Ebola: the current situation, measures being taken, and reasons for Spain to be optimistic

[Janet]

... and so ...

another case in the US, this time one of the nurses who looked after the Liberian who died ... but this nurse was wearing full protective gear.

So what's going on? In Spain, OK, there aren't enough suits, they aren't proper ones, and they're too small anyway, so contamination was always going to be likely. But in the US? With proper hazmats??

Woss goin on??

[Perikles]

Woss goin on??

Perhaps they bought the suits from the guy who was selling landmine detection units

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

This is just getting worse all the time.  Do not have a good feeling about it.

[Guanche]

I think we assume (seems to be my word of the week!) that the USA is equipped to deal with anything at any time any where with the very best of modern equipment. I don't think this is true. Take away 'Hollywood' and what we're left with is no better than most other countries. They talk the talk but don't exactly walk the walk.

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

They have never ever had to fight a disease like this on home soil.  They probably naively believed it would all be fine.

[Marion]

I'm beginning to think we're in a parallel universe called 'The universe for sensible people' looking in to planet Earth in the 'Universe of fricken idiots'
I've just been watching the Spanish news report about the people being quarantined in the hospital where the infected nurse is. There seems to be about a dozen, made up of her husband, doctors, nurses, a cleaner and three hair dressers. Ok up to now. They all seem to be housed in the floor under the nurse and one other person who is showing signs of the infection (I think) still Ok.
The dozen or so under observation, as I understood the report, were filmed talking on mobile phones in the windows of the wards. Now here is the kicker.


The fucking windows were open and they were leaning out whilst talking on their mobiles. They were on the forth or fifth floor below them were shuttered windows belonging to other wards I assume.... with patients in I assume.  Anyone else see the problem in this? Or is it just me

Now if I've misunderstood the report and the people talking on phones whilst leaning out of open windows are not the ones under observation then I apologize. But I don't think I did missunderstand

They say it is actually quite difficult to catch Ebola. You need to be in direct contact with bodily fluids of a person with it. Prior to them showing symptoms, which can be up to 21 days, the person is not able to transmit the disease to others. ...so they say.....

[Janet]

but the evidence increasingly suggests that this is wrong, that it's far easier to catch than they are allowing us to understand. There are now two cases where hazmat suited (supposedly) nursing staff have caught the disease from infected patients ...

In my own opinion, I think they are basing their advice on previous outbreaks of ebola. I think that when they say they fear it could become airborne, they aren't allowing that there has already been a mutation since the last outbreak. Not to become airborne, but to become more contagious. And i think that that is why this outbreak is so much more virulent than previous ones.

[Marion]

but the evidence increasingly suggests that this is wrong, that it's far easier to catch than they are allowing us to understand. There are now two cases where hazmat suited (supposedly) nursing staff have caught the disease from infected patients ...

In my own opinion, I think they are basing their advice on previous outbreaks of ebola. I think that when they say they fear it could become airborne, they aren't allowing that there has already been a mutation since the last outbreak. Not to become airborne, but to become more contagious. And i think that that is why this outbreak is so much more virulent than previous ones.

I wouldn't doubt that they aren't telling us the full picture. But I think the two care workers who have caught it have done so by "usual" methods, such as when taking off their hazmat suits. I think I read that one of the care workers touched the face of one if the patients. There has to have been contact somewhere and if it wasn't unprotected touching of a patient then it must have been transfered via the unsuiting.

[Janet]

In Spain, I'd agree, but let's not underestimate the amount of pressure Teresa Romero was put under to find some way in which she was responsible for catching ebola, rather than it being the fault of the protective clothing, or the isolating facility (which was isolated with police tape and a no-entry sign, rather than hermetically sealed doors or the like ... ) ... it can't be allowed to be the authorities' fault, can it ...

but in the US? I think this is far more contagious, at least this time round, that anyone thinks, or is prepared to admit.

[Janet]

I have to say I am confused about the dog.  There is no - none/zip/nada/niks nie-  evidence that dogs can harbour or acquire or pass on ebola.  Why put the little guy down? 

Anyway RIP poor Excalibur.  Imagine if the poor nurse recovers and finds out they killed her poor dog.  Poor lady.

And, indeed, the dog belonging to the American nurse is being kept safe ...