ebola, anyone else mildly terrified?

ebola, anyone else mildly terrified?

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Discussion

AA999

5,180 posts

216 months

Friday 24th October 2014
quotequote all
Haven't read much of this thread and have little knowledge of this virus, but have a question.... is there much threat of ebola coming in to the UK on fresh produce? to be found in a supermarket near you?

Does the UK import goods from the infected nations or even receive goods that transit through?

(If its been asked already then no need to reply with quotes, I'll delete the question)


funkyrobot

18,789 posts

227 months

Friday 24th October 2014
quotequote all
AA999 said:
Haven't read much of this thread and have little knowledge of this virus, but have a question.... is there much threat of ebola coming in to the UK on fresh produce? to be found in a supermarket near you?

Does the UK import goods from the infected nations or even receive goods that transit through?

(If its been asked already then no need to reply with quotes, I'll delete the question)
If an infected person carries an apple into the UK, yes. smile

otolith

55,899 posts

203 months

Friday 24th October 2014
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You need fresh body fluids on your bananas from a person who would be too sick to work. It's not a realistic risk, IMO.

geeeman

1,310 posts

254 months

Friday 24th October 2014
quotequote all
even if the outbreak is controlled , eventually this and other emerging viruses pose a thread to human-kind in our ever populated cities

a vaccine may or may not be possible, but viruses adapt

there are some non mainstream therapies that can help the immune system to combat severe viral infections

a prominent US doctor was invited to S.L this week by the President to train the medical staff in an 'alternative' therapy which may prove helpful in combating the spread and mortality rate. He is currently teaching medics and nurses in SL

the general public and medical establishment should keep an open mind over possible ways to improve the worsening situation


otolith

55,899 posts

203 months

Friday 24th October 2014
quotequote all
Interesting, do you have a link for that?

anonymous-user

53 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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superkartracer said:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/22/ebola-dea...

Nearly 5k dead now, little news but another 400+ death in a few days.

Yeah all fine nothing to worry about...
http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertszczerba/2014/10/22/fear-and-fiction-more-dangerous-than-ebola/

Fear And Fiction More Dangerous Than Ebola
Comment Now Follow Comments
Everyone take a deep breath … and relax. The only things more dangerous than Ebola are the false information and panic surrounding the spread of the virus to American soil.

Ebola is a rare and deadly virus that is marked by fever and severe internal bleeding. Recent outbreaks of Ebola in the West African countries of Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone have led to additional cases in Nigeria, Spain, and now, the United States.

In many ways, the recent Ebola fears are similar in nature to the early myths surrounding HIV and AIDS in the 1980s. Ebola is indeed a deadly virus, and care must be taken whenever there is a realistic chance of exposure. However, the 24/7 media exposure has helped create a national panic about the virus and the associated risks. Fear and panic need to be replaced with facts and common sense. For every false alarm or action taken out of misinformation, real world resources are being diverted that could be used in other, more critical situations.

To help sort out the fact from fiction, we leveraged resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and several top research universities to help dispel five prevalent myths about Ebola.

English: Ebola virus virion. Created by CDC mi...
Ebola is a rare and deadly virus that has generated a significant level of fear and panic across the United States. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Myth 1: Mosquitoes and other insects can transmit Ebola

Fact: The Ebola virus is spread when the bodily fluids of an infected person come into contact with the mucous membranes of a non-infected person. That means the Ebola virus in fluids like blood, sweat, or urine has to come in contact with your eyes, mouth, nostrils, ears, genital areas, or an open wound in order to infect you. Mosquitoes are known to spread all sorts of diseases, especially malaria. However, they don’t transmit Ebola. There is simply no evidence to suggest that mosquitoes or other insects can transmit the virus.

Myth 2: Ebola has mutated into an airborne virus

Fact: Despite irresponsible news media reports to the contrary, Ebola has not mutated into an airborne virus and is not spread by air or water. The virus has indeed mutated. Some estimates claim more than 300 different mutations. However, there is no evidence to suggest that an airborne mutation is even remotely likely with this particular type of virus. A more realistic scenario, but still potentially dangerous, would be for an Ebola mutation to occur that allows people who have survived the disease to be re-infected at a later time. Such a mutation could possible make the vaccines currently in the developmental pipeline essentially ineffective.

