Author Topic: Likelihood of Ebola epidemic in US is very low (Harvard Health Letter)  (Read 148 times)

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Offline agate

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Ebola is not as easily spread as is popularly believed. This article by the executive editor of Harvard Women's Health Watch explains about the Ebola virus and how to prevent its spread:

http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/despite-ebola-death-u-s-likelihood-epidemic-low-201410097476?utm_source=HEALTHbeat&utm_medium=email&utm_content=body2b&utm_campaign=HB100914&j=32763612&e=j-teller-11@alumni.uchicago.edu&l=16278673_HTML&u=405942783&mid=148797&jb=0
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Offline agate

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10 Ebola myths, discounted
« Reply #1 on: October 26, 2014, 11:32:07 am »
From the Berkeley Wellness Letter, October 26, 2014:

Quote
10 Ebola Myths, Discounted

The outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in West Africa and its more recent appearance here in the U.S. have spawned an abundance of myths about how the virus is spread and treated. (Among the crazier ones we’ve heard: If you kiss someone who’s died of Ebola you’re immune to it; special water can kill the virus; and the outbreak is a presidential plot to infect Americans.) Here is the straight scoop on 10 myths about Ebola virus.

Myth: It's easy to catch on a plane

Fact: It’s possible but highly unlikely. The virus is transmitted through the body fluids of infected people—blood, urine, feces, vomit, and, to a lesser extent, saliva. If a person with Ebola were next to you on a plane and sneezed on you, and one of those airborne particles landed in your eyes, mouth, or on broken skin, it could cause infection. But this scenario is very unlikely. People with Ebola aren’t contagious until they become symptomatic, and someone with serious symptoms of Ebola would probably be too sick to be on a plane.

Myth: U.S. hospitals aren’t well-equipped

Fact: Many U.S. hospitals are equipped to handle Ebola, meaning they have the necessary protective clothing on hand—including masks, gloves, gowns, and eye protection—to keep hospital workers from getting infected when they treat Ebola patients. The problem isn’t the lack of equipment, but the fact that few hospitals have provided adequate training to their employees on how to properly use it. Hospitals are acting quickly to change that, though, which should reduce the risk of infection for their workers.

Myth: Ebola can be spread via a mosquito bite


Fact: Not so, although there are other reasons to avoid mosquitos, like the risk of West Nile virus. Like HIV, Ebola can only be transmitted between mammals.
 
Myth: You can get Ebola from drinking water

Fact: Ebola isn’t a water-borne disease. If there were significant fecal or blood contamination of the water supply (which is thankfully not a concern in the U.S.), in theory it would be possible, though still highly unlikely.

Myth: You can get Ebola just by touching someone

Fact: No. You would have to touch their bodily secretions, feces, or blood and then touch your eyes, mouth, or nose. Shaking hands won’t do it.

Myth: Ebola can be transmitted only between humans

Fact: The initial cause of human outbreaks is actually other mammals. Bats carry the virus, but it doesn’t make them sick. Many primates can become infected from bats; they get sick like humans. Humans can get infected from bats or other primates (by touching them, eating their meat, or coming into contact with their blood). Sick humans then transmit the virus to other humans by contact with their blood, feces, or other bodily fluids. It’s not surprising, then, that most human transmission is from patient to health care worker. 
 
Myth: Ebola is a death sentence

Fact: No, but mortality rates are high. There are three Ebola viruses that can infect humans, and their mortality rates differ. Ebola Zaire, the strain causing the current outbreak, has a mortality rate of about 30 percent if there’s optimal medical care. The death rate from the current outbreak has been higher than that, about 50 percent, because of limited access to proper medical care in the West African countries where the outbreak is centered.
 
Myth: The U.S. is at high risk for an Ebola epidemic


Fact: Most unlikely. We know how the virus is transmitted, many hospitals will be capable of caring for Ebola patients, and we have the ability to identify exposed people and ensure that they take the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. Remember, family members of the only person who died from Ebola in the U.S. lived with him before and while he was ill. They were removed from quarantine after 21 days without any evidence of infection.

Myth: You can buy effective treatments for Ebola online

Fact: You can’t buy effective treatment anywhere. Antibody therapy (serum taken from people who have survived Ebola) is believed to be the most effective treatment, and it’s available only in hospitals.
   
