Collapse at Gatwick causes Ebola scare.

a reply to: ~Lucidity

And the Philippines...

Well, I'm seeing reports that because she tested once as negative, there's nothing to worry about. But I can't help but wonder if they are still doing confirmation testing.

That isn't clear.

originally posted by: loam
Well, I'm seeing reports that because she tested once as negative, there's nothing to worry about. But I can't help but wonder if they are still doing confirmation testing.

That isn't clear.

If she eventually does test positive and dies we will never know. Don't you think that media damage control is in full effect to avoid panic.

I doubt if we will ever know the true severity of this ebola outbreak.

The fact is London is only lucky she didn't have it. It's entirely possible that someone else on that plane coming from an extremely affected area does and just doesn't know it yet.

Stop international travel from those countries!

The "Ebola scare" aspect seems applicable to me..she's coming from the affected area, airports are screening passengers for exactly those symptoms and she collapses. IMHO, those criticizing are being a bit nit-picky. If I was on the flight or in the immediate area assisting the woman, yeah - I'd be scared.

a reply to: olaru12

In this climate it would be seen as a national security issue, easier to say she tested negative than to say it was Ebola and hope everyone stays calm, we don't need people panic buying at supermarkets, staying in the house rather than socialising, our economy is delicate an ebola scare would be devastating.

a reply to: kosmicjack

Why have they not banned travel from these areas?

Ebola hits country X
women from country X gets on plane seemingly fine
women dies when plane lands after vomiting and fever

and your ridiculing people who are concerned?

I wouldn't trust the health officials, if she tested positive it would be in their interest to deny it while they look for other infected people.
If they declare she died of Ebola - queue mass panic.

originally posted by: olaru12

originally posted by: loam
Well, I'm seeing reports that because she tested once as negative, there's nothing to worry about. But I can't help but wonder if they are still doing confirmation testing.

That isn't clear.

If she eventually does test positive and dies we will never know. Don't you think that media damage control is in full effect to avoid panic.

I doubt if we will ever know the true severity of this ebola outbreak.

Oh, we'll know...when they can't hide the numbers anymore. I think they are hiding the true numbers of this outbreak right now, plus, how many cases are there in Africa that doctors don't even know about because the people there are afraid of doctors and think they are the ones spreading the disease, so they get sick and refuse to get help and simply die. It may be that this disease is already spreading outside of Africa and we're not being told yet while they try to get a handle on it, but that's not going to happen. It may also be that this disease has gone airborne and we haven't been told that yet either. I mean at one minute they are telling us that we don't have to be concerned about it being airborne (sneezing and coughing) while at the same time they are telling airlines to watch for sneezing and coughing. IMO, there's a lot we aren't being told...yet!

originally posted by: la2
a reply to: kosmicjack

Why have they not banned travel from these areas?

US issues travel warning for countries with Ebola

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued its highest level of travel notice today, urging people to avoid travel to Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. The three countries are currently experiencing the worst Ebola outbreak on record.

To give you an idea of how dire this is, on July 31 these are the only three places on Earth with a CDC Level 3 travel warning.

The CDC's statement "urged" all residents to avoid "nonessential" travel to the area. That pretty much means stay out unless you're an aid worker.

Here's a section of the notice about Liberia:

This recommendation to avoid nonessential travel is intended to facilitate control of the outbreak and prevent continued spread in two ways: to protect US residents who may be planning travel to the affected areas and to enable the Liberian government to respond most effectively to contain this outbreak. CDC remains committed to the multinational effort to assist Liberia in controlling the outbreak and is scaling up its response activities by, among other things, deploying additional staff to the affected countries. International humanitarian assistance must continue, and CDC encourages airlines to continue flights to and from the region to facilitate transport of teams and supplies essential to control the outbreak.

The statements about Guinea and Sierra Leone used similar language.
www.vox.com...

Des

In Africa they tell everyone its Ebola and they don't believe it. In the West they can't tell everyone its Ebola-- because they'll believe it.