Myth 3: Ebola is a “hardy” virus that can survive for weeks outside the body

Fact: While Ebola is a deadly and vicious virus inside the human body, many researchers also classify it as a “wimpy” virus outside the body. The virus likes moist, dark places and can be killed by such things as heat and direct sunlight. Ebola can also be killed with hospital grade disinfectants, such as bleach. In ideal conditions, the virus can survive on dry surfaces for several hours and up to several days in bodily secretions (such as blood). However, the likelihood of contracting the virus from touching an exposed surface is very low.

Myth 4: Travel bans and flight restrictions would reduce the spread of Ebola in the United States

Fact: While it may seem logical, there really is no evidence to support the theory that restricting air travel would reduce the spread of Ebola in the United States. Since jet travel became commonplace, many nations have banned flights from other countries in hopes of blocking the entry of certain viruses, including SARS and H1N1 “swine flu.” None of the bans were effective, and the viruses gained entry to populations regardless of what radical measures governments took to keep them out.

Myth 5: Ebola is more of a threat to Americans than the flu

Fact: Between 5 and 20 percent of U.S. residents get influenza (the “flu”) every year. Of those, more than 200,000 people end up in the hospital, and more than 20,000 people die each year (with up to 500,000 deaths worldwide). Ebola is a much rarer virus and more difficult to catch. As such, the flu will likely kill many more people worldwide this year than Ebola.

Summary – Don’t forget to schedule your flu shot.

Rob Szczerba is the CEO of X Tech Ventures. Follow him on Forbes, Twitter (@RJSzczerba), Facebook, and LinkedIn.

geeeman

1,310 posts

254 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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otolith said:
Interesting, do you have a link for that?
Dr Robert Rowen MD (and Dr H. Robins)

http://www.newsmaxhealth.com/Health-News/ozone-the...

https://www.facebook.com/DrRobertJRowen

it is easy to be skeptical, i know i was coming from a conventional medical based background. However, numerous studies and more importantly clinical results have been achieved in many countries treating a wide range of illnesses. This is in countries where the healthcare system isnt controlled by the pharmaceutical industry. (eg Russia, egypt, cuba, Germany)

Ozone/ oxidation therapies will never have big funding for research as its not a drug, and all you need is pure O2 and an ozone generator..and it will be frowned upon and put down by most mainstream medical establishment. The mechanism of action in the human body is complex and multi-stranded, but it has an impeccable safety record, and wide ranging benefits. (ozone gas is applied in various ways, such as into cavities or via mixing with patients' blood)

If you look at it without prejudice or bias this opens avenues which may be the future for treating resistant infections

(Ozone is also extremely active as a disinfectant. The benefits are the strength of the disinfection and the lack of potentially harmful by-products like trihalomethanes (THMs). A wider range of organisms is killed by ozonation than by chlorination (ie all bacteria, virus, fungi). The reactions, in general, are more rapid than that of chlorination processes. Quite relevant when you may be trying to keep a hospital ward bug free)







Edited by geeeman on Saturday 25th October 00:44

otolith

55,899 posts

203 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
Ozone as a disinfectant is pretty mainstream, it's a strong oxidising agent which damages most living organisms that come into contact with it. It's used in water disinfection as an alternative to chlorine and has the advantage of not producing chlorinated organic compounds.

If therapeutic use is evidence based, it isn't alternative medicine.

Jimbeaux

33,791 posts

230 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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Nina Pham, Dallas nurse, cleared of Ebola.

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/10/24/patient-t...

Bill

52,483 posts

254 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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The Spruce goose said:
Sensible stuff, the governors of New Jersey and New York should have read it, as they have ordered a 21 day quarantine for returning health workers. It's not clear quite how they'll enforce their knee jerk though.

