First case of Ebola in the US

[savedbygrace71]

As I read through these responses, I couldn’t help feeling a frisson of real, true panic. My husband travels by plane every week for work. How can a plane be adequately disinfected when it isn’t even completely known all the mechanisms of transmission?

One thing for sure, I doubt this man didn’t know he was infected. In fact, I’m sure he quit his job and jumped on the plane in order to see his family one last time, or perhaps to try to get better health care since he was able to do so. I hate that he did this, but I can imagine the desire to not die as he saw his neighbors do. But the trail of infectious material he’s left behind him… it scares me to the bone! The ambulance drivers, ER workers, other patients. The school children, whoever they are and however they came across him.

As far as stopping incoming flights from West Africa, well that’s only as good as a flight change will take you, isn’t it? Can’t someone just fly to say Cairo and then fly to NYC? Or would Immigration turn them away seeing their origin? I agree that asking questions won’t work- who wouldn’t lie to get out of the hell of Ebola? But if one man’s just gotten on the plane and shown up, more either have or will, soon.

 

[EmperorNapoleon]

So, seriously, I honestly believe that this can be transmitted airborne because of what this man wrote. If anyone would know, he would. He also wrote how Marburg virus became even more highly infectious after it had passed through a human host - who happened to be a colleague of his who died from Marburg after being accidentally exposed in the lab. As Marburg and Ebola are closely related, and viruses do tend to mutate, I don’t see why this would NOT be possible with Ebola.

Airborne viruses and contagions can survive and linger or drift in the air. Ebola, like many other viruses, is not airborne but it can be propelled through the air so long as it is contained within, for example, small droplets of saliva or mucous following a cough or sneeze. The chances of infection from inhalation of those droplets are very slim.

 

[Path_Finder]

Ebola outbreak: ‘Five infected every hour’ in Sierra Leone

bbc.com/news/world-africa-29453755

A leading charity has warned that a rate of five new Ebola cases an hour in Sierra Leone means healthcare demands are far outstripping supply.

Save the Children said there were 765 new cases of Ebola reported in the West African state last week, while there are only 327 beds in the country.

Sierra Leone, population just over 6 million people. Someone talked about the potential for exponential growth of the virus. 5 and hour is a very worrisome stat. That is an epidemic. Those stats are horrendous.

 

[Beautiful]

As I read through these responses, I couldn’t help feeling a frisson of real, true panic.

As far as stopping incoming flights from West Africa,.

I just finished watching public television 10pm news. The CDC director Friedan spoke about flights in and out of the infected area. He said that paradoxically, grounding flights, restricting or isolating would cause people to try all the harder to leave the country hence spreading the virus faster and further.

I am not sure that what you sense is real true panic as much as careful, watchful concern. Personally, I want to know how and why this thing is progressing.

I am not a healthcare worker but is does appear to me that ebola is something that is in the process of going global.

 

[whatsmyname]

I just got a message from my employer (United Airlines) a little while ago letting all employees know what flights the ebola patient took and on what day. They passed on a message from the CDC that they’re absolutely positively 100% sure there’s not even the tiniest possibility of danger to anyone who was on that flight or in the airports. From the wording of the person who wrote the message, I got the idea they might not agree with the CDC’s reassurances.

So a man infected with ebola got on the plane. Sat in his seat on his flight from Brussels to Dulles. He probably slept part of the way, maybe sweating or drooling on the seat. Maybe he blew his nose and put his dirty kleenex in the setback pocket as most people do.

He probably ate the inflight meal and his tray/silverware were then put back into the meal cart which was then returned to catering. The germy tray got sent through the dishwasher and the cart it was in got a quick spray of water, maybe. Sometimes they don’t look like they’ve been washed. Then it was loaded with more food for the next flight. Perhaps it was your clean tray that was put in the same spot the ebola tray previously occupied.

He drank from a cup which the flight attendant picked up. 99.999% of customers hand us the cup in a way we are forced to touch the rim where your mouth was so he probably did, too. Then the flight attendant went to the lavatory to wash her hands, touched the same soap dispenser, faucet and door handle as the ebola patient. Then, with those germs on her hands, touched some more cups and food which she handed out to everyone on the plane.

For 9 hours on the first flight, everybody breathed the same recycled air. Then he spent 3 hours in the Dulles airport before again sharing the same recycled air and sitting in a seat that will never be cleaned on a flight to Dallas. Ebola virus can live for days on surfaces like the armrest or the window or the fabric. The CDC has assured us now that it isn’t airborne, but they weren’t so sure of that at other times.

