Ebola Megathread

[Scomagia]

The way I understand it, Ebola's pandemic potential is greatly reduced by how it kills infected (especially in poor areas) faster than they can spread it. Is that about right?

That's a good assessment, yes. It is highly lethal and is transmitted through bodily fluids, which is a fairly inefficient transmission method.

[Fireye]

I don't know if it can be stopped with anything short of doctors in biohazard suits.

Viruses are susceptible to the heat generated by an explosion.

Edit: this post brought to you by the insanity that is Plague inc.

[Ximea]

I've been following this thing pretty much since it began. It is now the largest Ebola outbreak in history. The resources to fully quarantine the affected area simply do not exist.

Fortunately, the virus seems to be adapting toward reduced virulence; it started with a 60%-70% mortality rate, and that seems to have dropped to 40%-50% mortality now. This is actually fairly common - a virus which kills its host too quickly doesn't spread.

The key to ending this outbreak is and always has been education. A large percentage of Ebola cases occur because of funeral practices common in many parts of Africa, in which the bereaved interact closely with the body of the deceased, washing it and in some cases even cleansing the bowels. This presents extraordinary opportunity for infection. Additionally, many people choose to care for ill people at home rather than bringing them to a hospital, which means caring for the sick in close quarters without any barrier equipment or personal protective equipment (gloves, masks, gowns) whatsoever. While true barrier facilities are limited in the affected region, and most of the other hospitals would not meet Western standards, what hospitals do exist likely strive for greater sterile technique than you would see with home care (gloves are reused, but at least they're washed in bleach). It is therefore imperative that people in the affected region be informed about the steps they should take if they or their loved ones are sick.

This is harder said than done. Illiteracy is rampant in the area, and there is a fair amount of disinformation as well. I've encountered, for instance, a newspaper from Sierra Leone, clearly written to favor one local political party while denigrating the other, which claimed that the sick were being rounded up and shot. Naturally, people are scared.

[Rio Cana]

They had on the news about Ebola traveling via airplane to Nigeria which does not even border the Ebola infected nations. This is bad since Nigeria is much more populated and more connected to the world. On tv news, you can see wherever the health workers who are fighting this step, another health worker can be seen spraying disinfectant.

[Napkiraly]

The way I understand it, Ebola's pandemic potential is greatly reduced by how it kills infected (especially in poor areas) faster than they can spread it. Is that about right?

That's a good assessment, yes. It is highly lethal and is transmitted through bodily fluids, which is a fairly inefficient transmission method.

Indeed. As you mentioned, if it spread through coughing or sneezing it'd be far, far worse.

[United Marxist Nations]

Get Africa the fuck away from me!

[Novus America]

Fortunately, the virus seems to be adapting toward reduced virulence; it started with a 60%-70% mortality rate, and that seems to have dropped to 40%-50% mortality now. This is actually fairly common - a virus which kills its host too quickly doesn't spread.

I would not say this is fortunate. If it allows the disease to spread father, a lower mortality rate could cause far more deaths.

[Vamtrl]

quarantine the whole countries.

an impossible task

[Canaore]

I bet if the epidemic started somewhere in Europe, it'd suddenly be a huge crisis and the WHO would be all over it.

If the epidemic had started in Europe, it'd be a huge crisis because, somehow, ebola spread to Europe.

[Imperium Sidhicum]

So far this outbreak seems to be under control, so I don't see it becoming much of a problem.

The good thing about Ebola is that the infected are too seriously incapacitated and die too quickly to spread the disease around effectively, and that it takes a direct physical contact with contaminated body fluids to catch it.

So I don't see how this current outbreak could become anything more than a local nuisance.

[Scomagia]

That's a good assessment, yes. It is highly lethal and is transmitted through bodily fluids, which is a fairly inefficient transmission method.

Indeed. As you mentioned, if it spread through coughing or sneezing it'd be far, far worse.

I think we can all feel thankful that, so far, Ebola is limited to one of the least effective means of transmission.

[Ximea]

So far this outbreak seems to be under control, so I don't see it becoming much of a problem.

The good thing about Ebola is that the infected are too seriously incapacitated and die too quickly to spread the disease around effectively, and that it takes a direct physical contact with contaminated body fluids to catch it.

So I don't see how this current outbreak could become anything more than a local nuisance.

"Under control" is very much not how the authorities are describing it.

As to whether it's just a "local nuisance," that depends on your definition of "local." Several countries are currently affected.

