Contagion: A thread about epidemic diseases

[E.H. Ruddock]

This Ebola outbreak is getting a little scary.

[Norah]

What about pandemics?

[BurtReynolds]

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[Jorge]

omg beards

[E.H. Ruddock]

What about pandemics?

I hate that word. Wasn't used regularly until recently when the media bombarded us with it.

[E.H. Ruddock]

omg beards

I actually laughed.

[@SkitchP]

So this WAS worthy of a thread? my judgement is terrible.

[---]

omg beards

[E.H. Ruddock]

So this WAS worthy of a thread? my judgement is terrible.

I think so. This thing is spreading like crazy. I swear to God if i contract Ebola I'm going to be pissed off.

[doug rr]

So this WAS worthy of a thread? my judgement is terrible.

I think so. This thing is spreading like crazy. I swear to God if i contract Ebola I'm going to be pissed off.

I think Pliny staves off ebola

[Rangi Guy]

They should make a movie about this

[Sgt. Crackpot]

OK I don't want to downplay this thing too much, much of the news media are in the process of their usual scare mongering tactics for the sake of a good news story (i.e. overblown bullshit).

Facts about Ebola from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/:

Ebola then spreads in the community through human-to-human transmission, with infection resulting from direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and indirect contact with environments contaminated with such fluids.

Health-care workers have frequently been infected while treating patients with suspected or confirmed EVD. This has occurred through close contact with patients when infection control precautions are not strictly practiced.

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From: http://www.vox.com/2014/7/29/5945515/eb ... in/5712456

Why is this particular outbreak so deadly?

There are also social and political factors contributing to the current disaster. Because this is the first major Ebola outbreak in West Africa, many of the region's health workers didn't have experience or training in how to protect themselves or care for patients with this disease.

How hard is it to catch Ebola?

Ebola is relatively hard to catch compared to some other viruses like measles, SARS, or the flu. It's not spreadable through the air, so someone won't get it from someone else coughing or sneezing.

In order to contract Ebola, someone must touch the blood or bodily fluids (including sweat, urine, and semen) of a person or animal who's infected (alive or dead). People can also catch it through indirect contact with victims' fluids, such as via bedding or medical equipment.

People generally aren't infectious until they get sick.

Ebola's limited transmission ability is one of the main reasons why outbreaks can often be stopped within weeks or months. What it takes is public education and good health-care hygiene like isolating patients, sterilization procedures, and the use of gloves, masks, and other protective gear.

What are the chances of Ebola spreading to the US?

The Ebola viruses known today don't spread from person-to-person well enough to have much risk of causing a wide pandemic across several continents. The risk of Ebola coming to the US is still very low.

And if a case did appear in the USA, it "would not pose a major public health risk" Michael Osterholm, biosecurity expert and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota told USA Today. Why? Because it would be quickly tracked down and controlled.

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In other words, it doesn't spread like the common cold or gastro.

Ebola tends to thrive in third world countries, for obvious reasons, i.e. poor hygene, contaminated water, next to no medical facilities, etc. When they state in the media that Ebola has a fatality rate 90%, they neglect to state the correct wording from the WHO: EVD outbreaks have a case fatality rate of up to 90%. The high fatality rates are in places like Congo, where if Ebola doesn't kill you - something else will (it's a fucking cesspool).


'nuff said, you bunch of fucking pansies.

[McParadigm]

I think the primary fear with this outbreak IS that it could wreak havoc in Africa, thanks largely to fear of medical workers and risky burial behaviors....not that it will destroy human kind.

However, there is also some risk with a virus that has a lengthy asymptomatic incubation period and can be spread through sweat.

[Sgt. Crackpot]

You're just excited about the pending destruction of humanity, right 'digm?

[McParadigm]

Swollen with anticipation, buddy

[Alex]

mcp, write a review of the ebola virus

[McParadigm]

Well, if we're going to have to put up with yet another killer virus (sigh...), I'm at least glad that it doesn't have to be one more rectally focused than this one is.

[Simple Torture]

http://www.theonion.com/articles/expert ... awa,36580/

Experts: Ebola Vaccine At Least 50 White People Away


NEWS IN BRIEF • Science & Technology • World • Health • Disease • ISSUE 50•30 • Jul 30, 2014

CONAKRY, GUINEA—With the death toll in West Africa continuing to rise amid a new outbreak of the Ebola virus, leading medical experts announced Wednesday that a vaccine for the deadly disease is still at least 50 white people from being developed. “While all measures are being taken to contain the spread of the contagion, an effective, safe, and reliable Ebola inoculation unfortunately remains roughly 50 to 60 white people away, if not more,” said Tulane University pathologist Gregory Wensmann, adding that while progress has been made over the course of the last two or three white people, a potential Ebola vaccination is still many more white people off. “We are confident, however, that with each passing white person, we’re moving closer to an eventual antigenic that will prevent and possibly even eradicate the disease.” Wensmann said he remained optimistic that the vaccine would not take considerably longer than his prediction, as waiting more than 50 white people for an effective preventative measure was something the world would simply not allow.

[Sgt. Crackpot]

It's amazing how many people think The Onion is real, just read some of the comments on their FB posts to get an idea.

[BurtReynolds]

#thirdworldproblems