I’m not at all worried. I think it is a brilliant plan not to quarantine people from areas where the virus is spreading rapidly. Just trust blindly in everything the CDC says and we’ll be fine.

At least United offered free medical testing to the crew members of those flights.

In past flu epidemics, crew were given a list of symptoms to be on the lookout for and denied boarding to anyone we suspected of being ill. On some flights, we were authorized to wear gloves and masks. This time, all we have is a message that there’s nothing to worry about.

 

[RGCheek]

In past flu epidemics, crew were given a list of symptoms to be on the lookout for and denied boarding to anyone we suspected of being ill. On some flights, we were authorized to wear gloves and masks. This time, all we have is a message that there’s nothing to worry about.

Today people with power and responsibility are more concerned about not offending anyone than with getting things done right.

There should be a one week wait before one can pick up and use purchased tickets from the infected countries, a medical screening with blood sample and medical check up, and then another week quarantine once here. The person’s ticket out of these countries should be flagged so that any further nation they go to for the next year knows this person was in an Ebola area.

 

[TigerKitty]

Respiratory protection is required while working with Ebola, preferably a positive pressure full face respirator. Think space suit with air hose.

The inhaled infectious dose of Ebola in non human primates is 1 to 10 virus particles. Do you know how little that is?

We are continually bathed in droplets of saliva which were produce when we talk. These dried droplets may remain suspended in the air for quite some time. Think about the dust you see floating around in a sun beam.

Do you have any idea how BIG a spec of dust is in relation to a virus particle? Far, FAR more than the known infectious dose of 1 to 10 virus particles can travel on a spec of dust.

Once inhaled into the lungs, the virus would be quite happy nestled in the alveolar sacs,in which a one cell thick barrier would be the only separation from the capillaries where gas exchange occurs.

Given this, it makes sense to me when Dr. Alibek says in his memoir that Ebola may be transmitted through the air…i.e.,without DIRECT contact (touching) of blood or body fluids, as is required with HIV or HepB.

On a similar note, anthrax may be transmitted in multiple ways, and disease symptoms and course follow mode of contact. Anthrax may be inhaled, ingested, or by direct contact with skin. The weaponized form of anthrax is transmitted via air/inhalation, because it’s the most deadly form of the illness and it’s possible to infect large numbers of people “efficently”. I’m not saying Ebola has been weaponized or that this is some weaponized strain,but it poses an interesting question…we know from Alibek’s book that the USSR program was doing just that with Marburg.

 

[RGCheek]

Some interesting stories on this topic:

washingtonexaminer.com/top-doc-several-people-were-exposed…more-will-be-infected-by-dallas-ebola-case/article/2554213

dailycaller.com/2014/10/01/us-visas-held-by-13500-people-in-three-ebola-countries/

This is the kind of nonsense that we can expect from second tier hospitals?

nytimes.com/2014/10/02/us/after-ebola-case-in-dallas-health-officials-seek-those-who-had-contact-with-patient.html?_r=0

washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2014/10/01/texas-patient-with-ebola-told-hospital-workers-during-initial-visit-he-had-traveled-from-west-africa/

A second Ebola patient is now being monitiored
usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/10/01/texas-ebola-patient/16525649/

Health officials are closely monitoring a possible second Ebola patient who had close contact with the first person to be diagnosed in the U.S., the director of Dallas County’s health department said Wednesday.

All who have been in close contact with the man officially diagnosed are being monitored as a precaution, Zachary Thompson, director of Dallas County Health and Human Services, said in a morning interview with WFAA-TV, Dallas-Fort Worth.

“Let me be real frank to the Dallas County residents: The fact that we have one confirmed case, there may be another case that is a close associate with this particular patient,” he said. “So this is real. There should be a concern, but it’s contained to the specific family members and close friends at this moment.”

star-telegram.com/2014/10/01/6165611/officials-say-only-one-ebola-case.html?rh=1

Parents rushed to get their children from school Wednesday after learning that five students may have had contact with the Ebola patient in a Dallas hospital, as Gov. Rick Perry and other leaders reassured the public that there is no cause for alarm.

The patient, identified by The Associated Press as Thomas Eric Duncan of Liberia, arrived in the U.S. on Sept. 20 to visit family. Dallas County Health and Human Services Director Zachary Thompson said county officials suspect that 12 to 18 people may have had contact with Duncan.

“Right now, the base number is 18 people, and that could increase,” he said. Thompson said more details are expected by Thursday afternoon. The number includes five students at four schools, Dallas school district Superintendent Mike Miles said.

“This case is serious,” Perry said during a news conference at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, where Duncan is being treated. “Rest assured that our system is working as it should. Professionals on every level on the chain of command know what to do to minimize this potential risk to the people of Texas and of this country.”

