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CDC confirms first Ebola case diagnosed in US

cnbc.com

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Re: CDC confirms first Ebola case diagnosed in US

#31
post #7
post #4

Am I correct in assuming that cultural differences concerning death and the dead along with our healthcare system mean Ebola in America would be relatively containable?

Probably. Ebola spreads through bodily fluids. This isn't the major, world-ending epidemic that the apocalypse chasers are looking for.

You're also not infectious until you're symptomatic which makes it easier to identify and contain.

Ultimately it should be manageable so long as people follow instructions.

Re: CDC confirms first Ebola case diagnosed in US

#33
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The article says they placed them in quarantine based on their symptoms and recent travel history.

Yes, but was this person intercepted at a point of entry into the United States, or did they go to a healthcare facility voluntarily once they started noticing symptoms, after they were already in the country? The former implies that there may be sufficient mechanisms in place to prevent a repeat incident. The latter does not.

Recently traveled, self-admitted to hospital. Bad news.

Re: CDC confirms first Ebola case diagnosed in US

#34
post #7
post #4

Am I correct in assuming that cultural differences concerning death and the dead along with our healthcare system mean Ebola in America would be relatively containable?

Probably. Ebola spreads through bodily fluids. This isn't the major, world-ending epidemic that the apocalypse chasers are looking for.

If it mutates and becomes airborne, it might be. That's why containment is so important, even if it doesn't seem so threatening in its current form. Viruses constantly mutate, and every extra person they infect gives them a million more opportunities to do so. All it takes is one of those mutations to make the virus airborne, and we're in big trouble.

Re: CDC confirms first Ebola case diagnosed in US

#35
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, but was this person intercepted at a point of entry into the United States, or did they go to a healthcare facility voluntarily once they started noticing symptoms, after they were already in the country? The former implies that there may be sufficient mechanisms in place to prevent a repeat incident. The latter does not.

FWIW, though DFW is a very big airport, there are no direct flights from Africa that land there. If they ended up in Dallas, they at least stopped somewhere outside Africa before they got there.

That would have to be somewhere in Europe.

Re: CDC confirms first Ebola case diagnosed in US

#36
post #4

Am I correct in assuming that cultural differences concerning death and the dead along with our healthcare system mean Ebola in America would be relatively containable?

To a certain extent, yes. We obviously have much better equipment but I say this only extends to handling a few "single" cases of Ebola in specific hospitals across the nation. However, now that Ebola is actually in the US, what precautionary measures do hospitals and healthcare workers take? If I show up to a hospital in Texas right now with symptoms such as a high fever, sore throat, and diarrhea, do you treat me a…

You will see that the CDC defines a case as someone showing symptoms but also has epidemiological link to an EVD case or EVD suspect case. Just being in Texas is not a epi link as there has been no confirmed transmission.

[1] http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/hcp/case-definition.html

Re: CDC confirms first Ebola case diagnosed in US

#37
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Probably. Ebola spreads through bodily fluids. This isn't the major, world-ending epidemic that the apocalypse chasers are looking for.

If it mutates and becomes airborne, it might be. That's why containment is so important, even if it doesn't seem so threatening in its current form. Viruses constantly mutate, and every extra person they infect gives them a million more opportunities to do so. All it takes is one of those mutations to make the virus airborne, and we're in big trouble.

You can make the exact same statement about every other deadly virus, though. Why is ebola any different?

Re: CDC confirms first Ebola case diagnosed in US

#38
post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, but was this person intercepted at a point of entry into the United States, or did they go to a healthcare facility voluntarily once they started noticing symptoms, after they were already in the country? The former implies that there may be sufficient mechanisms in place to prevent a repeat incident. The latter does not.

Recently traveled, self-admitted to hospital. Bad news.

Why? I thought Ebola wasn't transmissible until symptoms appear.

Re: CDC confirms first Ebola case diagnosed in US

#39
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Probably. Ebola spreads through bodily fluids. This isn't the major, world-ending epidemic that the apocalypse chasers are looking for.

You're also not infectious until you're symptomatic which makes it easier to identify and contain. Ultimately it should be manageable so long as people follow instructions.

I was about ready to ask that. The guy who's being treated wasn't symptomatic until days after he left the airport, which is encouraging to hear.
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