ebola, anyone else mildly terrified?

[otolith]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

fido said:

irocfan said:

all we need now for the perfect DM storm is for some Islamic radical to deliberately get himself infected......

I don't think even one of those nutjobs is going to do that for any number of virgins .. ?

If you want to kill a lot of people Ebola is a particular painful and ineffective way of doing so.

On the other hand, if you want to maximise irrational terror and panic, it's a fantastic weapon. Get yourself well infected and then blow yourself up in a public place. For the cost of a flight to Africa and an IED.

[Lost soul]

otolith said:

Lost soul said:

otolith said:

Ebola isn't our Captain Trips,

You have just reminded me that I want to re read that book

Re-read it fairly recently, great book!

I think this would be my third time around

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Sierra Leone declare a State of Emergency to deal with the threat from Ebola.

Linky

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Some statistics (apologies for formatting) from all the outbreaks of Ebola since 1976. On average it kills just over 60% of those who contract it. This outbreak is broadly in line (slightly lower) than that long term average. The "kills up to 90%" figure seems to come from the outbreak in Congo in 2003. I would assume that rapid treatment in a Western hospital could meaningfully reduce the mortality rates.

Year Country Infected Deaths % death
1976 DR Congo 318 218 69
1976 Sudan 284 151 53
1994 Gabon 52 31 60
1995 DR Congo 315 254 81
1996 Gabon 60 45 75
2000 Uganda 425 224 53
2001 Gabon 65 53 82
2001 Congo 59 44 75
2003 Congo 143 128 90
2007 Congo 264 187 71
2007 Uganda 149 37 25
2012 DR Congo 57 29 51
2014 Guinea etc1201 672 56
Total 3392 2073 61

[TVR1]

Ginetta G15 Girl said:

So an Ebola incubating patient gets on an aeroplane (very unlikely given the locii of Ebola outbreaks vs distance from an airport).

Then what?

Someone showing the symptoms of a Hemorrhagic fever is on board an aircraft (fair enough it could be Lassa, Marburg, or raft of others). We are going to let them just get off at Heathrow? Seriously? You are telling me the Crew are just going to sit there and do nothing?
.

Are you eating your words yet hun?

[TVR1]

And what about the guys who pump out the toilets on the flight?

Forgotten about them?

They're the ones who are the most likely carriers now.

[eldar]

TVR1 said:

And what about the guys who pump out the toilets on the flight?

Forgotten about them?

They're the ones who are the most likely carriers now.

I don't think they bathe in the ordure. Doesn't sound like a productive vector.

[TVR1]

eldar said:

I don't think they bathe in the ordure. Doesn't sound like a productive vector.

Have you not watched pump out from aircraft? And the spillage?

Before the host bleeds out, where exactly do you think they will try to dump their guts on an aircraft?

Unless you have not been following the news, the head of the operation spent an hour or two getting to Lagos on an airplane. Vomiting and incontinence on the airplane. No one questioned him.

As you may know, he died yesterday.

[Ginetta G15 Girl]

TVR1 said:

Are you eating your words yet hun?

No.

I would be far more worried about something like Lassa Fever (which has similar primary symptoms to Ebola, but which is far more dangerous in terms of infection rate.

Either way, someone presenting early symptoms would be quarantined ASAP.

Oh an if it was Ebola, early symptoms are not infectious (because it spreads through contaminated body fluids).

[MGJohn]

Reports indicate that there's a percentage of folks who survive with the correct treatment. I wonder if any poor sods already having this contagion will grasp any opportunity to improve their survival odds and head for a Nation which has their favoured health service.

Some said:

.
Where would that be MGJohn?
.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

MGJohn said:

Reports indicate that there's a percentage of folks who survive with the correct treatment. I wonder if any poor sods already having this contagion will grasp any opportunity to improve their survival odds and head for a Nation which has their favoured health service.

Some said:

.
Where would that be MGJohn?
.

I think the vast majority of those infected don't have enough money for a bus fare, let alone an airfare.

[Bill]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

I think the vast majority of those infected don't have enough money for a bus fare, let alone an airfare.

And by the time they've realised they're ill it's far too late.

[BGARK]

Border control, screening?

[Einion Yrth]

Bill said:

Rocksteadyeddie said:

I think the vast majority of those infected don't have enough money for a bus fare, let alone an airfare.

And by the time they've realised they're ill it's far too late.

From my experience of air travel they'd be dead before they got through passport control.

[eldar]

TVR1 said:

Have you not watched pump out from aircraft? And the spillage?

Before the host bleeds out, where exactly do you think they will try to dump their guts on an aircraft?

Unless you have not been following the news, the head of the operation spent an hour or two getting to Lagos on an airplane. Vomiting and incontinence on the airplane. No one questioned him.

As you may know, he died yesterday.

Last time I saw a pump out was 30 years ago! I'd assumed nowadays things would be improved... seems not

[0a]

Has anyone else read p14 and p15 of the Sunday times news section today? Unpleasant and not a job I would ever do if I could avoid it.

[Baryonyx]

TVR1 said:

And what about the guys who pump out the toilets on the flight?

Forgotten about them?

They're the ones who are the most likely carriers now.

Funnily enough, the book 'Hot Zone' begins with an infected man spewing his guts up whilst on a plane ride. It's a very good book.

[eck c]

I am currently in Angola and heard today that it has made it to an offshore installation in Nigeria

[Parsnip]

eck c said:

I am currently in Angola and heard today that it has made it to an offshore installation in Nigeria

Same here (Scarabeo 9 here - where abouts are you?) - should be getting off this week or next - can't say that I am that worried - biggest concern would be if they just blanket shut the borders to all West African flights, but can't see that happening unless something drastic happens.

Looking at the death toll, it seems to have slowed right down, I imagine due to containment and control measures coming into place.

Of course, that could just me reassuring myself - I know it hasn't crossed into Angola, but its still a wee bit close for comfort.

[eck c]

Parsnip said:

eck c said:

I am currently in Angola and heard today that it has made it to an offshore installation in Nigeria

Same here (Scarabeo 9 here - where abouts are you?) - should be getting off this week or next - can't say that I am that worried - biggest concern would be if they just blanket shut the borders to all West African flights, but can't see that happening unless something drastic happens.

Looking at the death toll, it seems to have slowed right down, I imagine due to containment and control measures coming into place.

Of course, that could just me reassuring myself - I know it hasn't crossed into Angola, but its still a wee bit close for comfort.

Work between the the drillships DS6 & DSL for BP, in the base for a week before heading home in a couple of days.
Nothing official yet from Camerons regarding the outbreak just getting info from tech's based in Nigeria