I’m sorry, but I don’t think that this confidence is justified simply from what we have seen thus far in hospitals not expecting an Ebola patient, and the level of bad information coming from top level disease specialists.

 

[Path_Finder]

Respiratory protection is required while working with Ebola, preferably a positive pressure full face respirator. Think space suit with air hose.

The inhaled infectious dose of Ebola in Bonn human primates is 1 to 10 virus particles. Do you know how little that is?

We are continually bathed in droplets of saliva which were produce when we talk. These dried droplets may remain suspended in the air for quite some time. Think about the dust you see floating around in a sun beam.

Do you have any idea how BIG a spec of dust is in relation to a virus particle? Far, FAR more than the known infectious dose of 1 to 10 virus particles can travel on a spec of dust.

Once inhaled into the lungs, the virus would be quite happy nestled in the alveolar sacs,in which a one cell thick barrier would be the only separation from the capillaries where had exchange occurs.

Given this, it makes sense to me when Dr. Alibek says in his memoir that Ebola may be transmitted through the air…i.e.,without DIRECT contact (touching) of blood or body fluids, as is required with HIV or HepB.

On a similar note, anthrax Mary be transmitted in multiple ways mms and disease symptoms and course follow mode of contact. Anthrax may be inhaled, ingested, or by direct contact with skin. The weaponized form of anthrax is transmitted via air/inhalation, because it’s the most deadly firm of the illness and it’s possible to infect large numbers of people “efficently”. I’m not saying Ebola has been weaponized or that this is some weaponized strain,but it pses an interesting question…we know from Alibek’s book that the USSR program was doing just that with Marburg.

I’m no scientist but I think your posts are reasonable in the matters of speaking about possibilities of it being airborne. It is potent, it can be left on doorknobs and this patient in Dallas it is being reported (forgive me if this was stated already, sounds like it has been) was vomiting around children. I’m going to grab some hand-sanitizer tomorrow, that’s far from a cure-all but sounds like a reasonable safety precaution. For people interested, even the dollar stores often carry it and at times, in the winter months, I have carried it around with me.

 

[GaryTaylor]

This time, all we have is a message that there’s nothing to worry about.

Don’t worry be happy, and be careful of the body fluids. Make sure no one infected is cooking the food.

 

[GaryTaylor]

I’m no scientist but I think your posts are reasonable in the matters of speaking about possibilities of it being airborne. It is potent, it can be left on doorknobs and this patient in Dallas it is being reported (forgive me if this was stated already, sounds like it has been) was vomiting around children. I’m going to grab some hand-sanitizer tomorrow, that’s far from a cure-all but sounds like a reasonable safety precaution. For people interested, even the dollar stores often carry it and at times, in the winter months, I have carried it around with me.

TigerKitty will have you walking around like Michael Jackson with a respirator mask gloves and glasses. And probably isn’t far off from the truth. Incredibly dangerous virus. We may have to quarantine Dallas with any more foolish mistakes.

 

[RGCheek]

Don’t worry be happy, and be careful of the body fluids. Make sure no one infected is cooking the food.

And be sure to not touch:

1. door knobs.
2. food menus
3. condiment containers
4. soap dispensers
5. table tops
6. restroom counter tops

Good luck with that and you will be safe…God Willing.



The most popular style of clothing accessories in December 2014.

http://picture.pixmac.com/4/man-with-face-mask-and-gloves-man-pixmac-picture-68298961.jpg

 

[Vanny]

If we do this, will we also need to ban anyone from leaving Texas and entering the rest of the country?

Well hopefully not yet, as long as it stays contained to this one man.
On the other hand in west Africa we’re dealing with a true epidemic.

 

[7_Sorrows]

Some interesting stories on this topic:

washingtonexaminer.com/top-doc-several-people-were-exposed…more-will-be-infected-by-dallas-ebola-case/article/2554213

dailycaller.com/2014/10/01/us-visas-held-by-13500-people-in-three-ebola-countries/

This is the kind of nonsense that we can expect from second tier hospitals?

nytimes.com/2014/10/02/us/after-ebola-case-in-dallas-health-officials-seek-those-who-had-contact-with-patient.html?_r=0

washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2014/10/01/texas-patient-with-ebola-told-hospital-workers-during-initial-visit-he-had-traveled-from-west-africa/

A second Ebola patient is now being monitiored
usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/10/01/texas-ebola-patient/16525649/

star-telegram.com/2014/10/01/6165611/officials-say-only-one-ebola-case.html?rh=1

I’m sorry, but I don’t think that this confidence is justified simply from what we have seen thus far in hospitals not expecting an Ebola patient, and the level of bad information coming from top level disease specialists.

