Ebola Comes To USA

[Stewie26]

I would say that the health care worker almost certainly made some error in procedure.

That's one of the problems. We have thousands of hospitals in the USA. The medical staffs have never been trained for dealing with Ebola so now we are forced to be reactive and in a catch up mode. Also, we are limited by the number of first responders who are trained and have the proper bio hazard equipment to deal with an event. If the virus did get out of hand, and our first responder bio hazard crews hit the saturation point in a particular city, then we would have a very serious problem.
At this point, after seeing some of the major mistakes that have already been made that I would have not expected just a few weeks ago, I would prefer that we take an over cautious proactive approach to the situation than continue with the reactive approach. I would much prefer to be criticized for being too cautious than being criticized for being too loose. Just sayin.

EDIT: When you are flying in an airplane, what approach do you want your pilot to take? Just food for thought.

 

[CTC564]

Totally agree...I'd prefer extreme precautions as well, however, with all the money that hospitals are/have lost, they won't spend any more $$$ than necessary...I hear grief about having them order XL gloves that aren't stocked anywhere in our hospital, so my department had to absorb the cost...

 

[Johnny Crab]

A bit more concerning transmission of sub-micron stuff.
Invalid Link Removed
"The Size Distribution of Droplets in the Exhaled Breath of Healthy Human Subjects
RAO S. PAPINENI and FRANK S. ROSENTHAL. Journal of Aerosol
Medicine. Summer 1997, 10(2): 105-116. doi:10.1089/jam.1997.10.105.
Published in Volume: 10 Issue 2: January 30, 2009
ABSTRACT Droplets carried in exhaled breath may carry microorganisms capable of transmitting disease over both short and long distances. The size distribution of such droplets will influence the type of organisms that may be carried as well as strategies for controlling airborne infection. The aim of this study was to characterize the size distribution of droplets exhaled by healthy individuals.
Exhaled droplets from human subjects performing four respiratory actions (mouth breathing, nose breathing, coughing, talking) were measured by both an optical particle counter (OPC) and an analytical transmission electron microscope (AEM). The OPC indicated a preponderance of particles less than 1 μ, although larger particles were also found. Measurements with the AEM confirmed the existence of larger sized droplets in the exhaled breath.
In general, coughing produced the largest droplet concentrations and nose breathing the least, although considerable intersubject variability was observed. "

About the N95 mask suggested:
Invalid Link Removed
"Each particulaterespirator is also given a filter efficiency rating of 95, 99, or 100 when tested against particles that are the most difficult size to filter –approximately 0.3 microns in size mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD). NIOSH class 95 particulate respirator filters are certified to be at least 95% efficient; class 100 particulate respirator filters are certified to be at least 99.97% efficient."

Virus has average dimension of about 0.08 microns([Invalid or Expired Link Removed]).

A 1 micron droplet will stay aloft for 12 hours if created from a height of 5 ft
( [Invalid or Expired Link Removed])
- plenty of time to be inhaled through a N95 mask, which is the CDC protocol.

I'll let you do the math.
When using PPE(Personal Protective Equipment), you KNOW it is the last barrier between you and big trouble. Folks trained to use PPE against a death sentence will most likely be extremely careful.

 

[CTC564]

Thanks for sharing that info

 

[Stewie26]

Totally agree...I'd prefer extreme precautions as well, however, with all the money that hospitals are/have lost, they won't spend any more $$$ than necessary...I hear grief about having them order XL gloves that aren't stocked anywhere in our hospital, so my department had to absorb the cost...

Even if all the hospitals ordered extra bio hazard equipment and suites, it will put a large demand surge on the manufactures. It could take a long time to fill all the pending orders.

 

[nutdog]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Following the death of the first person diagnosed with Ebola in the United States, concerns about the deadly hemorrhagic virus are running high throughout the country. Here is everything you need to know about Ebola:

What is Ebola?

Ebola is an infectious, often fatal virus. For more complete information, consult your own darkest paranoid nightmares.

How do you contract Ebola?

Ebola is contracted through contact with a health care system that vastly overestimates its preparedness for a global pandemic.

What are the symptoms of Ebola?

Severe flu-like symptoms that a CNN cameraman is filming.

How long does it take for symptoms to first appear?

Anywhere from two to 10 days after passing through U.S. customs.