And in other news an infectious child has been transported by bus between Guinea and Mali which is going to be a huge headache. banghead

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-29755443

Bill

52,483 posts

254 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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geeeman said:
If you look at it without prejudice or bias this opens avenues which may be the future for treating resistant infections
This is the key, and why it is inappropriate in the middle of an Ebola outbreak. It is unproven against Ebola and the wise (and ethical...) way to test it is in the lab on animals before trying it where it has to work. It has great potential (although I can't see how mixing it with people's blood would work - how do you stop it destroying the bits of the patient you want?) but needs proper testing.

ETA and a great safety record is all well and good, but it hasn't been tried on something as dangerous as Ebola.

Edited by Bill on Saturday 25th October 09:00

bosshog

1,574 posts

275 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
So ebola marches into another country. Not good. Education is key to slowing this down. I can't believe the relatives knowing the mother died of it then carries the ill baby like that

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-29755443


Its going to get really bad isn't it.

geeeman

1,310 posts

254 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
Bill said:
geeeman said:
If you look at it without prejudice or bias this opens avenues which may be the future for treating resistant infections
This is the key, and why it is inappropriate in the middle of an Ebola outbreak. It is unproven against Ebola and the wise (and ethical...) way to test it is in the lab on animals before trying it where it has to work. It has great potential (although I can't see how mixing it with people's blood would work - how do you stop it destroying the bits of the patient you want?) but needs proper testing.

ETA and a great safety record is all well and good, but it hasn't been tried on something as dangerous as Ebola.

Edited by Bill on Saturday 25th October 09:00
the science behind it is very complex but has been extensively studied. Yes ideally it should be tested in controlled conditions in a lab, but as the current outbreak is a real threat of getting out of hand it could be worth trying. Also it tends to receive little funding for research for reasons i stated above. I know i would have it done rather than hope to just recover

'ozone reacts immediately in blood with a number of ions and biomolecules- namely antioxidants, proteins, polyunsaturated fatty acids. - resulting in lipid oxidation products (LOPs). so ozone cannot damage the erythrocyte cell membrane. the LOPs acheive the positive biological effects impossible with a single drug- eg increase in Nitric oxide, generation of super-gifted erythrocytes, release of stem cells, upregulation of enzymes' (From Professor V. Bocci: Ozone a new medical drug 2011)

Negative Creep

24,942 posts

226 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
quotequote all
At least Chris Brown, everyone's favourite rapping woman beater, knows what's really behind the outbreak

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/chris-bro...

Pebbles167

3,418 posts

151 months

Monday 27th October 2014
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Negative Creep said:
At least Chris Brown, everyone's favourite rapping woman beater, knows what's really behind the outbreak

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/chris-bro...
Just like Kanye West, he's an ill informed, tin hat wearing, conclusion jumping fool.

Snoggledog

6,948 posts

216 months

Monday 27th October 2014
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One thing that's obvious from this article is that Ebola is spread in Africa through a degree of ignorance whilst in North America it will be spread through arrogance.

soad

32,829 posts

175 months

Monday 27th October 2014
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GAjon said:
In Africa its spread is enhanced by ignorance.
In the west it will be enhanced by arrogance.
Snoggledog said:
One thing that's obvious from this article is that Ebola is spread in Africa through a degree of ignorance whilst in North America it will be spread through arrogance.

JagLover

42,266 posts

234 months

Monday 27th October 2014
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Snoggledog said:
One thing that's obvious from this article is that Ebola is spread in Africa through a degree of ignorance whilst in North America it will be spread through arrogance.
Seems a very sensible precaution to me as it is health workers predominantly affected in the west. But apparently civil liberties take precedence over health precautions to some.

carreauchompeur

17,830 posts

203 months

Monday 27th October 2014
quotequote all
JagLover said:
Seems a very sensible precaution to me as it is health workers predominantly affected in the west. But apparently civil liberties take precedence over health precautions to some.
Massively sensible, particularly if people remain asymptomatic for a while... There is far too much complacency about the "difficulty of transmission" with this virus.

Snoggledog

6,948 posts

216 months

Monday 27th October 2014
quotequote all
soad said:
GAjon said:
In Africa its spread is enhanced by ignorance.
In the west it will be enhanced by arrogance.
Snoggledog said:
One thing that's obvious from this article is that Ebola is spread in Africa through a degree of ignorance whilst in North America it will be spread through arrogance.
Oh. paperbag