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Ebola cases pass 2k as crisis escalates

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Re: Ebola cases pass 2k as crisis escalates

#51

Post by geddy »

ctrl-j wrote: post #23
goldenchrome wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It really sounds like you're reading too much news. News is fear mongering most of the time. Try taking a short break, you might be surprised how much better you feel!

Feeling better and taking care of yourself is, of course, really important. However, measles outbreaks and hate-crimes aren't going to stop because one does not pay attention to the news.

They're also not going to stop if you _do_ pay attention to the news. The only difference is you'll still have some sanity left.

Re: Ebola cases pass 2k as crisis escalates

#52

Post by gingabriska »

georgehayduke wrote: post #19

I am amazed at the bravery of the medical staff, health professionals and volunteers who are trying to contain Ebola in the DRC. Not only are they potentially exposed to the deadly disease, they have to content with violent attacks from the population they're trying to help. It sounds incredibly complex - a mix of political mistrust, lack of education and difficult terrain making containment difficult. While spreadin…

How likely is that most Nurses working there do are not able to comprehend risk in real terms?

Re: Ebola cases pass 2k as crisis escalates

#53

Post by maxerickson »

patagonia wrote: post #49
i_am_nomad wrote: post #38

To those of you worried about a global outbreak: USAMRIID is closing in on a highly effective (near 100%) treatment for Ebola. So far it is 100% successful in macaques, which is a good animal model for the disease in humans. The project lead spoke to my research group - his talk about Ebola, and some of the cultural and geographic challenges in fighting it, was fascinating.

Is it effective for all current strains and future mutations of Ebola?

It appears to be effective against a range of viruses:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remdesivir

But of course there's no guarantee, it's not really a great question when it comes to biology.

Re: Ebola cases pass 2k as crisis escalates

#54

Post by Creationer »

sixQuarks wrote: post #8

The internet was supposed to create an educated society with information at your fingertips, instead we got fake news and echo chambers spreading extreme thinking We have huge groups of actively ignorant people supporting the growth of climate change, anti-vaccination, and a host of other dangerous actions. Now those fighting Ebola outbreaks are getting attacked. I hope I’m wrong, but it looks like rationality is fas…

The average IQ in the DPRC is 78. The population has grown from 12 million in 1950 to 87 million today.

You cannot evaluate the actions taking place in that country and then apply them to the rest of the world.

Re: Ebola cases pass 2k as crisis escalates

#55

Post by Zenst »

gingabriska wrote: post #52
georgehayduke wrote: post #19

I am amazed at the bravery of the medical staff, health professionals and volunteers who are trying to contain Ebola in the DRC. Not only are they potentially exposed to the deadly disease, they have to content with violent attacks from the population they're trying to help. It sounds incredibly complex - a mix of political mistrust, lack of education and difficult terrain making containment difficult. While spreadin…

How likely is that most Nurses working there do are not able to comprehend risk in real terms?

Extremely unlikely, that it's not even an edge-case. I dare say that anybody who has seen directly or indirectly the effects of Ebola, would be more than aware of the risks and if anything, be more inclined to over-react (look at how leprosy was treated socially historically or even AIDS).

Re: Ebola cases pass 2k as crisis escalates

#56

Post by chronogram »

gingabriska wrote: post #52
georgehayduke wrote: post #19

I am amazed at the bravery of the medical staff, health professionals and volunteers who are trying to contain Ebola in the DRC. Not only are they potentially exposed to the deadly disease, they have to content with violent attacks from the population they're trying to help. It sounds incredibly complex - a mix of political mistrust, lack of education and difficult terrain making containment difficult. While spreadin…

How likely is that most Nurses working there do are not able to comprehend risk in real terms?

Unlikely with what I heard on this podcast: https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2019/03/19/how-to-fight-e...

Re: Ebola cases pass 2k as crisis escalates

#57

Post by asdf21 »

i_am_nomad wrote: post #38

To those of you worried about a global outbreak: USAMRIID is closing in on a highly effective (near 100%) treatment for Ebola. So far it is 100% successful in macaques, which is a good animal model for the disease in humans. The project lead spoke to my research group - his talk about Ebola, and some of the cultural and geographic challenges in fighting it, was fascinating.

Near 100% successful in preventing death specifically? Are there other health issues for survivors?

Re: Ebola cases pass 2k as crisis escalates

#58

Post by natalyarostova »

edubs25 wrote: post #42
low_roar1 wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ebola should actually be easier to contain in any civilized country such as the US. Quarantine measures and disposing of infected bodies properly would limit the pandemic. In Congo Kinshasa, it's just the chaos politically, there is no real government in many parts of this country, the real danger is that it is not a small country at all, 80+ millions of inhabitants, many can't be reach by the WHO because of the wars…

>Ebola should actually be easier to contain in any civilized country such as the US. Quarantine measures and disposing of infected bodies properly would limit the pandemic. I would be careful of the use of the word 'civilized' in this context. You're implying DRC and/or other African countries are uncivilized. Which is just not true.

What is the politically appropriate word instead of civilized to enumerate the difference between taking a public health first approach vs. killing first responders on conspiracy?

Re: Ebola cases pass 2k as crisis escalates

#59

Post by nostrademons »

coldcode wrote: post #2

It's just a question of time before it reaches the US. We were lucky with Dallas. It likely will escape the next time into the general population since many people without health insurance are unlikely seek medical care in time and when they do at the last minute, it will spread.

Note that the death rate of Ebola in developed countries in "only" about 10%, and all of those have been people that were severely ill before seeking medical attention. Ebola's one of those diseases that responds well to modern hospital care: sanitation, isolation, and IV rehydration are very effective at keeping patients alive while the disease runs its course.

When looking at death rates, it's important to remember that most Ebola outbreaks have occurred in countries with pre-modern sanitation & medical systems. It's like saying that cholera, scarlet fever, and bubonic plague are deadly diseases: true, but significantly less true in the developed world.

Re: Ebola cases pass 2k as crisis escalates

#60

Post by chimeracoder »

fredgrott wrote: post #14
jeffdavis wrote: post #10

Do these ebola outbreaks give the virus substantially more opportunity to evolve? Or is that not a significant risk?

not sure as its slightly different in packaging say from AIDS which does in fact evolve variants in an infected human(reason why the vaccine cure took so long to find).

> not sure as its slightly different in packaging say from AIDS which does in fact evolve variants in an infected human(reason why the vaccine cure took so long to find).

AIDS does not evolve variants. HIV, which is a virus, can evolve.

There is neither a vaccine nor a cure for HIV.

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