The ebola panic

[D_Yeti_Esquire]

The problem with that graphic is it suggest that something that (ok, let's give Western medicine the benefit of the doubt and guess a 30% instead of 55% fatality rate) is that fatal is more communicable than Hep C which most people have heard about.

Ebola has three things that freak people the hell out. It incubates over a long period meaning it can get around easily. It has the ability to hang around in necrotic tissue for a really, really, really long time. And people don't know the victims until it's confirmed. So there really isn't much of a defense unless you're going to go around in a bubble suit until it all passes over.

I have a problem with both sides honestly. No, Ebola probably won't smash through North America like a freight train, but it is legitimate to be concerned that world governments are capable of containing something this potentially fatal when they've been unwilling thus far to really get involved in the areas where this is a problem until recently. Because of that, Dallas and DC (potentially) were only a matter of time.

[BlaqueKatt]

Remind me again how safe the locals to that hospital and jackass are again?

this covers why the health people aren't panicking-the R-naught is similar to that of HepC.

how contagious is ebola?

[AccountingDrone]

Hm, let me see ... the dude was sprung from the hospital for 2 days before someone noticed he might have ebola. When he left the house to go to the hospital he was vomiting inside and outside the house. And now the family has police stationed outside their apartment to forcibly keep them under quarantine because they willfully broke quarantine ...

Remind me again how safe the locals to that hospital and jackass are again?

[TheHuckster]

Quite easily. People touch their faces TONS throughout the entire day.

At first I thought you wrote feces.

After rereading this, I feel much relieved.

But, yes, this is among the most common transmission methods for illnesses that are very common place, including flu, which people often associate with "airborne" transmission.

[Greenday]

Ebola spreads through bodily fluids, specifically a bodily-fluid-to-oral route. This makes one think "just how could someone catch something like that so easily?"

Quite easily. People touch their faces TONS throughout the entire day.

Also, this is the first time I've seen someone use the acronym PPE outside of work. Awesome.

[sophie]

And good news:

Lamivudine,HIV drug, can cure patients in as little as 2 days if given before the 5th day of symptoms.

[sophie]

I'm not saying it's not a big deal. But people are losing their minds over it. Reddit is overreaction city right now. They just need to realize this isnt the Congo the conditions are different.

I'm not comfortable with a 1in4 risk but it's not 90% and spreading misinformation does damage like a person here that drank bleach to attempt to kill an infection she didn't even have.

When I say I'm used to this crap, I mean I used to taking precautions, like ironing your underwear to prevent larvae in your skin and things most people wouldn't think of.

[TheHuckster]

Ebola spreads through bodily fluids, specifically a bodily-fluid-to-oral route. This makes one think "just how could someone catch something like that so easily?"

Well, norovirus, also known as stomach flu, is spread via the fecal-oral route, and have spread like wildfire in schools and cruise ships.

The average American, and indeed the average American from Dallas shouldn't be panicking yet... but that doesn't mean professionals should let their guard down. We absolutely need to quarantine anyone who has the illness to prevent it from spreading into something that we do really need to worry about.

The 55% is in field hospitals, which considering the conditions is fairly good. In a real hospital the rate would be less than 25%, one young woman nursed her mother,father and sister back to health on her own.

Well, if it's easy for you to be comfortable with taking 1 out of 4 odds of dying if you get the disease, don't expect others to.

[sophie]

The 55% is in field hospitals, which considering the conditions is fairly good. In a real hospital the rate would be less than 25%, one young woman nursed her mother,father and sister back to health on her own.

But I'm from Africa I'm used to this crap.

[HYHYBT]

A 55% death rate when treated is scary enough.

[sophie]

For Gods sake people this is America not freaking Gabon! It's not airborne, it's not a zombie virus and you cant catch it from looking at someone.

It's spreads like that in Africa because it's not sanitary there. The health care workers are out of PPE most of the time, people touch dead bodies with their bare hands and hand washing is rare.

The 90% fatality rate is if it's untreated basically you have a 90% chance of dying if you're on your own in the Congo not in a hospital in a first world country.

People are not dying in the streets in Dallas thats just the fear mongering media trying to get people to click on a link. Ebolas been here since JULY!

Wash your hands and dont touch bodily fluids and you'll be fine. Use common sense and stop using science fiction as examples.