Ebola Preparation

[Hmac]

For those unfamiliar with the "Wildfire" structure, here's a primer: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=af7KHl2w7EU#t=268

What a great old flick that was. Book was even better IMHO. It was the prototype that set the stage for so much of the paranoia surrounding this ebola issue.

[halmbarte]

Just to throw a little fuel on the fire: there is a Ebola variant that is transmissible by casual contact like the flu or measles:

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reston_virus

Fortunately, Ebola Reston is not infectious in humans, only monkeys.

That said, there isn't any reason to expect the there isn't a Ebola varient that doesn't combine the lethality of Ebola Zaire with the transmissibility Ebola Reston.

Personally, I expect the current outbreak to account for single digit infections in the USA by the end of the year. We can thank 30 years of HIV pandemic for teaching US health care workers never to have contact with any bodily fluids that aren't their own.

H

[DarkTemplars]

Actually, Reston is infectious in humans, it's just not fatal in humans.

[WillBrink]

Actually, Reston is infectious in humans, it's just not fatal in humans.

You'll note that Ebola is rarely fatal in humans when treated in developed nations with tech and meds more advanced then a tent in the jungle and (maybe) some clean water if you're lucky.

[halmbarte]

Actually, Reston is infectious in humans, it's just not fatal in humans.

Source?

I'm rereading 'The Hot Zone' but I'm only to the part where the Army and CDC are engaging in mighty battle (over who has jurisdiction and who is going to pay for the containment and cleanup).

H

[jcshelto]

You'll note that Ebola is rarely fatal in humans when treated in developed nations with tech and meds more advanced then a tent in the jungle and (maybe) some clean water if you're lucky.

Everything I am reading (peer reviewed) suggests 40-70 mortality rate in a developed nation scenario. It is around 70-90 historically in Africa.

[DarkTemplars]

It's talked about in The Hot Zone. Can't remember which part. It's been awhile since I've read it.


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[halmbarte]

Everything I am reading (peer reviewed) suggests 40-70 mortality rate in a developed nation scenario. It is around 70-90 historically in Africa.

The lethality seems to be pretty variable, from 90% to 50 or so.

Advanced care will help but it's hard to treat for 'the patient is turning into a bloody mush'.

H

[Hmac]

The danger to a population isn't its mortality rate.

[jcshelto]

The danger to a population isn't its mortality rate.

Excellent point. Look what one patient has done.