Ebola fear factor

[Suff]

Neither can I Kate Pederito let us hope so!

We're not scared enough yet. The problem is that when the fear is there then it's too late.

Earlier there was huge hype and tantrums about the "plague to end all plagues". Which is patently not true. Without antibiotics, the black death is thousands of times more dangerous than Ebola. Smallpox, which is pneumonic and a virus, is hundreds of times more dangerous than Ebola, which is why we went to such lengths to eradicate it.

Because the world didn't end after the papers going crazy, people became used to it. It is already mutating, adults are already surviving. Even if it does jump the constraints to the general population, it will now burn out very quickly. But, again, only after thousands more have died.

21 days. Everyone thinks it's too long and too much and nobody will stand for it. Because they're not scared enough. But you can bet that if we do become infected, someone will do it to us...... They won't care about our umanrights either. They'll be scared for their lives...

It is interesting to note that the number of extra respiratory deaths in the UK (flu is often reported as respiratory), during a strong winter flu season, is higher than all people "infected" in the entire 2014 Ebola outbreak. Just a thought...

[Diflower]

The nurse in Spain - they've said maybe the suits weren't good enough, now they've said maybe she touched her face with her gloves - but that wouldn't be 'bodily fluids', would it?

[Kaz]

The patient in Dallas has died today.....

[Suff]

Yes I put that on the right or wrong thread.

3 weeks to see what the fallout of that is. Now they release that he was visiting his fiancée. She has to be terrified out of her mind. I feel extremely sorry for her. We're beginning to see survivors now. However it will still take anyone who is susceptible in the same way as anyone else....

In 3 weeks we may see a whole new level of fear. I notice they shot the Spanish Nurse's dog. A bit of research shows that they can be infected but don't specifically develop the disease. Obviously they've been discounted as the carrier they are looking for, but the Spanish are taking no chances.

More caution is indicated.

[Kaz]

Yes I put that on the right or wrong thread.

I posted before I read the other thread.

[Suff]

Np, just thought I'd mention it in case you missed it.

[Kaz]

Ok

[Workingman]

Ahhh, don't you love the "Feelgood factor"?

Less than a few hours after George Osborne announced that the UK would not be taking temperatures of travellers from W. Africa a committee of MPs overrules him.

So, we are about to do the checks, but what for?

With a window of up to 21 days before a person shows signs of infection it is pretty useless as an effective measure to prevent Ebola's spread.

The man in the US didn't show until four days after his arrival. The nurse in Australia had been home for two days before becoming ill, though it might not be Ebola even though she was an active volunteer in the region.

It is reported the on average Atlanta airport has 160 arrivals from the region every day. How many of them might have Ebola is anybody's guess. How many of them will have normal temperatures on arrival, but will become infective later is anybody's guess. How far they will get from Atlanta before becoming infective is anybody's guess.

Quarantine before leaving is one answer, but that well known medical facility, The World Bank, is against because of what it might do to the W. African and wider global economy.

The race must be on for a simple and quick blood test able to be administered on exit and on arrival at journey's end.

[Kaz]

Knee jerk, as ever with this government Taking the temperature of passengers will be futile, as you said Frank the recent Ebola victims showed no symtpoms at the time they travelled, and many people with high temperatures will have them for reasons other than Ebola - like the common cold

[Workingman]

Kaz, you will know this, there is an old saying: 'Necessity is the mother of invention."

Apparently it takes about four hours to complete an Ebola blood test at present. I wonder how much time could be shaved from that if the will was there?

My chemists do blood checks for diabetes, cholesterol, anaemia..... they get almost instant results. I know Ebola is a lot different, but even so it might be able to reduce the test time.

I had to fly to the States just after 9/11 and the hoops we had to go to just to be allowed in the departure lounge were something else..... and we had to be in that lounge three hours before departure time. When "needs must" things do get done.