Myth: The U.S. shouldn't get involved in the African Ebola crisis

Fact: We and other wealthy nations have a moral obligation to help people in West Africa. Plus, for our own sake we need to help control the epidemic where it’s centered to prevent its spread to many other countries. To date the U.S. has provided money, infrastructure assistance, on-the-ground expertise from the CDC, and military assistance. Other countries, including Cuba, have sent physicians.]10 Ebola Myths, Discounted

The outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in West Africa and its more recent appearance here in the U.S. have spawned an abundance of myths about how the virus is spread and treated. (Among the crazier ones we’ve heard: If you kiss someone who’s died of Ebola you’re immune to it; special water can kill the virus; and the outbreak is a presidential plot to infect Americans.) Here is the straight scoop on 10 myths about Ebola virus.

Myth: It's easy to catch on a plane

Fact: It’s possible but highly unlikely. The virus is transmitted through the body fluids of infected people—blood, urine, feces, vomit, and, to a lesser extent, saliva. If a person with Ebola were next to you on a plane and sneezed on you, and one of those airborne particles landed in your eyes, mouth, or on broken skin, it could cause infection. But this scenario is very unlikely. People with Ebola aren’t contagious until they become symptomatic, and someone with serious symptoms of Ebola would probably be too sick to be on a plane.

Myth: U.S. hospitals aren’t well-equipped

Fact: Many U.S. hospitals are equipped to handle Ebola, meaning they have the necessary protective clothing on hand—including masks, gloves, gowns, and eye protection—to keep hospital workers from getting infected when they treat Ebola patients. The problem isn’t the lack of equipment, but the fact that few hospitals have provided adequate training to their employees on how to properly use it. Hospitals are acting quickly to change that, though, which should reduce the risk of infection for their workers.

Myth: Ebola can be spread via a mosquito bite


Fact: Not so, although there are other reasons to avoid mosquitos, like the risk of West Nile virus. Like HIV, Ebola can only be transmitted between mammals.
 
Myth: You can get Ebola from drinking water

Fact: Ebola isn’t a water-borne disease. If there were significant fecal or blood contamination of the water supply (which is thankfully not a concern in the U.S.), in theory it would be possible, though still highly unlikely.

Myth: You can get Ebola just by touching someone

Fact: No. You would have to touch their bodily secretions, feces, or blood and then touch your eyes, mouth, or nose. Shaking hands won’t do it.

Myth: Ebola can be transmitted only between humans

Fact: The initial cause of human outbreaks is actually other mammals. Bats carry the virus, but it doesn’t make them sick. Many primates can become infected from bats; they get sick like humans. Humans can get infected from bats or other primates (by touching them, eating their meat, or coming into contact with their blood). Sick humans then transmit the virus to other humans by contact with their blood, feces, or other bodily fluids. It’s not surprising, then, that most human transmission is from patient to health care worker. 
 
Myth: Ebola is a death sentence

Fact: No, but mortality rates are high. There are three Ebola viruses that can infect humans, and their mortality rates differ. Ebola Zaire, the strain causing the current outbreak, has a mortality rate of about 30 percent if there’s optimal medical care. The death rate from the current outbreak has been higher than that, about 50 percent, because of limited access to proper medical care in the West African countries where the outbreak is centered.
 
Myth: The U.S. is at high risk for an Ebola epidemic


Fact: Most unlikely. We know how the virus is transmitted, many hospitals will be capable of caring for Ebola patients, and we have the ability to identify exposed people and ensure that they take the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. Remember, family members of the only person who died from Ebola in the U.S. lived with him before and while he was ill. They were removed from quarantine after 21 days without any evidence of infection.

Myth: You can buy effective treatments for Ebola online

Fact: You can’t buy effective treatment anywhere. Antibody therapy (serum taken from people who have survived Ebola) is believed to be the most effective treatment, and it’s available only in hospitals.
   
Myth: The U.S. shouldn't get involved in the African Ebola crisis

Fact: We and other wealthy nations have a moral obligation to help people in West Africa. Plus, for our own sake we need to help control the epidemic where it’s centered to prevent its spread to many other countries. To date the U.S. has provided money, infrastructure assistance, on-the-ground expertise from the CDC, and military assistance. Other countries, including Cuba, have sent physicians.

The article can be seen here.
« Last Edit: October 30, 2014, 04:02:27 pm by agate »
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Offline agate

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Ebola: US patients do well
« Reply #2 on: October 30, 2014, 04:00:46 pm »
This article,
"Ebola: US Patients Do Well", gives much information. It is from MedPage Today, October 27, 2014.
MS Speaks--online for 17 years

SPMS, diagnosed 1980. Avonex 2001-2004. Copaxone 2007-2010. Glatopa (glatiramer acetate 40mg 3 times/week) since 12/16/20.