They are quarantining his contacts now. Three people, but
I wonder how hard it is to know about all his possible contacts.

 

Murph, I respectfully disagree with you. From what I read, you CAN get Ebola from sitting on a bus next to an infected person. If they are sweating and have a bare arm, and you are close enough to rub against them (likely on a bus) you have come in contact with bodily fluids. That's all it takes.

It also ticks me off that the nurse that flew from Cleveland has an attorney speaking for her. Even though the CDC said she could fly, she's a NURSE and knew she had a fever, and she should have known better without asking anybody! . Even if she only had the flu, it's irresponsible to be on a plane when you're sick. Shame on her.

 

Not exactly.

Refer to the third paragraph.
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/transmission/qas.html

 

^this is assuming you trust the CDC! Im in Dallas and all the Dr's, nurses, and healthcare workers I have spoken with do not! They did say that Ebola wouldn't come to the U.S., and we have nothing to worry about...

Then you have the whole "airborne" discussion of whether it is or not. By definition, no it isn't airborne, but the fluid droplets can become suspended in the air for minutes at a time and can potentially be inhaled by a passerby. Similar to mist when you get near a waterfall or even when you flush a toilet!

 

How many reliable and responsible sources are required to negate the rumor mill feeding on panic and drama? I offered a responsible and verifiable source. You are citing locals who, while apparently in some form of healthcare, are not specialists in communicable diseases. The CDC is. If you would like, you can google other reliable sources of information who/which have to do research before they make statements.

More people will die of the flu this year than will ever even be near an Ebola infected patient in the US. If you need to worry, that's a more reasonable thing to be worried about right now.

I keep hearing people say that some unidentified "they" said Ebola would never come to the US. So far, no one has provided proof that anyone said "Ebola will never come to the US." I really would like to see that exact quote, "Ebola will never come to the US," and who the *they* is that keeps being given credit for it. That exact quote.

One person in the US has died. One person. That person's family here in the US did not become infected and they were in direct contact with him for several days while he was actively ill. They aren't sick. His fiance was there with him in that home. Presumably she hugged him and it's not unreasonable to conjecture she had significantly more personal contact than that. His sweat might have even rubbed against her. She likely even used the same toilet he did. She isn't sick.

What is most interesting to me is that for all of the air time and the drama that everyone seems to want to pump into discussing conspiracy theories, trust issues, the mutation potential, and the droplet theories, etc, only an extremely small number of people are paying much attention to the fact that Ebola is a huge problem in three countries in West Africa and if we don't help them treat the sick over there, it *will* only become more prevalent here. If one is really seriously concerned about protecting the health and welfare of people in the US (or even just one's self), then one should be actively taking part in helping support the people and organizations who are helping treat the illness in West Africa.

I hear people say, "If you don't vote, then don't complain about the direction of our country." Well, I say that if you aren't actively doing something to help in finding a cure for the illness and treating it where it has started and where it actually *is* a real threat, then quit complaining about the currently comparatively tiny impact Ebola is having here in the US and about those who actually are doing something to help.

 

I agree with the last few points you made but you seem to be a little close minded about the first few points. The "They" that I (not sure about other people) was referring to was the CDC. The reason I mention them is because the link you provided was from the CDC. The locals I am citing are qualified personnel some who have worked directly with Presbyterian Hospital. The same people the CDC left in charge and to work the whole situation so if they were not specialists than it further shows the negligence of the CDC and why these people don't trust them! They told them they would be okay using wrong equipment and as a result contaminated a couple of nurses.

The droplets in air is not a theory, either. It is fact, aerosolized transmission is the proper term. The CDC downplayed the ease of transmission when they said it is not airborne. Then they later amended their statement and further explained that it could be contracted with the "droplet theory!" IMHO, I think a lot of it is still in the gray area and more studies need to be done. There are simply too many unknowns right now.

One example of Tom Frieden, director of CDC, either lying or not knowing what he is talking about was in the 1st press conference after patient zero was confirmed is when he said "I have no doubt in my mind that we will stop it here." Ironically, there is now a new confirmed case in NY plus the nurses that contracted it afterward. Here is a clip of him being questioned by Dr. Sanjay Gupta on CNN about the airborne/droplet issue which further clouds the line: [media]http://youtu.be/7V9ZHD0KRDg[/media]

This article helps explain the "droplet theory" or aerosolized transmission and the threat it could pose: aerosolized ebola

 

I'm not closed minded about it. If I were, I wouldn't be researching the topic. I'm just a person who prefers listening to those who are actually doing something about whatever the topic at hand happens to be than those who are just talking about it.

Do whatever you like. You are welcome to worry yourself to death over this. Knock yourself out. It would be a shame, but it's your right to worry yourself to death. That is not my preferred method of living so I'll not be joining you.

At the risk of being repetitious:
In comparison to the amount of people who range from freaking out and screaming "fire" to those who are just complaining, only an extremely small number of people are paying much attention to the fact that Ebola is a huge problem in three countries in West Africa and if we don't help them treat the sick over there, it *will* only become more prevalent here. If one is really seriously concerned about protecting the health and welfare of people in the US (or even just one's self), then one should be actively taking part in helping support the people and organizations who are helping treat the illness in West Africa.

Addendum: I did review the CDC director's comments about "stopping ebola here" and I have to give you credit for being able to pull one sentence out of a paragraph which, taken as a whole doesn't mean what you are presenting, and make it support your argument. And once again, that is significantly different from your previous statement of "They did say that Ebola wouldn't come to the U.S."

 

Murph,
I read your link and I stand by what I said. Is it likely to get it from someone on a bus? No. But possible? Yes.
I'm not worried about it in the slightest, but I trust the government's statements about as far as I can throw them.
As far as doing something about it, I'm not able or prepared to go to Africa and help. But I do give money every year to organizations that fight disease and poverty across the globe, including one that has nearly eradicated polio worldwide.

 

I've enjoyed reading through all this. I retired last year after 30 yrs as RN at a level 3 trauma teaching hospital. Ebola reminds me of hiv back in the early 80's. There was no cure, we didn't know exactly how it was transmitted and it was considered a death sentence if you got it. I would be scared to take care of an ebola pt but if you work in an isolation unit you have to expect active TB, bacterial meningitis, flesh-eating, etc., and you just do it and be as careful as you can. Pregnant nurses could opt out but otherwise you are expected to take the pt. at least one shift. Ebola seems to be more communicable for caregivers but not so much for the public.

As a plt leader in VNam, I learned the government will lie any time it's convenient. I have very little confidence or respect for it's expert pronouncements. Just my two cents.

'02 NFR

 

...and that's the real problem. It's so damn hard to trust the govt. today. I want to, but it's hard to. Whatever they say seems as if we're being manipulated. The trust has vanished.
If this evil genie does gets out of the bottle, and gets out of control, then I told you so will be meaningless. We have 11 beds in the country in negative pressure, high level treatment facilities. I know my kids and grandchildren won't get one of the 11 beds.
I just want our government to protect us. Not appoint the VP's old mouthpiece to manage the information for an election.