Ebola.

[TheLovelyBoots]

I'm quite nervous. AIBU?

Understood.

The CFR seems to be lower at present in Sierra Leone than in Guinea. Do you think that's because those who are ill in Sierra Leone have only recently become ill (so it's too early to get an accurate CFR), because of improved healthcare or is it because of other factors such as some latent immunity?

I doubt anyone will have analysed enough information from this outbreak to identify its features yet.

The fatality rate for Ebola outbreaks is variable - OK, I'm relying on what I find on google, but from respectable sites, it seems the rate is anywhere between 52-90%. So there is not necessarily anything important in the rate so far of these outbreaks. The duration and spread might prove to be the more significant features.

It looks as it CDC are considering transferring one or both of Brantly and Writeol to Atlanta for treatment

From my very inexpert reading its usually different strains that have such different fatality rates but I might be talking out of my bum.

head of WHO - Dr Chan '' 'Apart from this specific situation, the general public is not at high risk of infection by the Ebola virus," she said.

"At the same time, it would be extremely unwise for national authorities and the international community to allow an Ebola virus to circulate widely and over a long period of time in human populations."

She also said that:

Constant mutation and adaptation are the survival mechanisms of viruses and it was important not to allow opportunities for them to deliver more surprises
Medics are not just up against a public health problem but also a social problem made worse by "deep-seated beliefs and cultural practices"
Chains of transmission have moved underground, are invisible and are not being reported
Because of the high fatality rate, many people prefer to care for loved ones in their homes which hampers rapid containment of the virus
Public attitudes can create a security threat to response teams when fear and misunderstanding turn to anger, hostility or violence

they are wary of this ebola virus mutating

there is a nasty encephalitis in India that has already killed over 500 happening too.

I'm afraid it's over 800 now chaffinch. It's especially awful in that there is a vaccine against it.

Médecins Sans Frontières have launched an appeal for donations to help with the cost of protective clothing for their healthcare workers.

There are some very good and informative pages on the MSF site.

I worked for MSF as a temp (a.o. packing medical books to send out to the field, as well as watsan - water/sanitation and how to build a refugee camp).

They rock! Please donate.

That's cool IFly.

Mmmmmmmmmm it's very concerning how many people on here are not that bothered by the Ebola Virus. It may be 3,000 odd miles away but this virus is airborne. God knows how many flights land in the UK a day from Africa, how many Africans head for popular tourists destinations such as the Canary Islands to sell their belts and hats or the fact that the Common Wealth games still allowed African participants, or even how many African health care workers we have working within our NHS services who take annual leave 6 weeks a year to return to their countries for visits. So I think we should all be concerned.

The US: a country where many of its citizens have no health insurance cover and going to the doctor is so expensive some patients wait until an ingrown toenail turns into gangrene to seek medical help.

Do you guys really think a person with symptoms would be picked up "immediately"?

Airborne?
I thought it was transmitted via contact with bodily fluids?

It isn't airborne.
It currently needs to travel in bodily fluids.

It may be 3,000 odd miles away but this virus is airborne.

No it isn't. Unless you know something that nobody else does.

ec.europa.eu/health/preparedness_response/docs/ebola_infotravellers2014_en.pdf

That's quite an odd first post, W4ally, and strangely obsessed with "Africans".

You do understand that Africa is quite large, and mostly unaffected by ebola?

And that Brits who travel to and from infected areas are quite capable of carrying the virus as well, should they be unlucky enough to contract it? (Tho with current infection rates that's a low risk all round.)

Perhaps W4 means 'airborne' in as much as it can be spread by air travel?

Was just about to post the same as Suzanne.

It's past the peak incubation period since Dr Sawyer got on the flight to Lagos and we aren't seeing an explosion of cases being reported in different countries. Therefore it's not terribly infective.

Yes we might possibly get the odd case here and there from travellers but if other outbreaks in Africa could be stopped relatively quickly despite the huge difficulties then it will be much much easier here. The 3 countries involved with the epicentre have now thrown an isolation zone around the epicentre.

It must be terribly scary over in the countries affected but personally I find things like drug resistant TB a much more concerning prospect.

It's more difficult to deal with in Africa because there is a reservoir of infection in an indigenous animal population (fruit bat?)

I don't think talking about it being 'out of control' has helped much. They meant out of control in the relatively small areas of Africa that it is in, not that it's out of control and is going to spread widely and infect the rest of the world. Yes, shutting down the borders now is a good idea, but those airports and borders have been open for the last 4 months of this outbreak. If it was something that could be caught and spread easily through flights, it would be everywhere by now.

To put it into context, Swine flu, which is airborne and can be spread easily in public managed to infect over 94,000 people in 168 countries in a similar period. We're not talking about anything like that scale here.

Suzanne I think there's lots of different reason why they are struggling to contain this. Reservoir of infection in animals, poor sanitation, under resourced healthcare facilities are just the start. Fortunately none of those apply if it does make it to the UK and it should be contained as easily as it usually is.

had to admit I was a bit when the athlete from sierra leone went missing....and the noro symptoms...

They had a biggish outbreak of noro at the athletes village. Won't have helped nerves I'm sure!

I'm not sure it's unusual to 'lose' athletes at major competitions. IIRC we lost a few during the Olympics too.

That outbreak of Noro will have done nothing for the nerves. I'm sure they'd have been on it if any of the SL competitors had shown symptoms though.