EBOLA, Are we all "DOOMED"? Options

[TallDarkAndHands...]

So the world is facing a new threat.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/12/opinion/...ebola.html?_r=0

What would you do in a scenario where a worldwide pandemic was airborne?

Would you:

1) Carry on as normal
2) Go to the Supermarket and Chemist and "hunker down" for as long as possible
3) Become all of a sudden religious

All I know is that the human race is a plague on this planet. We are an infestation that is out of control. Mother nature has a way of dealing with such problems.......

[On the edge]

Read and digest the last book of the Bible.

[TallDarkAndHands...]

Read and digest the last book of the Bible.

Amazing how so many people that treat people with EBOLA get infected when the only way to catch it is from bodily fluids....
Anyone would think it's more transmissible than we previously thought.

[On the edge]

That may well be true, but even with the rigorous barrier nursing there seems to be a chance of infection. As had happened in Spain, now in US. I'd suggest that if these outbreaks increase and if the rate of infection grows, we'll have quite a problem.

Now, and here's something that might not be liked by many. Bodily fluids can mean spittle....we are likely to have a problem round here with the filthy populace leaving empty drink cans and bottles where they like! To say nothing of the gum and fab butts gobbed out even along the Main Street....

[The Hatter]

Even if we only have a small number of people who get this because the special nursing takes so many trained people it will put a lot of pressure on the health service. That's not going to help their budget!

[Simon Kirby]

Even if we only have a small number of people who get this because the special nursing takes so many trained people it will put a lot of pressure on the health service. That's not going to help their budget!

Rather than involving ourselves in a civil war in the middle east we could send 100,000 troops to West Africa to get Ebola under control.

[Turin Machine]

Rather than involving ourselves in a civil war in the middle east we could send 100,000 troops to West Africa to get Ebola under control.

Could do, could do, except ebola isn't going to end up over here cutting peoples heads off with a carving knife.

[Simon Kirby]

Could do, could do, except ebola isn't going to end up over here cutting peoples heads off with a carving knife.

That's really rather the point - it is. Involving ourselves in the civil wars of Iraq and Afghanistan has done precious little to promote either peace in the region or our national interests, but helping contain Ebola before it gets here (and everywhere else for that matter) makes sound humanitarian sense and serve the country well.

[blackdog]

Could do, could do, except ebola isn't going to end up over here cutting peoples heads off with a carving knife.

Odds are that Ebola will end up over here and will kill more Brits than IS.

If it is not stopped soon it will spread, the longer it takes to stop the more it will kill, the wider it will spread. It really is a major threat of far greater proportion than any in the Middle East.

[motormad]

Ultimately we as people cannot do anything about it.
Disease has been around for centuries.
It's bad.. Yes.. I don't think we are at a critical situation where we in the Western World need to worry.
You can worry of course.. but it won't do anyone any good.

Do what we can to contain it, but that is not for us as regular citizens in the UK to worry about.

[blackdog]

Ultimately we as people cannot do anything about it.
Disease has been around for centuries.
It's bad.. Yes.. I don't think we are at a critical situation where we in the Western World need to worry.
You can worry of course.. but it won't do anyone any good.

Ebola has a mortality rate of 50% or more - it's a very nasty virus.

It spreads through human contact - it has already taken hold in 3 countries. Unless something is done it will spread further, it is already overwhelming medical facilities in Africa and the victims are only counted in the thousands so far - doubling every month. If this isn't a 'critical situation' I don't know what is.

If it can't be stopped at source it won't be long before there are millions infected. It will arrive in the UK before long.

Sticking our heads in the sand won't stop it.

[Washwaterman]

Ebola has a mortality rate of 50% or more - it's a very nasty virus.

It spreads through human contact - it has already taken hold in 3 countries. Unless something is done it will spread further, it is already overwhelming medical facilities in Africa and the victims are only counted in the thousands so far - doubling every month. If this isn't a 'critical situation' I don't know what is.

If it can't be stopped at source it won't be long before there are millions infected. It will arrive in the UK before long.

Sticking our heads in the sand won't stop it.

Over 7 Billion people in the world and so far only 4000 have died, not bad odds

[Simon Kirby]

Over 7 Billion people in the world and so far only 4000 have died, not bad odds

Every month twice as many die as the previous month. By this time next year there could be 16 Million dead, 18 months from now it would have infected virtually everyone on the planet. That assumes the transmission rate doesn't change, but as soon as the number of infected gets into the thousands all meaningful society breaks down so transmission is likely to increase and Ebola isn't the only problem, simply finding food and water becomes a challenge. The Black Death was a similar disease with similar simptoms, and half the population of Europe died in the four years it lasted.

it would be better to get it under control while that's still possible.

[Andy Capp]

How to avoid catching Ebola - Prevention includes avoiding direct contact with those infected and health officials following decontamination procedures

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/...-catching-ebola

[JeffG]

Over 7 Billion people in the world and so far only 4000 have died, not bad odds

That is such a misuse of statistics that I despair at your attitude. Presumably according to you we don't need to do anything until our next door neighbour is affected.

[Turin Machine]

How to avoid catching Ebola - Prevention includes avoiding direct contact with those infected and health officials following decontamination procedures

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/...-catching-ebola

So, stay away from pools of bodily fluids and refrain from eating raw bushmeat, think I can manage that.

[Washwaterman]

That is such a misuse of statistics that I despair at your attitude. Presumably according to you we don't need to do anything until our next door neighbour is affected.

Still waiting to be struck down by Bird flu and swine flu.

[JeffG]

Still waiting to be struck down by Bird flu and swine flu.

Meanwhile, countless thousands could be struck down in Africa and beyond, but that doesn't affect you, so no problem.

[Turin Machine]

Still waiting to be struck down by Bird flu and swine flu.

Don't forget SARS.

[spartacus]

If it was as simple as just avoiding eating dead chimpanzees and making sure you aren't eating off a plate that's just been licked clean by a Ebola carrier then everything would be hunky-dory. However this is a VISM (Very Important Subject Matter) and as such the world's press are rushing out there like a herd of manic Kate Adie's. They're doing a pretty good job of making sure it's spread to all four corners of the planet as rapidly as possible.

Once they've trampled through some fly-blown African backwater in search of a new angle for their copy, they jump on a plane back to civilisation.... and guess what? Journalists think they're invincible and so health protocols don't apply to them.

Even those who have been found to be potentially infected since coming back to the US (because their interpretors or local camera crews are now infected) have been found going out to their local Pizza Hut instead of staying indoors under strict quarantine containment.

NBC Chief Medical Editor issues a 'sincere apology'

Still, if it spreads to the US at least she's apologised right? I imagine the same thing is being repeated at news desks across the UK and via other world travellers...

If it becomes rampant in UK lets hope for a bitter cold winter and we could try and quarantine the virus to old folks care homes , thus getting rid of some of the old and unstable as well.