Either way, the disease spreads.

a reply to: mr-lizard


Yikers -

2014 outbreak
Main article: 2014 West Africa Ebola outbreak

In February 2014, a strain of the Ebola Virus appeared in Guinea. This is the first Ebola virus outbreak registered in the region. As of April 10, 157 suspected and confirmed cases and 101 deaths have been reported in Guinea, 22 suspected cases in Liberia including 14 deaths, 8 suspected cases in Sierra Leone including 6 deaths, and 1 suspected case in Mali.[105][106] Investigations on these are under way.[107][108][109] By late June 2014 the death toll had reached 390 with over 600 cases reported.[110] By 23 July 2014, the World Health Organization had reported 1201 confirmed cases including 672 deaths since the epidemic began in March.[111] On July 31 2014, WHO reports the death toll has reached 826 from 1440 cases. [112]

Emory University Hospital was the first US hospital to care for patients exposed to Ebola.[113] Two American medical providers, Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol, were exposed while treating infected patients in Liberia. Arrangements were made for them to be transported to Emory via speciality aircraft. Emory Hospital has a specially built isolation unit set up in collaboration with the CDC to treat patients exposed to certain serious infectious diseases.[114][115][116] On 2 August 2014 Brantly was flown in to Dobbins Air Force Base in Marietta, Georgia, and transferred to Emory Hospital.[117]

a reply to: Rezlooper

Have you seen the mortality rate for Ebola? Those numbers can hit upwards of 90% so I am pretty sure they know about those who dies from Ebola.

The major concern is how this damn bug spreads. I don't completely buy into the theory that it can only pass from person to person by blood / handling infected corpses etc. I think the thing has the ability to go airborne and I think there is concern on admitting that tidbit of info.

If the current climate is any indication of a "normal outbreak" via contamination by touch, I can only imagine the paranoia that would set in if this thing were confirmed as airborne spreadable.

Does it mean we should fear it?

Nope - It does mean we need to put together the best scientists from any country, fund them like its the space program, and tell them to find cures / vaccines for all this crap.

If the US can spend over a trillion on our military, we can redirect a few hundred billion to benefit everyone for a change.

a reply to: Xcathdra

How very communist of you surely it should be left to the private sector and only people that can pay receiving vaccines and treatment

a reply to: loam

You have said exactly what bothers me that the first test for Ebola can show a negative result. I am bothered about this because if my memory serves me right it can take 20 odd days to incubate and where will all the people be who have been with the range of that disease's infection in that time plus all the people they have met.

I do know that the major fear for spreading this disease to other country's is through the airlines and also that I don't trust our government with health issues any more.

There is supposed to be a vaccine against Ebola coming soon and a little bit of my scepticism says what a wonderful way for Sorus and those behind the vaccine to make yet more bucks out of human misery. It dovetails too easily for my mind.

originally posted by: crazyewok
a reply to: Xcathdra

How very communist of you surely it should be left to the private sector and only people that can pay receiving vaccines and treatment

Why not.. Someone has to make our shoes and soccer balls.

/end sarcasm

a reply to: Xcathdra
A cure would be nice. Unfortunately, as we saw with HIV and have seen with other viruses that mutate on a regular basis, the best we can probably hope for is control and treating the symptoms.

And, correct me here, but it appears what they are more focused on is vaccines. Now, a vaccine prevents, doesn't cure. A vaccine also takes 2-5 weeks to become effective, depending on the vaccine, and is still then not a 100% guarantee. Plus the virus can mutate very quickly in between.

And if the risk of a disease is so small and so low at all?, why develop a vaccine at all? With all this media attention, people are still telling us that hey only 1000 people out of billions are infected, so don't worry if we hop continents.

If the ebola spreads, a vaccine won't do a whole lot of people any good. Do they expect to fear people into running out and getting vaccinated when there is an infintesimal chance? No wonder funding is low...there are no sales brewin.

Now the other side of that coin is that if someone is weaponizing or has weaponized ebola and intends to use it, they might want to vaccinate, oh say, their military and key government officials and the elite before attempting such an endeavor.

Also: originally posted by: 00nunya00
Well, looky here, airborne ebola "strongly suspected":

In the laboratory, infection through small-particle aerosols has been demonstrated in primates, and airborne spread among humans is strongly suspected, although it has not yet been conclusively demonstrated

Let's remember: there are known unknowns, and then there are unknown unknowns. Are you feeling lucky?

I think if she had tested positive, there would be no way the authorities could keep it a secret, because they'd have to haul in every single other person on that plane, and their immediate families, for testing.

And in this day and age, there is absolutely no way any government authority could keep that quiet.

a reply to: ~Lucidity

Vaccinations only work on those not affected. Vaccinate enough people while treating those affected and the virus will eventually burn itself out... Or mutate...

I think both courses should be researched at the same time.