

[Barthheart]

[mirth]

Not good at all

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/16/us/ebola-outbreak-texas.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&version=HpSum&module=span-ab-lede-package-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news

[Barthheart]

No... that's very bad in fact.

Who the hell is running things down there? It's not like it's happening the back woods somewhere, this is supposed to be the world's most technologically advance nation and so far that are operating at the same level as West Africa!?!  :o

The CDC has written up well defined ways of dealing with viruses and it appears that these guidelines are not being followed. WTF?!?

[mirth]

Nurse has been IDed. She just flew from Ohio to Texas on Monday. CDC is asking everyone on the flight to call in

http://news.yahoo.com/ebola-diagnosed-in-second-dallas-nurse-105542930.html

[MikeGER]

.. this is supposed to be the world's most technologically advance nation

2 of 5 space shuttles exploded after summed up 135 uses  ;)

[Barthheart]

But that's just the point. This isn't rocket science. The only transmission path for ebola is fluid transfer. And that has to be one of the easiest things to protect against in a hospital.

[BanzaiCat]

Some people in emergency work don't take PPE seriously, or half-ass it. I never did. One time I transported a patient with chickenpox, and I couldn't recall if I ever had it or not. I chose to err on the side of caution and put on the full protective gear. Didn't get it. I had the varicella vaccine when I was a toddler, but still, it never hurts to be prepared. Many EMTs were VERY anal about bodily fluids (including me), but some just couldn't give two sh!ts about it.

I guarantee there will be a ripple effect throughout the community and healthcare people will change any such lackadaisical attitude damn fast.

[MikeGER]

Ebola is easy to identify  ...even has a tag  ;-)

[Steelgrave]

But that's just the point. This isn't rocket science. The only transmission path for ebola is fluid transfer. And that has to be one of the easiest things to protect against in a hospital.

According to an article I was reading yesterday posted on a science news site (I'll have to go back and dig for the article) there is at least one incident of animals in separate pens (pigs in one, monkeys in another) in which ebola traveled from the monkey pen to the pig enclosure, infecting the pigs. The animals were far enough apart that fluid transfer is considered unlikely. The working theory is that the virus spread via monkey sneezes, remaining airborne long enough to travel to the pig pen and do it's work. The CDC has apparently hemmed and hawed over the possibility of ebola being airborne in any fashion. It's apparently not airbourne in the classic Captain Trips scenario, but the virus itself is said to remain viable and be able to infect for 3-4 hours after being discharged.

Considering our Keystone Kops response to ebola being in America so far, I'm fairly concerned as to how we react going forward here.

[LongBlade]

But that's just the point. This isn't rocket science. The only transmission path for ebola is fluid transfer. And that has to be one of the easiest things to protect against in a hospital.

According to an article I was reading yesterday posted on a science news site (I'll have to go back and dig for the article) there is at least one incident of animals in separate pens (pigs in one, monkeys in another) in which ebola traveled from the monkey pen to the pig enclosure, infecting the pigs. The animals were far enough apart that fluid transfer is considered unlikely. The working theory is that the virus spread via monkey sneezes, remaining airborne long enough to travel to the pig pen and do it's work. The CDC has apparently hemmed and hawed over the possibility of ebola being airborne in any fashion. It's apparently not airbourne in the classic Captain Trips scenario, but the virus itself is said to remain viable and be able to infect for 3-4 hours after being discharged.

Considering our Keystone Kops response to ebola being in America so far, I'm fairly concerned as to how we react going forward here.

I, for one, am heartened that we have a huge database recording every electronic communication made by every American. We've never been safer from terrorism  ::)

[JasonPratt]

An employee here heard on the news last night that the CDC now estimates up to ten thousand new Ebola cases a week in the US by December.

That isn't exactly flu level, but flu doesn't have a 60% chance of killing you despite treatment (and a near 100% without treatment).

[Windigo]

An employee here heard on the news last night that the CDC now estimates up to ten thousand new Ebola cases a week in the US by December.

That isn't exactly flu level, but flu doesn't have a 60% chance of killing you despite treatment (and a near 100% without treatment).

Wow, thats how bad rumours get started. That figure is for Africa, NOT!!!!!, the US of A.

[Gusington]

Chicken pox almost killed me when I was sixteen...it. was no joke.

I read in The Economist and in Time that by January there could be 1m plus cases of Ebola in W. Africa.

It is so serious that The Wife has given me the ok to purchase a firearm...seriously.

[LongBlade]

It is so serious that The Wife has given me the ok to purchase a firearm...seriously.

Being in New York that means you can get one of these: