Ebola Precautions.

[Canary42]

Isn't it time we closed our frontiers to people from Ebola-infected areas - better safe than sorry ?

Or would it be too disruptive to the commercial interests who now rule our lives ?

[Old_Geezer]

If one wished to over-react, surely.
But we are all too affected by mad cow disease to be able to think that clearly.

[Daffy6543]

Ebola can only be caught from contact with blood or other body fluids from an infected person, there is no risk whatsoever to the general public.

[2sp_]

I think the panic about it coming here is that Ebola will kill 90% of those who are infected with it.

Saying that, I really doubt that it will come to our shore.

Poor souls who can't escape from it.

[Khandro]

Daffy6543
//Ebola can only be caught from contact with blood or other body fluids//
If body fluids include saliva and sweat, then it could be caught from a drinking vessel not properly washed, or from a door-handle, handrail, supermarket trolley etc could it not?

[Hypognosis]

I think sweat and vomit count as body fluids?

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/ebola-terror-gatwick-passenger-collapses-3977051

I feel sorry for all the cleaning staff (who get paid peanuts in our wonderful society) and for the likes of coroners who have to conduct autopsies without a single splash reaching unprotected skin. (full NBC suits for this job, I suppose).

[Sqad]

Hypo......exactly......and so does semen.

[slaney]

The reason our borders have not been closed is because the risk is low.

This is because, as has been said, it is not infectious in the incubation period,and it is spread by direct contact with body fluids and not (like influenza) by aerosol spray.

Although the mortality is 90%, and there is no specific treatment, supportive treatment saves lives. In fact Médecins Sans Frontières said a few days ago that 70% of the patients treated in their isolation wards since March had survived.

http://i100.independent.co.uk/article/six-reasons-why-its-not-time-to-panic-about-ebola-in-the-uk--gJ1JZEFmGg

[Hypognosis]

@sqad

Last thing I read said that even where patient survives, they are still infective for up to two weeks afterwards, by all the same routes. After time away frim the spouse, what's going to be uppermost in their mind once they're released from a no-contact isolation ward??

[slaney]

*untreated mortality is 90%*

[Sqad]

Hypo....there is some doubt, indeed opposing views as to whether Ebola is contagious in the incubation period. Let us assume that it isn't, the initial symptoms of Ebola may be slight or no specific, making diagnosis difficult unless one is alert to the danger.

On another thread in News during a debate in News, I did mention the scenario of the European businessman, going back to his his hotel in Nigeria and hiring a prostitute for a relaxing evening, that prostitute carrying the Ebola virus. However it seemed it was unworthy of comment.

However i agree that the chances are so low that closing borders would be an unnecessary kneejerk reaction.

[sandyRoe]

With AIDS so prevalent in sub-Sahara Africa would a businessman with any sense hire that kind of entertainment there?

[Hypognosis]

Well, if the businessman was a regular blood donor then he would firstly try to get someone else to go abroad in their place. Someone who doesn't mind about the 1 year ban on donation just for visiting that continent.
Secondly, if fully clued-up about AIDS and its prevalence across both sexes throughout Africa, the last thing they'll dare to try is prostitute roulette.

[Sqad]

sandy/Hypo.

I agree with your comments, but if you have seen the bars of 5 * hotels, not only in Africa, but other parts of the world, then one sees a plentiful supply of "clients" happy to supply the demands of the ........businessmen.

My point is a medical one and not a moral issue.

[Sqad]

LOL...a confusing post by sqad.

" a plentiful supply of prostitutes to quench the thirst of eager takers."

[slaney]

Not unworthy of comment Sqad, just very unlikely :)
Ebola is mostly confined to rural areas with no 5* hotels.
As we discussed the prostitute would not be just incubating Ebola, but actually be suffering from the disease.
Even if a case were to come back to the UK, it would likely be contained very quickly.

[Sqad]

slaney.......;-)

\\\Ebola is mostly confined to rural areas with no 5* hotels.\\

I have been led to believe, that the interesting point about this "outbreak" is that it cases have migrated to the cities.

Women travel from the rural areas to the cities to "ply their trade."

I agree with your comments.....but the chance.....the off chance is still there and if there is one infection in which chances should not be taken........it is Ebola.

[Hypognosis]

Post links in haste; repent at leisure…

//At around 11pm on Sunday, the Department of Health said that tests for the deadly Ebola virus on the woman who died at Gatwick had proved negative.//

Which might explain why there has been not a whisper of this on the Beeb. Either that or they're under strict instructions not to frighten the horses?

p.s. Latter stages feature bleeding from eyes, nose, ears and, presumably all other orifices as well. This unfortunate woman was not bleeding and symptomless during the flight. Sweating, vomiting and sudden collapse. What might that have been?

[Sqad]

Hypo....I can't say from the details........it may well have been nothing to do with an infection......coronary thrombosis, subarachnoid hge, an acute abdominal episode.............take your pick.

[Canary42]

So it's knee-jerks vs ostriches. I hope the ostriches are right.

[ummmm]

Sqad....why do you, at 80 years old, make everything about sex?