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CDC confirms first Ebola case diagnosed in US

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Re: CDC confirms first Ebola case diagnosed in US

#271

Post by GrinningFool »

hga wrote: post #217
GrinningFool wrote: post #214

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Looking just at the headline, you only know that he was an airline passenger and not abroad. Too, you know immediately that he was in an airliner - a small metal tube, with hundreds of people breathing the same air! It's actually a pretty masterful headline, in that it doesn't actually come out and say any of that. It seems calm and fairly accurate, but is worded very carefully to encourage fear. Nothing accidental t…

Until he was symptomatic, 4 days after arriving, he wasn't infectious. Or so we believe, with a fair amount of data; obviously we'll be drastically extending our knowledge over the next few years.

Sure, but that's not the point. The headline is subtly encouraging people to think of it as I described.

Re: CDC confirms first Ebola case diagnosed in US

#272

Post by smoyer »

socceroos wrote: post #223
nl wrote: post #191

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is true, but it is still reasonable to discuss current infection rates. As you note, we still haven't even engaged the outbreak with anything close to full force yet . Until we see the effects of that engagement it makes complete sense to look at what is happening right now, not what countermeasures might or might not achieve.

I roll D20 to cast Nuke From Orbit.

This is quite an insensitive thing to say ... or maybe just an insensitive thing to say what everyone is wondering anyway.

We don't have a cure ... and won't have one in time to help (almost) anyone who's contaminated in this outbreak. There's really not much we can do except to contain the virus (if we can do that). I don't necessary want to be nuked from orbit, but if I were to contract this illness I'd also rather not linger towards an almost certain death.

I know it sounds a bit fatalistic, but why be an organ donor, draft a living will (etc) if you don't consider that one day you may perhaps die? And the truth is that most of us are unable to help the current situation in even the simplest way. Those of us who have a suitable belief system can only pray.

Re: CDC confirms first Ebola case diagnosed in US

#273

Post by WettowelReactor »

tomelders wrote: post #95

I'm having a hard time accepting the "everyone should stop being stupid and stop panicking about Ebola" argument. To me, an uneducated observer, the problem only appears to be getting worse. And it has gotten significantly worse in spite of all the reassurances that it would not get worse. i think a lot of the vitriol aimed at people who are worried and a little freaked out by Ebola is unfair. People have lost their…

Nigeria was able to contain their outbreak and kept the levels to under 20 infected. This is a disease that needs 3rd world sanitation and medical care to thrive.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/01/health/ebola-outbreak-in-n...

Re: CDC confirms first Ebola case diagnosed in US

#274

Post by ctdonath »

robomartin wrote: post #249
ctdonath wrote: post #229

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Insult unnecessary. At this point, prayer & science have similar influence over curing someone of Ebola. Contradictory to say you'll "choose science thank you" yet don't have (per hyperbolic statement) any sensible tangible preparations to meet an Ebola epidemic with.

> At this point, prayer & science have similar influence over curing someone of Ebola. This is so ridiculous I had to separate it just to say: ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING! SURELY YOU MUST BE BECAUSE NO INTELLIGENT EDUCATED PERSON COULD POSSIBLY HOLD THIS RIDICULOUS BELIEF. The fact that we have people on this planet in 2014 who can actually believe something like this is the root of many of our problems.

Current treatment for Ebola is little more than hydration and quarantine, hence my comment. When ZMapp et al are shown effective, I'll change my comment.

Re: CDC confirms first Ebola case diagnosed in US

#275

Post by balfirevic »

__david__ wrote: post #263
DanBC wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Recently an arsonist alledgedly set fire to a dog shelter in the UK. They raised over £1m in a few days. > The blaze, which was tackled by more than 30 firefighters, killed about 60 animals. > Within 24 hours, more than £1m pounds had been raised to help around 150 surviving dogs. This happened while Ebola was happening.

So what? Those are completely different situations. One is a human doing intentional harm to a bunch of innocent creatures. The other is mother nature vs. mankind. One tugs at the heartstrings, fills us with protective emotions for the poor doggies. The other is just another natural disaster. "Thank goodness it didn't happen to me", we think. I don't find this surprising or depressing.