[Pandeeria]

For god sakes, WHO, go intervene.

[Pandeeria]

Indeed. As you mentioned, if it spread through coughing or sneezing it'd be far, far worse.

I think we can all feel thankful that, so far, Ebola is limited to one of the least effective means of transmission.

Not until it mutates to live on air particles, in water, and skin to skin contact.

[Azaflaza]

So far this outbreak seems to be under control, so I don't see it becoming much of a problem.

The good thing about Ebola is that the infected are too seriously incapacitated and die too quickly to spread the disease around effectively, and that it takes a direct physical contact with contaminated body fluids to catch it.

So I don't see how this current outbreak could become anything more than a local nuisance.

Some how I doubt the families of those who died would consider this a local nuisance.

[Imperium Sidhicum]

So far this outbreak seems to be under control, so I don't see it becoming much of a problem.

The good thing about Ebola is that the infected are too seriously incapacitated and die too quickly to spread the disease around effectively, and that it takes a direct physical contact with contaminated body fluids to catch it.

So I don't see how this current outbreak could become anything more than a local nuisance.

Some how I doubt the families of those who died would consider this a local nuisance.

Doesn't change the fact that it is.

If this Ebola virus reached some overcrowded Western metropolis, THAT would mean serious trouble, but as long as it stays confined to a region in West Africa, I really don't see a reason to be concerned.

Doesn't mean, of course, that WHO and other such organizations should do anything less than their best to keep this outbreak contained. Even though it doesn't spread by air, it's still a very nasty bug that best be kept within the African jungles where it belongs.

[Napkiraly]

Some how I doubt the families of those who died would consider this a local nuisance.

Doesn't change the fact that it is.

If this Ebola virus reached some overcrowded Western metropolis, THAT would mean serious trouble, but as long as it stays confined to a region in West Africa, I really don't see a reason to be concerned.

Doesn't mean, of course, that WHO and other such organizations should do anything less than their best to keep this outbreak contained. Even though it doesn't spread by air, it's still a very nasty bug that best be kept within the African jungles where it belongs.

Well it belongs to be exterminated if anything. To be fair it has spread to Lagos which is the metropolis for West Africa. However, due to the way it spreads I doubt it'll become a worldwide issue.

[Napkiraly]

Indeed. As you mentioned, if it spread through coughing or sneezing it'd be far, far worse.

I think we can all feel thankful that, so far, Ebola is limited to one of the least effective means of transmission.

Indeed.

[Lindenholt]

Great

Now I am scared. The word Ebola just sounds evil and scary
Especially after reading the wikipedia article

[Scomagia]

Great

Now I am scared. The word Ebola just sounds evil and scary
Especially after reading the wikipedia article

Do you live in Africa?

[Scomagia]

I think we can all feel thankful that, so far, Ebola is limited to one of the least effective means of transmission.

Not until it mutates to live on air particles, in water, and skin to skin contact.

I guess, but isn't mutation hard when you consistently kill your hosts before you can effectively reproduce?

[Lindenholt]

Some how I doubt the families of those who died would consider this a local nuisance.

Doesn't change the fact that it is.

If this Ebola virus reached some overcrowded Western metropolis, THAT would mean serious trouble, but as long as it stays confined to a region in West Africa, I really don't see a reason to be concerned.

Doesn't mean, of course, that WHO and other such organizations should do anything less than their best to keep this outbreak contained. Even though it doesn't spread by air, it's still a very nasty bug that best be kept within the African jungles where it belongs.

It belongs in laboratories
In a test tube
Behind a real thick wall
Deep deep underground

Saying it belongs in African jungles can be understood differently in the way you [hopefully] meant it.

[Lindenholt]

Great

Now I am scared. The word Ebola just sounds evil and scary
Especially after reading the wikipedia article

Do you live in Africa?

No, I live in the Netherlands

The country with one of the largest ports in the world....

[Scomagia]

Do you live in Africa?

No, I live in the Netherlands

The country with one of the largest ports in the world....

Then I wouldn't be concerned. As I and others have noted, Ebola has a poor route of transmission.

[Lindenholt]

No, I live in the Netherlands

The country with one of the largest ports in the world....

Then I wouldn't be concerned. As I and others have noted, Ebola has a poor route of transmission.

YAY ME!

Still the wikipedia article alone scared me enough to sweat...

EDIT: And now I got a headache
Good my rational part of the brain knows I am healthy...