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Original poster

AIBU being scared of ebola for christmas?

32 replies

tostaky · 14/10/2014 11:34

We are meant to take the eurostar at christmas to go to france... i just feel like cancelling the whole thing or at least driving there. There are so many people on the eurostar breathing the same air, coming from many parts of europe...
I was watching sky news at the gym earlier and they said the way they screen people at airport is to check their temperature... presumably, if you are feeling poorly you will take paracetamol and the temperature will drop and you will have passed the screening.
am i being unreasonable? i would never forgive myself if my husband or children catch it...

OP posts:

SoonToBeSix · 14/10/2014 11:35

Yes yabu and paranoid Ebolo is NOT airborne.

SoonToBeSix · 14/10/2014 11:35

Also by the time anyone becomes contagious they would be seriously unwell and unable to leave the house let alone travel to France.

freshlysharpenedpencils · 14/10/2014 11:38

yes - you are being unreasonable. See this article as I did - made me feel so much better. (My partner knows much more about this than me) - you really have nothing to worry about.

www.cracked.com/quick-fixes/why-americans-need-to-calm-f234025-down-about-ebola/

MmeMorrible · 14/10/2014 11:38

Umm, Eurostar is a train, no trip through the airport needed.

YABU going to France is no greater risk for Ebola than travelling anywhere in the UK on public transport. Odd that you would consider cancelling your trip.

Artandco · 14/10/2014 11:39

Soon - that is incorrect. Many spend first 1-3 days once symptoms there with just fever/ headache, it varies greatly. So someone could easily wake up with slight temp and migraine and travel fine, and not feel sicker until 24/48 hours later

Tbh I would just wait and see. It's still October so you have a few months to see how things develop

VenusRising · 14/10/2014 11:41

YABU. And a bit paranoid.

Have you anxiety issues in general, or just Xmas related?

Germgirl · 14/10/2014 11:43

You don't catch Ebola by 'breathing the same air' as a sufferer. You are being rather paranoid I'm afraid.

Original poster

tostaky · 14/10/2014 12:01

that is what my husband says!
No i dont have anxiety issues and maybe i should inform myself a bit better as i didnt realise it was not airbone like the flu for example...
Will read the artivle linked asap - thanks

OP posts:

SoonToBeSix · 14/10/2014 12:13

Art sufferers are not contagious on days 1-3 though.

freshlysharpenedpencils · 14/10/2014 12:16

i don't think they are contagious from just being near them at all.... one of the people who died of it was living with other people and unwell for a very long time (as far as I know) and they are all fine! I think you would have to be sleeping with the person.

Original poster

tostaky · 14/10/2014 12:29

but you have to admit the screening at the airport is rubbish if it is based on having a fever!

Thanks for the reassurance, watching the news was probably not the best thing to do!!

OP posts:

Germgirl · 14/10/2014 12:48

The screening is pointless, people are being asked if they feel ill. Has no one considered that people may lie because they don't want to be held for testing?
To catch Ebola you have to have direct contact with bodily fluid, the infection has to enter the body bia broken skin or mucous membranes. You cannot catch it by being in the and room as a sufferer, you annoy catch it by touching a sufferer, unless you have cuts on your hand and you touch their bodily fluids / secretions.
The fears being expressed now are the same fears being expressed in the early days of HIV, I knoe Ebola and HIV are in no way similar in the way they affect people but the same 'contagion' fears are being expressed.
Please do not be scared. You will not catch Ebola, the same way you wouldn't catch HIV if you were on a train with an HIV positive person (which you almost certainly have been).

grocklebox · 14/10/2014 12:49

The screening is merely to make silly people feel a bit better.

Germgirl · 14/10/2014 12:49

Annoy = cannot

Artandco · 14/10/2014 12:50

Soon - they are contagious from once symptoms appear. I mean day 1-3 of symptoms, not exposure

InfinitySeven · 14/10/2014 12:53

People in the contagious stages of Ebola are very unlikely to be able to mask it for an entire flight, and flight crews are on high alert for any signs. Should they flag anyone, there are HAZMAT people at the airports who will investigate.

That's in addition to having the checklist about where you've been, and what symptoms you have, and healthcare professionals monitoring people.

And finally, people with Ebola tend to come to the West for treatment, not to die. Therefore, they are not likely to want to run off into the country. They want help. They are banking on being treated from the airport.

None of it is mandatory, unless you are showing symptoms, in which case they will legally detain you.

Short of shutting the borders, there are limited other practical options.

Germgirl · 14/10/2014 12:54

I agree grocklebox, it's also (in my cynical mind) being done so that the government can say 'well look! We're doing something!'
I've been on cruises, before you board you're asked if you've had diarrhoea recently, (cruise ships are notorious for spreading Norovirus), I've stood behind a woman in the queue who was saying 'I had a terrible stomach last night but I'm not going to say so because they won't let me on'. People will do the same when they're asked if they feel ill. "No, I'm fine! Never better" they'll say as they breeze through the airport. No one wants to be held at the airport & screened when they maybe have another flight to catch, or a family to get to.

ChasedByBees · 14/10/2014 13:04

Cancelling your trip would be a massive, massive over reaction. Go and enjoy your trip.

WerkSupp · 14/10/2014 13:05

Get a grip.

Pootles2010 · 14/10/2014 13:09

Yes agree with Grockle screening is just to appease silly people, something government does far too much of.

If they seriously thought it was needed, it would be done at every port and airport surely?

AttilaTheMeerkat · 14/10/2014 13:34

tostaky

YABU and overtly worried for no good reason here, there is no need whatsoever to cancel your holiday.

Ebola virus is not airborne.

Owllady · 14/10/2014 13:39

I can understand why you are worried as I can't watch the news at all as its making me paranoid too :o and the news hasn't actually said there's a high chance of catching it if you have unprotected sex with someone infected. Well they hadn't said that when I was watching, but as I said, I keep turning it off.
I feel a bit sorry for men who have travelled from west Africa. No one is going to want to sleep with them this Christmas

TurnOverTheTv · 14/10/2014 13:42

Unless you're tonguing someone in the toilets who has Ebola on the Eurostar I think you'll be fine

Original poster

tostaky · 14/10/2014 14:10

I will buy "flexible" tickets then!! (just in case) Thanks

OP posts:

NewEraNewMindset · 14/10/2014 14:19

I think if it's how you feel it's how you feel so YANBU

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