> I don't find this surprising or depressing.

What? It might not be surprising, but how is it not depressing?

Re: CDC confirms first Ebola case diagnosed in US

#276

Post by TheCondor »

lee wrote: post #75

Am I one of the minorities who believe that this hype about Ebola is more sensationalism and news than an actual pandemic we should be fearful for? Let's take a lot at what we can agree on: * The number of cases of infected patients is fairly small. * The vector of transmission is fluid exchange, so that reduces its ability to spread. * The virus doesn't appear to lie dormant, and is only contagious when the patient…

It is sensational.

The truth is also that we know fairly little about Ebola. It's fairly recent that we've known any animal vectors for it. It is very effective at killing but until now it has been very isolated. We know it requires fluid exchange but that's a somewhat vague concept to many, is a sneeze in an office a fluid exchange? I mean, that's good enough for flu... I'm not sure that it's known how bats (a vector) exchange or transmit it. Just a lot of unknowns, the idea that the North American bat population could start carrying it is a little scary.

We will stop it but it got a lot closer to home and if a dozen other contract it from this case, I'd say the sensationalism and paranoia are warranted.

Re: CDC confirms first Ebola case diagnosed in US

#277

Post by venomsnake »

interdrift wrote: post #270
waps wrote: post #256

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's easy to imagine scenarios that would have it spread in the US. 1) Scenario : some guy/girl lands in Florida, later that day goes for a swim in a big swimming pool with some 100+ people in it because it's a very hot day. Half of those people are on holiday and return to various places in the US before exhibiting symptoms. 2) Ebola is known for spreading fast in hospitals 3) Definitely diagnosing ebola takes sever…

I don't think it's possible for the virus to survive in a pool because of the Fluoride.

Chloride. The pool water is chlorinated.

Re: CDC confirms first Ebola case diagnosed in US

#278

Post by venomsnake »

noir_lord wrote: post #68
DasIch wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Depends on how fast you are able to identify and isolate the patients. Unless there is reason to suspect ebola it's not exactly the first diagnosis that will come to mind. Most hospitals probably also don't have the necessary isolation facilities or at least not on standby. Ultimately though ebola is relatively easy to combat, collect the patients, put a fence around them, wait long enough and clean up what's left. T…

> don't have the necessary isolation facilities or at least not on standby. What like a quiet room away from other patients? That is the only "isolation facilities" you actually require alongside making the medical staff use gloves and face mask which I suspect when dealing with an Ebola patient they will remember to do..., it's fluid borne not airborne, you don't even need a negative pressure setup.

And specially trained staff. And extra careful staff.

Re: CDC confirms first Ebola case diagnosed in US

#279

Post by a_c_s »

smoyer wrote: post #272
socceroos wrote: post #223

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I roll D20 to cast Nuke From Orbit.

This is quite an insensitive thing to say ... or maybe just an insensitive thing to say what everyone is wondering anyway. We don't have a cure ... and won't have one in time to help (almost) anyone who's contaminated in this outbreak. There's really not much we can do except to contain the virus (if we can do that). I don't necessary want to be nuked from orbit, but if I were to contract this illness I'd also rather…

The chance of death with proper treatment is roughly 40%: so while certainly terrifying, it is far from a certain death.

Re: CDC confirms first Ebola case diagnosed in US

#280

Post by DanBC »

bhousel wrote: post #228

Just reposting a comment that I made earlier today (re Syria, but apropos here too): IF you have some free time, the Humanitarian Openstreetmap Team (HOT) is always looking for volunteer mappers. The current ebola outbreak is the #1 priority for HOT. Tracing buildings, roads, and other features from aerial imagery is something that anybody can do, and it provides immediate benefit to volunteers from the World Health…

I was sad to see this post get downvotes.

OpenStreet Map need to be commended for their humanitarian work. Their work helped in Haiti and could help here.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8517057.stm

http://hot.openstreetmap.org/projects/haiti-2

There are simple easy things that people can do that are useful.

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