"Here's How You Get Ebola"

[Wasillaguy]

Another aspect I haven't seen any coverage on is that the hospitals are screening based on symptoms and travel history. That works (or it was supposed to) with those bringing it in. If we now have an outbreak, those with no known contact with patient zero will not have a travel history to reference.
You can't isolate every person who gets a fever, and differentiating early symptoms from other more benign maladies becomes much more difficult.

[barbara]

I've been to our county hospital five time this week for different reasons and in all parts of the hospital are posters stating that if you have traveled to those countries that have had the virus you are to immediately report to a particular person/department.

I think the hospital in Texas screwed up big time.

[donquixote99]

Originally Posted by Wasillaguy

Another aspect I haven't seen any coverage on is that the hospitals are screening based on symptoms and travel history. That works (or it was supposed to) with those bringing it in. If we now have an outbreak, those with no known contact with patient zero will not have a travel history to reference.
You can't isolate every person who gets a fever, and differentiating early symptoms from other more benign maladies becomes much more difficult.

Been looking but not finding a key factor--how long does the virus remain virulent when deposited on an environmental surface? The reinfection rate--the number of people, on average, infected by each person who gets the disease, is said to be 1-4. Stopping an epidemic from expanding requires getting it below 1, eliminating a disease requires getting it, ultimately, to zero.

Ebola is shed in the bodily fluids of persons with the active disease. It then must come in contact with a skin break, or the mucous of a body orifice, to infect another. This is for the good--this makes for a much lower reinfection rate than with airborne respiratory diseases, where it may be as high as 17 or so. Of course, the bad news is what happens when you are infected. In many people, the body is never able to mount an effective immune defense. This is why the death rate is around 50%, even with good hospital care.

In areas where the disease is in the population, I can see folks adopting the Japanese habit of wearing face masks around. Not to keep out airborne pathogens, but to keep one's hands out of the mouth and nose. That, and being very cautious in dealing with any person with flu-like symptoms in an outbreak area, should be enough.

But we may have trouble before the necessary practices become widespread.

[merrylander]

I see the Liberian government is laying criminal charges because he lied at the airport claiming that had not had contact with anyone who was ill.

[donquixote99]

Originally Posted by merrylander

I see the Liberian government is laying criminal charges because he lied at the airport claiming that had not had contact with anyone who was ill.

That would be the least of his troubles at this minute. But of course evasion and denial are big enemies in the fight against the disease.

[nailer]

We had the wickedest thunderstorm (wind speeds and rain intensity, but no hail) in at least five years pass through town yesterday afternoon and I'm more concerned about getting my power reconnected than I am about getting Ebola.

Based on the initial local reports I heard (KERA and KNTU), Presbyterian Hospital handled this first US Ebola infection case in a professional and competent matter once a diagnosis was made.

[Tom Joad]

Originally Posted by Wasillaguy

That's all well and good. Call me crazy but I don't see the harm in being a bit paranoid when it comes to deadly viruses.
I wouldn't continue to live in that apartment complex right now if I could find a place elsewhere. I'm not sure I'd want to eat out in the area. Nor would I really want to go anywhere too close to other people around there. I'd be using hand sanitizer every time I touched a doorknob or public touchscreen, or maybe just put on some rubber gloves. And I think I'd be very conscious about putting my hands to my mouth, eyes, or nose.

About 100 people die in the US every day on average in traffic accidents.

Better sell all your vehicles and shut yourself up in your house for the rest of your life.

[bobabode]

Originally Posted by nailer

We had the wickedest thunderstorm (wind speeds and rain intensity, but no hail) in at least five years pass through town yesterday afternoon and I'm more concerned about getting my power reconnected than I am about getting Ebola.

Based on the initial local reports I heard (KERA and KNTU), Presbyterian Hospital handled this first US Ebola infection case in a professional and competent matter once a diagnosis was made.

So, Dallaseans aren't readying the torches and pitchforks while descending on that apartment complex for a bonfire? Dang, all of my preconceptions about Red Texas are misplaced. Where are all the bubbas?

[Wasillaguy]

Originally Posted by Tom Joad

About 100 people die in the US every day on average in traffic accidents.

Better sell all your vehicles and shut yourself up in your house for the rest of your life.

No harm in being paranoid about auto accidents either. I made the choice to drive a vehicle with a good crash rating. I made the choice to live close to my work to limit my driving miles. I don't drive late on weekends if I can help it. I don't go out on New Year's or 4th of July weekend. I always look for oncoming traffic even if I have the green light. I try to avoid driving when the roads are extremely icy.

Some people like to be paranoid about guns, which average only 30 deaths per day. I keep all my firearms hidden and inaccessible to children, even though kids are constantly supervised while in my home and only allowed in certain rooms. I never point a gun at anyone, even when I know it's unloaded. I don't tell people when I'm carrying. I wear shirts with busy print patterns that make it difficult to see the bulge of a gun under my clothing. I only hunt with people I trust to be safe and responsible.

[hillbilly]

I heard on NBC that a reporter working for NBC has contracted ebola. They aren't doctors or nurses that handle the sick, so how'd he catch it if it isn't easy to catch?