A topic for ebola chat - thank you MN.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

As posted in site stuff:

"There are loads of threads popping up about ebola - with the media coverage people are bound to get concerned. There are people with some really good knowledge about epidemiology and disease control who can provide reassurance and real facts and information. It's quite hard work finding the threads at present and people are having to repeat themselves over and over.

If we have a new section it means that people can find facts quickly and easily - those advising will be more able to help. It was in invaluable during the early part of the swine flu epidemic and I think it would be again."

So basically this is a safe place for people to share concerns and gain reassurance. Hopefully we wont need the topic for too long. As we talk about this, one thing to remember, is whilst people might be worrying here, its is nothing to the fear and hopelessness of those countries in West Africa who are suffering hugely from the epidemic and we need to respect that.

this is interesting, compares ebola to different viruses www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/health/how-ebola-spreads/

I find it reassuring that there are reports that suspected cases in third countries, wherever they are, are being isolated and tested rapidly. Because that is how an ember landing elsewhere will be stamped on before it causes a fire in that place.

But I agree that the scaremongering reporting (like 'gosh they're testing, it must be a case. What does this mean!?') isn't helping.

Marburg testing being done in Uganda - now that is worse/same as ebola., Nasty virus

WHo link here

Simultaneous Marburg and Ebola outbreaks?

At least the WHO account suggests that the Ugandan public health authorities have activated a response plan promptly.

Marburg is a Filovirus, so the same family as Ebola. However, it is known as "Ebola's gentler sister". The fatality rate for Mburg is lower, and it seems harder to spread than the current Ebola outbreak strain.

Speaking of which:

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/ebola/11157106/Second-US-Ebola-victim-infected-despite-protective-suit.html

The Ebola outbreak is starting to scare me now. It doesn't matter what studies in the past have shown about how transmissible it is. What matters, are the number of health workers who are catching it! We've had many health workers in Africa catching Ebola, and people have been shrugging it off saying, "Oh, it must be lack of training", or, "Breach of protocols", yada, yada.

Now, we've had a nurse in Spain catch it, and a healthcare worker in the US. This thing has to be more transmissible than we thought. Hopefully, the ongoing vaccine trials will be successful. A vaccine is the only way we'll get this under control.

The Spanish nurse touched her face, apparently. I presume whilst she was changing, which is quite a hazardous time. We don't know anything about the U.S. nurse, but given the lack of preparedness, the same scenario seems likely.

it's awful, those health care workers are heroic.

www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/13/ebola-uk-cancels-resumption-direct-flights-sierra-leone-gambia-bird

Why would the UK government cancel the resumption of direct flights to Sierra Leone when flights from there can still get to the UK indirectly??

A flight that was scheduled to leave on Friday (I think) was carrying protective gear for 1000 personnel.

reply to NCIS, so are we (public) to presume that the advice being given to the UK population by the Health Secretary about Ebola is not completely transparent, open & honest now there's a surprise!