How is Ebola treated?

The virus is eventually killed when the body begins naturally decomposing inside a coffin several feet underground.

Do I have Ebola?

Not yet.

How dangerous is Ebola?

Easily Africa’s fourth or fifth most pressing issue.

I come into frequent physical contact with Ebola-infected blood, urine, saliva, stool, and vomit. Am I at risk of contracting Ebola?

Yes.

Is there a risk of Ebola spreading further?

If Dallas authorities fail to properly contain the disease, it may spread as far as Plano and Fort Worth.

How are Ebola outbreaks contained?

Great question!

What are airports doing to screen passengers?

Questionnaire based on fundamental assumption that those in desperate need of medical attention would not lie to get out of western Africa and into the U.S.

How many people could die if Ebola begins spreading in the United States?

Projections are currently imprecise but range anywhere from 318.8 million to 319.0 million Americans.

When will all this Ebola hysteria end?

For you? At exactly 11:18 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 28.

 

[skychief]

alrighty, then!

great post , nutjob.

Errmmm , i mean nutdog.

Mods: I think we're done here.

please lay this to rest.

 

[One Drop]

There was an article about how the Swiss hospitals are preparing to deal with cases, including an interesting one about the use of protective suits and what the risks are. Contrary to guesses and extrapolations based on whimsy, it is actually quite complicated and there are about 10 steps to follow putting the gear on and about double taking it off properly. And yes, unfortunately taking it off improperly is very dangerous and there is a real risk of being contaminated in done in the wrong order or the suit not rolled off properly.

The scenario of the nurse catching it this way is realistic and probable, and does not lead to needless conjecture about the disease being contagious via airborne aerosols. Sorry to disappoint the Apocalypse predictors, but they will no doubt be cheered up by the thought that poorly trained health workers can still spread the disease.

If there was more responsible reporting there would be less uncertainty and maybe less ungrounded fears, maybe some people here could better understand the real risks. I doubt they would worry less but at least they would be concerns about the real possibilities and not about baseless conjecture.

Another interesting thing is how government and gov. agencies all of a sudden become interesting and important to the very same people who rail against them and demand funding remain limited to them. Not talking about here, pointing a finger at right leaning media.

 

[tastybasslines]

alrighty, then!

great post , nutjob.

Errmmm , i mean nutdog.

Mods: I think we're done here.

please lay this to rest.

No, please don't. We are just getting started here.

 

[skychief]

Not talking about here, pointing a finger at right leaning media.

You must be confused. Nobody here questions where you stand politically.

Anyone who could possibly make such an asinine remark as that, is well, I can't even say the word on this forum.

The Washington Post (the source of my Ebola news) is one of the most left-leaning rags on the planet!

dude you crack me up!

 

[petrus61]

I think it's fair to say CNN, which is hardly a right leaning source, has done more to ramp up the paranoia then any other network. They literally play ominous music during the lead in to the CDC head press conferences. Fox hasn't faired any better, really.

I think most people are smart enough to know which network leans which way politically, without the implication that we're fools for not knowing any better and we're all being duped. The CDC just upgraded their estimate of the number of people likely to be infected in Africa in the coming weeks to an additional 10,000 on top of the original estimate.

Meanwhile, MSNBC just ran a cute piece on how the infected nurses dog has been given it's own ranch style home to frolic in, just in case anyone was concerned that fido might continue licking faces and crapping in the grass while potentially being infected as well. 70 staff members are only now being monitored after the nurse was confirmed to test positive. The level of incompetence is staggering.

 

[Febs]

alrighty, then!

great post , nutjob.

Errmmm , i mean nutdog.

Mods: I think we're done here.

please lay this to rest.

You realize that what he posted is a satirical article from The Onion, right?

 

[petrus61]

You realize that what he posted is a satirical article from The Onion, right?

I thought the article was hilarious and right on the mark.

 

[will33]

...because numerous common practices in the area increase the likelihood of it spreading.

Ever hear of Kuru? It's a prion disease (like Mad Cow, Scrapie, etc.) - and it's really hard to spread. You have to ingest something containing the prion.

Yet at one point it was spreading pretty rapidly in New Guinea.

How? The South Fore of New Guinea engaged in ritual acts of mortuary cannibalism.

