West African Ebola Epidemic

[Ptarmigan]

Ebola Virus Disease Update - West Africa
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2014_08_22_ebola/en/

1427 people have died, while 2615 are known to be infected. This is the largest Ebola epidemic since its first discovery in 1976.

[Hurricaneman]

Ebola Virus Disease Update - West Africa
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2014_08_22_ebola/en/

1427 people have died, while 2615 are known to be infected. This is the largest Ebola epidemic since its first discovery in 1976.

and quite frankly its still spreading

[Kalrany]

It is.

Another good source of information is the CDC. There is an good editorial from the CDC director here with a transcript from the CDC press conference from Tuesday. The part that really struck me was this:

“Everything I’ve seen suggests over the next few weeks it’s likely to get worse. We’re likely to see significant increases in cases. Already we have widespread transmission in Liberia. In Sierra Leone, we are seeing strong signs that that will happen in the near future... In theory it’s not hard to stop Ebola. We know what to do... The challenge is not those efforts, it’s doing them consistently at the scale that we need... The window of opportunity really is closing. I could not possibly overstate the need for an urgent response.”

[vbhoutex]

This is a horrible tragedy. I am concerned if enough is being done to keep the spread from reaching the US and Europe. Also I thought I heard that they had run out of the "new" treatment that cured the 2 doctors so quickly. How long till more of that is available?

[Ptarmigan]

Ebola case in Dallas confirmed by CDC, first diagnosis in U.S.
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/metro/20 ... n-u.s..ece

First Ebola case to reach America. It is in Dallas.

[asd123]

Ebola case in Dallas confirmed by CDC, first diagnosis in U.S.
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/metro/20 ... n-u.s..ece

First Ebola case to reach America. It is in Dallas.

Great, this is just what we needed (sarcasm intended). He came from Liberia recently too I heard. Why do they let people come into the U.S. from countries with a major outbreak ongoing without quarantining them first?

[artist]

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/10/02/us ... tient.html

[Ptarmigan]

Health care worker at Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas tests positive for Ebola
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-ne ... -ebola.ece

A nurse who cared for Thomas Duncan has tested positive for Ebola. Not good.

[vbhoutex]

Even though they are saying she was infected due to lapses in the anati-infection protocols I can't help but be concerned that this may get much worse. No, I am not concerned that I could get it since I haven't been and probably won't ever be around someone who has it. It is just worrisome that we now have to wonder how bad these lapses were and how many people could be affected.

[Ptarmigan]

Another person tests positive for Ebola. Also, a health care worker at the same hospital where Thomas Duncan before he died.

3rd Dallas Ebola Patient Arrives At Emory Hospital In Atlanta
http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2014/10/15/3rd- ... -hospital/

[Ptarmigan]

MSF doctor, Craig Spencer tests positive for Ebola.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/23/health/ne ... index.html

[euro6208]

First thoughts when finding out Ebola reached New York City...

Oh Oh...

[tolakram]

Gee, I wonder if it's a good idea for health care workers coming back from Ebola zones to be quarantined?

[vbhoutex]

First thoughts when finding out Ebola reached New York City...

Oh Oh...

My thoughts exactly!! Do we know how long the virus lasts on any surfaces it may have been deposited on? That is my biggest fear concerning the spread of the disease. We "know" it isn't airborne. Just seems there are too many unknowns, at least for the general public. I think the government could alleviate a lot of fear by being even more open and transparent concerning this including automatic quarantine of anyone coming back from that area and especially the brave health care workers who have been on the front lines fighting this