Ebola scaremongering?
- Thread starter Mynight
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And you haven't even offered to bring us back some Duty Free
Can ebola live in alcohol? Maybe I need to make sure I drink far too much tonight and tomorrow to make sure I don't catch it
Even though this virus is 'scary' and deserves our respect, and it does worry me. I cannot in a logical way see how it could 'take hold' as you say. That meaning we would see a large number of sustained infections over a long period of time. I just cannot see it.
I fully suspect that unless the situation gets better in these countries that we will see cases here and even subsequent infections from there. however, when you read about how the infection has managed to take hold over there, it is due to local reasons that are just not an issue here. I think we need to hold onto that fact and also count our blessings where we live.
What troubles me in all this; what other countries are doing. We hear about the USA doing stuff and they are indeed leading the charge, but we are hearing too little on what other countries are doing. Russia seems frigging quiet, though not surprisingly so. I noted that they had a presence at the WHO meetings in August but really you do not hear anything from them. Also Germany, France, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, Brazil? Seriously everyone needs to be involved here.
On that note guys, it is very hard to do our bit, but if you want to/feel the need to then set up a direct debit to these guys: http://www.msf.org.uk/make-a-donation
Pretty much all we 'ordinary folk' can do for now.
You can't see how a virus could take hold in a vastly populated city, really?
A non-descrip virus yes. Ebola, from what we know about it and how it behaves yes. Here yes. But do I think it is likely at this present time? No.
Look, it is easy to get scared and we all like to think that 'the authorities' will be rubbish and not care, but I assure you that is not the case. Money and status rarely make a difference in such circumstances. However lets not forget that two neighboring countries; Senegal and Nigeria have managed to prevent further cases from importation of virus there. The worry was when it got to Lagos, that was it, however they managed to control it. Twice. If they can do it, then we certainly can.
Indeed - imagine if one of the infected traveled on London's tube network - holding onto the handrail on escalators and the support rails within the carriage. I think I read it takes about 4 days before the infected show symptoms of Ebola during which time the consequences could be very severe indeed.
Even though I have read coughing can be a symptom it is not a well reported one. Read this:
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2014/10/who-cdc-dissect-ebola-transmission-risk
Severe stage - so in bed, not on a tube.
I do not think that Ebola is really an upper-respiratory tract infection.
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/ebola-virus/Pages/Ebola-virus.aspx#symptoms
Coughing is not even mentioned as an initial symptom, though further up is is noted that it can be a symptom; no mention of which stage.
I am not saying that coughing could not spread it, but at the moment the initial symptoms pretty much make sure you would not be on a tube and whilst you would be, (say leaving work feeling ill and going home) I think that the risk would be low due to a few reasons:
1) Low viral load at that point
2) Low infection/no infection in the upper respiratory tract
3) Coughing not a main symptom
I was much more concerned with this until I properly read about it
In its current state there isn't really any reason it should be an epidemic in a country such as ours.
If it became transmisible by coughing etc.. Well that's a whole new kettle of fish
In its current state there isn't really any reason it should be an epidemic in a country such as ours.
If it became transmisible by coughing etc.. Well that's a whole new kettle of fish
Indeed and if it did become airborne it would be a first in the history of epidemiological studies. Not saying that it could not happen, but from what I understand it is like fearing that HIV could become airborne.
Soldato
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No it doesn't. This is the problem with mass media and events such as this. Hyperbole and scaremongering abounds whilst educated people and experts shake their heads and sigh.
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It is generally accepted that the death toll is higher than that; that number is the confirmed deaths from EVD. However your point still stands.
But medical experts have said that it is possible Ebola will reach Europe.
Soldato
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So? It already has via repatriation. Estimates are flying around of between 120k, 250k and 500k total cases which would still be less than 0.25% of the total population of just 4 of the countries involved.
Any number of things are possible according to anyone. Doesn't mean they'll actually happen, and even if they do, the reality is often vastly different.
A lot of things are possible/uncertain/unknown, etc etc. Welcome to Earth and, more specifically, the human race.
it is just that, as mentioned, whilst it is scary and EVD demands respect, lets not make it our problem where at the moment (and may never really be), it is not.
We should not close off those countries and we should help them as much as we can. Not just for us, but for them as it is a human thing to do. I rarely (if ever) quote the bible, but do to others as you would like done unto you.
People who think we should effectively wall up the countries (not that you could anyway) are detestable and selfish. Such action would lead to an escalation of this problem, not solve it and would lead to further problems.
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It's already in Europe. And will probably spread a bit.
Is it a real concern? No. It will go away within a year.
Remember Bird flu and Swine Flu? These were suppose to devestate the UK and the world.
Think it killed just north of 200 people in the UK... in the world there were around 20,000 confirmed deaths, although they recon is could be possible that half a million died somehow...
This was an airbourne virus.
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I don't think it will go away in a year.
Bird flu is still a worry; more so than Ebola imo. Though I don't think it would ever have the CFR (Case Fatality Rate) of Ebola, though it would kill more and more quickly.
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