West Africa is like that - lots of ritual funerary practices that require handling/washing of bodies, strong belief in witchcraft and distrust of medical doctors, and a serious lack of modern medical facilities and physicians.

Before the outbreak Liberia had 150 doctors.... for a population of 4 million. After expats fled with the outbreak they were left with 50 doctors for a population of 4 million.

I live in a town of 125,000 that has ~10x that many doctors.

"Ritual acts of mortuary cannibalism"

Does that mean what I think it does? That's just weird man.

 

[redwookie]

"Ritual acts of mortuary cannibalism"

Does that mean what I think it does? That's just weird man.

Wierd? Nah. Just not safe.

Another example of ritual cannibalism close to home: In the USA, there are otherwise normal people who eat the placenta after childbirth.

Invalid Link Removed

Link Removed

 

[Downunderwonder]

Is it just me or did Jerry Adams lose a marionette?

 

[redwookie]

A bit more concerning transmission of sub-micron stuff.
Invalid Link Removed
"The Size Distribution of Droplets in the Exhaled Breath of Healthy Human Subjects
RAO S. PAPINENI and FRANK S. ROSENTHAL. Journal of Aerosol
Medicine. Summer 1997, 10(2): 105-116. doi:10.1089/jam.1997.10.105.
Published in Volume: 10 Issue 2: January 30, 2009
ABSTRACT Droplets carried in exhaled breath may carry microorganisms capable of transmitting disease over both short and long distances. The size distribution of such droplets will influence the type of organisms that may be carried as well as strategies for controlling airborne infection. The aim of this study was to characterize the size distribution of droplets exhaled by healthy individuals.
Exhaled droplets from human subjects performing four respiratory actions (mouth breathing, nose breathing, coughing, talking) were measured by both an optical particle counter (OPC) and an analytical transmission electron microscope (AEM). The OPC indicated a preponderance of particles less than 1 μ, although larger particles were also found. Measurements with the AEM confirmed the existence of larger sized droplets in the exhaled breath.
In general, coughing produced the largest droplet concentrations and nose breathing the least, although considerable intersubject variability was observed. "

About the N95 mask suggested:
Invalid Link Removed
"Each particulaterespirator is also given a filter efficiency rating of 95, 99, or 100 when tested against particles that are the most difficult size to filter –approximately 0.3 microns in size mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD). NIOSH class 95 particulate respirator filters are certified to be at least 95% efficient; class 100 particulate respirator filters are certified to be at least 99.97% efficient."

Virus has average dimension of about 0.08 microns([Invalid or Expired Link Removed]).

A 1 micron droplet will stay aloft for 12 hours if created from a height of 5 ft
( [Invalid or Expired Link Removed])
- plenty of time to be inhaled through a N95 mask, which is the CDC protocol.

I'll let you do the math.
When using PPE(Personal Protective Equipment), you KNOW it is the last barrier between you and big trouble. Folks trained to use PPE against a death sentence will most likely be extremely careful.

This gets at the meat of the containment argument.

Exposure to Ebola will not automatically result in infection.

Unless there is a break in the skin, human skin is an incredibly effective barrier.

1 mic droplet: Ultraviolet light kills Ebola. A 1mic drop in the air will be exposed to UV light near a window or with some bulbs. Got inside through a body opening such as cut/pimple/eye/nose/mouth? The human autoimmune system, i.e. white blood cells, attack the virus. Any virus either needs a weakened system or enough quantity to overwhelm the system.

Helps explain why some people in Texas were infected while others were not.

Frequent hand washing, coughing into your arm (not hands), and no face touching will help contain non-airborne infections.

 

[redwookie]

Is it just me or did Jerry Adams lose a marionette?

Please see the links regarding placenta eating in my edited post as well.
Invalid Link Removed

To fight a disease like Ebola (or any other disease like AIDS or TB), we need to understand exactly how people are really living their lives.

Understanding actual behavior, as opposed to a more romanized version, helps us to understand exactly how infection occurs as well as why some exposed person become infected and others don't.

If people are 'ritualistically' eating corpses, we need to know this, and ask what other 'rituals' are going on which might help convey the disease.

Containment does not allow us to do this study. And then what happens when the next outbreak occurs?

 

[tastybasslines]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[NWB]

I thought the article was hilarious and right on the mark.

My thoughts exactly!