Ebola - A perspective you might need to hear.

What has had me interested is that fact this has made the leap from forested to urban environment and is currently running outside of season.. Like the plague has a season you normally find ebola outbreaks within it's seasons (most typically dry conditions at the end of rainy season) with it seemingly breaking out of these known constraints the question is does it have the legs for further adaptations. I really hope not, but it worth noting each time it breaks free of known constraints..

With an incubation period this long no one would even know that the outbreak started. Thats why I'm saying initially it would be extremely difficult to know there is an outbreak, let alone contain it.

Look, this entire ebola outbreak could be bullshit, all of it.

But the sheer lack of ability for any western healthcare system to contain an outbreak is not bullshit. Viruses literally evolve to use our own immune responses to multiply, if it gets to a place where immuno compromised people are already struggling, it's like a buffet.

You miss the point. The moment they enter the emergency room (well, actually the moment they start travelling to the emergency room), they will be infecting people. Sure, the hospital may isolate them - but it can't isolate them until they arrive and are seen to have symptoms. Even then, if it is busy - which ERs usually are - it won't happen immediately. And if there are many people turning up with symptoms, just where do you think they will put them?

Seriously, comments like yours, with all due respect, just show how people are not thinking about the realities.

What is the possibility that the Chikungunya virus which presents similar symptoms could confuse the medical system to the point of paralysis. Cases are increasing in the U.S. as the Ebola spreads in Africa. In fact many viruses have similar symptoms so confusion seems inevitable. The headache, fever and joint pain are common symptoms and sorting through who has what seems like a near impossible task.

[link to en.wikipedia.org (secure)]

Again, good point. This is what I eluded in the op when I stated that a patient presenting with a headache, fever, sore throat etc. Would not cue anyone off. That literally could be anything. A cold? The flu? If someone came in with respiratory distress and sweating profusely you could easily make a case for a heart attack.

The point is, the early symptoms are so non specific it would be hard to tell what the patient is dealing with. And Viral infections never present exactly the same with everyone. You could have a fever, but no headache, you could have a rash, but no sore throat etc.

So yes you are absolutely correct, it would be very confusing for medical staff.

Well said and thought out.

And guess what season is right around corner with winter.
Might be time for you and wife get out of lab field.
I bet you have no neg flow room for even processing samples much less testing if the came out with kit test. No hood you got will be enough. Any aerosal and whole lab staff done

I agree with everything you wrote except:


#1. Something has changed. This virus used to have a much shorter incubation period. And it would kill within a week. The mortality rate was much higher once upon a time. However, this is not the case anymore. Based on the sheer number of infected, the virus it seems, may have found a way to transmit itself easier. Typically when a virus "evolves" it gains in one area, while giving ground in another. It makes sense to me that Ebola gave up alot of it's lethality, for the ability to spread itself easier, and incubate much, much longer.

The mortality rate hasn't gone down.
Some of the most extreme cases had a 100% mortality rate, but that is because they were the first cases and nobody knew anything about the virus.

The other 5 outbreaks were in the low 80% range
.
6 out 14 cases of Zaire Ebola had the same mortality rate or lower than the current outbreak which is between 60%-75%

2008 Democratic Republic of Congo 44%, 2007 71%
2001-2002 Congo 75%
1996 Gabon 75%, again in 1996 68%, 1997 60%

Again, good point. This is what I eluded in the op when I stated that a patient presenting with a headache, fever, sore throat etc. Would not cue anyone off. That literally could be anything. A cold? The flu? If someone came in with respiratory distress and sweating profusely you could easily make a case for a heart attack.

The point is, the early symptoms are so non specific it would be hard to tell what the patient is dealing with. And Viral infections never present exactly the same with everyone. You could have a fever, but no headache, you could have a rash, but no sore throat etc.

So yes you are absolutely correct, it would be very confusing for medical staff.

What is the possibility that the Chikungunya virus which presents similar symptoms could confuse the medical system to the point of paralysis. Cases are increasing in the U.S. as the Ebola spreads in Africa. In fact many viruses have similar symptoms so confusion seems inevitable. The headache, fever and joint pain are common symptoms and sorting through who has what seems like a near impossible task.

[link to en.wikipedia.org (secure)]

The mortality rate is 'catching up'. The numbers are starting to indicate a rate of around 70%, in Africa.
That in no way means the death rate of Ebola infection in the West would be that high.

I am extremely respectful of any lethal pathogen. One thing OP stated I agree with - before anyone noticed "Ebola" there would be a steady stream of "FUO" - Fever of unknown origin.
If you have 20 patients in ED waiting room all with temp of 101+, they are going to sit for some time.. traumas still come, heart attacks still come, you have triage priorities.
Fever, flu like symptoms isn't high on that list.

How?

All,

I have a practical request.

Can you get a virologist, microbiologist, chemist or health care worker to get the correct dilution rate for standard household clorox? That is, a safe amount to ensure that the viral particles have been broken up?

E.g., The Clorox Company switched to selling its concentrated liquid version. The bottle states it's 8.25% sodium hypochlorite. For hostpital disinfection, it states 1/2 cup per gallon.

I assume most folks will have plastic gallon milk jugs, so using gallons as a standard calculation is preferred.

Should I go with 1/2 cup per gallon?

I have one question that I haven't seen answered anywhere.

Suppose one gets Ebola and is treated successfully.

Is that person then immune to Ebola, or can one simply be released from the hospital only to catch it again when arriving at home?

Of course not. It's real just like the 36,000 that died in the USA last year of the flu. Am I going to panic and freak out like all the doomsters on these threads? Absolutely not.

I just read that if you survive it, your antibodies don't protect you from being infected again. I can provide the link, if you'd like to read it yourself.

I just read that if you survive it, your antibodies don't protect you from being infected again. I can provide the link, if you'd like to read it yourself.

And what if Ebola has or is merged with Chikungunya, Dengue, or the many of others making its spreading capabilities epic, is this possible?

We Vaccinate against the flu, we all but eradicated Polio in this country.