First Ebola case diagnosed in the United States

Luminous · 09-30-2014, 07:15 PM

Don't know about you guys, but I am definitely concerned. I mean, why are we still allowing travel to and from these heavily infected countries? This person arrived in Texas and had six days to contaminate those close to him. Now those people could potentially cause further spread of the virus.

http://preview.msn.com/en-us/news/us...cdc/ar-BB6EA9s

**nbr3bagshotrow** · 09-30-2014, 07:30 PM

Frieden emphasized that Ebola cannot be spread through the air but only through contact with bodily fluids such as blood, diarrhoea and tears.

Wrothy · 09-30-2014, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nbr3bagshotrow

Frieden emphasized that Ebola cannot be spread through the air but only through contact with bodily fluids such as blood, diarrhoea and tears.

Exactly. That plus the fact that first world countries such as the US have well prepared hospital systems and quarantine procedures mean that the likelihood of an outbreak is extremely remote.

Luminous · 09-30-2014, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nbr3bagshotrow

Frieden emphasized that Ebola cannot be spread through the air but only through contact with bodily fluids such as blood, diarrhoea and tears.

I understand that. However, those things can still be found on the clothing and extremities of the infected. Not to mention the objects they touch every day. While we are definitely not in a third world country I still have little faith in my fellow man to demonstrate common sense.

Underdog07 · 10-01-2014, 07:20 AM

Watch Contagion for a realistic representation of how fast this can go wrong.

The General · 10-01-2014, 12:22 PM

I'm definitely concerned. I also have no faith in our government.

VaultMan · 10-01-2014, 01:12 PM

Absolutely I'm nervous. First, I don't trust our government either

second, I don't trust the pharmaceutical groups who are already thinking about how to mass produce meds for Ebola outbreak

VaultMan · 10-01-2014, 01:13 PM

And yeah...I don't trust their whole "It can only be spread by" theories. Remember when AIDS was wrongly labeled "the gay man's disease?" Howd that work out for the world?

Im nervous about Ebola. no one touch me

Meta Jon · 10-01-2014, 07:43 PM

This just could be the end...
Just keep it down there in the US

Wrothy · 10-01-2014, 08:55 PM

Do you guys know how long this disease has been around? It was first discovered in 1976 - scientists know how it is transmitted. It's not like an influenza virus where there is continuous reassortment and mutation that can change the way it acts.

If you don't trust your own government, then how about the World Health Organisation? Here are extracts from their fact sheet on Ebola:

"Ebola then spreads through human-to-human transmission via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids."

"The incubation period, that is, the time interval from infection with the virus to onset of symptoms is 2 to 21 days. Humans are not infectious until they develop symptoms."

You can't get the disease just by touching something that an infected person has touched, unless a) they are showing symptoms of the disease at the time, b) they have left behind blood/body fluids and c) you happen to have a cut on your skin or you rub your eyes/pick your nose or otherwise contact your mucous membranes while the virus is still on your hand. Even then, survival of the virus outside the host seems to be fairly limited at room temperature.

There really is no reason to be concerned.