The fact that this man had flown in from Liberia 4 days earlier was not passed on was pure incompetence!
I fully believe this man knew there was a 100% chance he was going to get ebola.

 

[EmperorNapoleon]

Becvause the flue does not have:

1. a 55% mortality rate; i.e. if you get this Ebola there is a better than even chance you will die from it.
2. the Exponential growth rate is troubling; it is doubling the number of cases each month, roughly.

A couple of things. Rates of transmission and mortality are so bad in these West African countries for several reasons. First because, frankly, they have very poor hygiene. These are places where something as simple as soap is a luxury for most people. Second because they have practically no medical infrastructure either in terms of facilities or professionals (doctors and nurses) and very little medical expertise to identify and handle highly infectious/contagious disease among the real doctors and nurses they do have. The mortality and transmission rates we are seeing are not indicative of the virus itself but of the environment in which it is propagating. We in the West should have no more fear of Ebola than of the common flu. We have the infrastructure, expertise, and hygienic practices to prevent such an epidemic from occurring as well as provide for a far lower mortality rate (so far the score is 0 fatalities for 3 patients).

 

[Vanny]

The fact that this man had flown in from Liberia 4 days earlier was not passed on was pure incompetence!
I fully believe this man knew there was a 100% chance he was going to get ebola.

apparently from what I heard on the news the CDC has just gotten done a week ago sending out memos to hospitals that if anyone presents with high fever and vomiting and states they’ve been to Africa to admit them-this hospital sent him home with antibiotics.
At least if they’d kept him it may have kept a few more people from being possibly infected.

I’m really praying no one else comes down with this disease in the Dallas area.

 

[Vanny]

A couple of things. Rates of transmission and mortality are so bad in these West African country for several reasons. First because, frankly, they have very poor hygiene. These are places where something as simple as soap is a luxury for most people. Second because they have practically no medical infrastructure either in terms of facilities or professionals (doctors and nurses) and very little medical expertise to identify and handle highly infectious/contagious disease among the real doctors and nurses they do have. The mortality and transmission rates we are seeing are not indicative of the virus itself but of the environment in which it is propagating. We in the West should have no more fear of Ebola than of the common flu. We have the infrastructure, expertise, and hygienic practices to prevent such an epidemic from occurring as well as provide for a far lower mortality rate (so far the score is 0 fatalities for 3 patients).

You know, I hope you’re right. I really do. I guess time will tell.

 

[GaryTaylor]

A couple of things. Rates of transmission and mortality are so bad in these West African country for several reasons. First because, frankly, they have very poor hygiene. These are places where something as simple as soap is a luxury for most people. Second because they have practically no medical infrastructure either in terms of facilities or professionals (doctors and nurses) and very little medical expertise to identify and handle highly infectious/contagious disease among the real doctors and nurses they do have. The mortality and transmission rates we are seeing are not indicative of the virus itself but of the environment in which it is propagating. We in the West should have no more fear of Ebola than of the common flu. We have the infrastructure, expertise, and hygienic practices to prevent such an epidemic from occurring as well as provide for a far lower mortality rate (so far the score is 0 fatalities for 3 patients).

Right a good deal of it, so what would a worse case scenario look like in America the common flu?

 

[7_Sorrows]

apparently from what I heard on the news the CDC has just gotten done a week ago sending out memos to hospitals that if anyone presents with high fever and vomiting and states they’ve been to Africa to admit them-this hospital sent him home with antibiotics.
At least if they’d kept him it may have kept a few more people from being possibly infected.

I’m really praying no one else comes down with this disease in the Dallas area.

Yes but the seriousness of this ebola virus has been big news since July. Unless you have lived in a cave you shouldn’t need a letter from the CDC to connect someone who has just arrived from Africa - especially Liberia - and ebola. I don’t understand how several red flags did not go up. Gross incompetence!
You are right that if they would have admitted him immediately he could not have infected as many people.
I already don’t have confidence in the CDC or the healthcare system.

 

[EmperorNapoleon]

Right a good deal of it, so what would a worse case scenario look like in America the common flu?

We see about 36,000 deaths in the United States per year for the flu. The CDC estimates that, at most, 20% of the U.S. population becomes infected with the flu virus every year (about 63.6 million people). That comes out to a mortality rate of .05%. If 63 million cases of influenza every year with a mortality rate of 0.05% doesn’t scare people into grounding flights and quarantining people then I don’t see why 3 cases of Ebola with a mortality rate of 0% should.