Ebola

[Xidelt]

Could we keep dropping the ball on this?? I'm baffled by all of the screw ups!

[pinksequins]

What happened to common sense? Does one really have to be told not to board a flight if one is being monitored after a patient death? Why would one even think of traveling until the monitoring period expires, particularly if one is a nurse?

[AGDee]

If she was asymptomatic at the time, she was not contagious so they would give her the OK to fly, right?

[ASTalumna06]

So.. Is this really as bad as some people are making it out to be? Serious question.

Duncan (his first name escapes me right now) flew into the country with Ebola and visited relatives, and no one on the flight, nor his relatives, contracted the virus.

Of course, there are nurses who are sick, but the CDC is now taking extra precautions to make sure that no other healthare workers are infected.

I guess I just don't see any reason to panic right now. But maybe I'm wrong..?

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by PersistentDST

This is hitting EXTREMELY close to home for me right now. I can't concentrate. I went to college with the patient, and she is a really sweet girl. And I am very close friends with some of her family members. Please send your prayers to them as they really need them. Thank you in advance.

Sorry to double post, but I just saw this. Thinking of your friend and hoping for the best! I have a few friends who are nurses in Dallas, so I can only hope that my above assessment is correct, and that this won't get much worse.

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

So.. Is this really as bad as some people are making it out to be? Serious question.

Duncan (his first name escapes me right now) flew into the country with Ebola and visited relatives, and no one on the flight, nor his relatives, contracted the virus.

Of course, there are nurses who are sick, but the CDC is now taking extra precautions to make sure that no other healthare workers are infected.

I guess I just don't see any reason to panic right now. But maybe I'm wrong..?

I'm not a huge fan of Faux News, but this is good.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/1...n_5992510.html

Unfortunately, we have some school systems which, ironically are NOT near where the nurse was staying in Akron, that have closed today.

I agree with your analysis that there is something to handling bodily fluids of those infected vs. being near those infected. Also, why have so many healthcare workers in Liberia NOT been infected? Could there be a resistance that they have built up?

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

I'm not a huge fan of Faux News, but this is good.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/1...n_5992510.html

Unfortunately, we have some school systems which, ironically are NOT near where the nurse was staying in Akron, that have closed today.

I agree with your analysis that there is something to handling bodily fluids of those infected vs. being near those infected. Also, why have so many healthcare workers in Liberia NOT been infected? Could there be a resistance that they have built up?

Our news said one of those schools closed because a teacher was on the flight with the nurse. But that doesn't make sense to me- unless they had a very quick turn around. The nurse was on the flight going to Dallas from Cleveland. If that teacher went to Dallas and went right back to Cleveland that seems odd.

ETA: The news report I just read said that a teacher was on the same airplane, for a later flight. It also said there were two students who were in contact with the nurse while she was there and that's why their schools are closed.

[shirley1929]

Originally Posted by Outlaw 1963

I read that it can't be detected right away. The symptoms don't show up until weeks or months later after exposure.

From my understanding, this is not exactly true. You're not contagious unless you are exhibiting symptoms (vomiting, fever, etc...).

If you have been exposed to it, the incubation period is anywhere from 2-21 days (so weeks, not months) from the time you've been exposed until the time you start exhibiting symptoms (and are thus contagious).

[pinksequins]

She shouldn't have to have someone tell her. Symptoms or not, she should have been able to reach the common sense conclusion that travel is out of the question until her monitoring period ends. Common sense.

[LAblondeGPhi]

If we get even a couple of more cases in the U.S. stemming from this outbreak, I could see it becoming increasingly difficult to keep all these folks quarantined. The average incubation period is 2-21 days, and three weeks is a long quarantine period.

This Forbes article discusses a researcher's study that suggests that 21 days might not even be long enough:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jonforte...-to-new-study/

[shirley1929]

Posting this for PersistentDST. I thought it was a really nice article about Amber Vinson. I'm sure you've probably read it, but in case not...

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ebo...s-hero-n227251

[AGDee]

Also, the people Duncan lived with are almost at the 21 day period since he went into the hospital. They were in the apartment with his stuff until October 3rd though. I'd say if none of them get it by the 24th, a lot of people will calm down.

[pinksequins]

IUHoosier, how long can the virus live on certain surfaces? Take, for example, a wet towel or a wet bar of soap? (Articles note disinfecting apartments).

[IUHoosiergirl88]

Originally Posted by pinksequins

IUHoosier, how long can the virus live on certain surfaces? Take, for example, a wet towel or a wet bar of soap? (Articles note disinfecting apartments).

On dry surfaces, not too long. The virus actually starts to degrade within minutes--so in whole, it's probably only on your average dry surface for a couple of hours. Doesn't mean it's necessarily contagious, however. It's also easily killed by standard disinfection procedures (aka household bleach). Rather wimpy when it comes to dry surfaces, actually. It's not like anthrax, which has a protective bubble around it so it can live for years in the soil.

Not sure about a 'wet' surface as you define it. Virus in bodily fluids (like a blood tube) can live for a couple days at room temp, but a bar of soap =/= blood. I personally wouldn't handle linens without protective gear just because of the type of contact with the patient. They're more likely to come in contact with the 3 big viral load carriers--blood, feces, and vomit.

High levels of Ebola have not been seen in saliva except in the sickest of patients (think near death or dead), and whole virus has never been seen in sweat. There was a study done in 2007 in an active Ugandan Ebola ward that swabbed ~40 different places (bed rails, stethoscopes, etc.) and NONE of them tested positive for the virus.

[honeychile]

A little off topic, but another question for IUHoosiergirl88: how about MRSA? If someone is an active carrier, how serious should this be taken? Should this person be permitted to work in a kitchen, or kiss anyone?

And yes, I have someone in mind.