Ebola

[Steve Dallas]

Originally Posted by Camaro_Corvette

Even if soap and water did kill the virus, how many people properly wash their hands in public places? I'm going to go out on a limb and say 1 in 10 actually wash their hands correctly. This saves nobody. They just grab bacteria and keep on spreading it.

Also, this has more to do with keeping the contaminants off of your skin entirely than washing it off after it's already had a chance to infect you. You would see the CDC protocols calling for soap and water rather than bleach/chlorine when doing decontamination after wearing protective gear. Note that they say "can" kill it. Not "will" kill it.

I'll repeat...there is not a 10-second rule for Ebola. Getting contaminants on your skin can cause you to contract Ebola. The longer it is on your skin, the more likely it is you will contract the virus. However, even a microsecond of contact CAN cause the virus to pass to you.

[45thAnniversary2SS]

Originally Posted by Camaro_Corvette

Even if soap and water did kill the virus, how many people properly wash their hands in public places? I'm going to go out on a limb and say 1 in 10 actually wash their hands correctly. This saves nobody. They just grab bacteria and keep on spreading it.

Well if people can't simply wash their hands then what else could possibly be done? Normally it's 1 in 10, but given the way people overreact in emergency situations I'd be willing to bet that stat goes up to about 5- 7 in 10. If this thing starts spreading Purell's stock price will quadruple.

[45thAnniversary2SS]

Originally Posted by Steve Dallas

Also, this has more to do with keeping the contaminants off of your skin entirely than washing it off after it's already had a chance to infect you. You would see the CDC protocols calling for soap and water rather than bleach/chlorine when doing decontamination after wearing protective gear. Note that they say "can" kill it. Not "will" kill it.

I'll repeat...there is not a 10-second rule for Ebola. Getting contaminants on your skin can cause you to contract Ebola. The longer it is on your skin, the more likely it is you will contract the virus. However, even a microsecond of contact CAN cause the virus to pass to you.

Point taken. CAN and WILL definitely big difference.

[Steve Dallas]

Originally Posted by 45thAnniversary2SS

Well if people can't simply wash their hands then what else could possibly be done? Normally it's 1 in 10, but given the way people overreact in emergency situations I'd be willing to bet that stat goes up to about 5- 7 in 10. If this thing starts spreading Purell's stock price will quadruple.

Again, the solution isn't washing your hands. The solution (as long as Ebola doesn't go airborne) is to not touch or have contact with those with Ebola. Any contact increases the risk that this virus will pass to another person. Look how easily it spread to the 2 hospital workers in Dallas, even though they THOUGHT they were following the proper procedures. The nurse, Nina Pham, was known for being meticulous in following those procedures.

[Scalded Dog]

I did some basic math: At the rates of spread cited by SOME sources (and there are wildly conflicting reports of how many have it, what its exponential spread rate, and so forth are... I sort of went "middle- of- the- road/ average" for this), if 1.4 million COULD be infected by January, that rate of spread, unchecked, would reach 11 billion people by May of next year.

Clearly, we don't have that many people on the planet, and, of course, there are a nearly infinite number of variables to factor in, that render this 11 billion figure essentially worthless... but it's something to think about.

I'm not an alarmist... I'm always the guy who rolls his eyes at news sensationalism, and who talks people down from panic or concern. However... Ebola is a thing we've never faced before. There does not seem to be any way to contain its geographical spread, especially not in our world of constant travel and mingling with others.

I WAS a proponent of a travel ban: However, at this point, I see it as pointless... too late. We can't stop ALL travel from those countries, so it seems pointless. Let's say you have a bucket of water... the bucket has ten holes in it, so all of the water runs out. But if you plug seven of the holes... well, all of the water still runs out. Even if you plug NINE of the holes, every drop of the water will still run out. Same with preventing this virus from spreading stateside: If we can't plug ALL of the holes, then it seems pointless. We can't track a person leaving Africa who travels to New Delhi, then to London then to Quebec... we can't even tell who is carrying the virus (but doesn't show symptoms), or stop those people from later spreading it to a LOT of other people. We don't even understand how to contain it by following "CDC protocol." We are up against something that NOBODY can contain.

AIDS was scary... but most people figured that if they did not engage in risky behavior (sexually and with drug use) that they were very unlikely to contract the disease. Ebola is different, and that's why it scares people: Anybody can get it.

IF the shit hits the fan here in the U.S., the usually- mocked Preppers will be king. Everybody will wish they'd prepped.

Only time will tell where this goes. We could develop a vaccine, we might figure out a way to contain it.

[xc_SS/RS]

Originally Posted by Steve Dallas

I'm all for nuking the city of Dallas right now. It's the only way to be sure.

Note: This has nothing to do with me being a bitter Seahawks fan!

Lol suuuuure.

This has me nervous but not freaking out nervous. I think they're taking it seriously but travel does need to be restricted to ensure it does not spread.

Also they are using bleach in such super high concentrations I'm pretty sure it kills everything in its path and then double taps what it just killed to be certain its dead.

[kalimus]

So to all the soap and water comments... do you really think the hospital employees treating the man with the initial case aren't washing their hands almost religiously?

[Steve Dallas]

On another note...you know what really scares me?

That somehow ISIS, Al Queada or some random lunatic will purposely infect themselves. Then at the point that they become sick, they start travelling on planes and purposefully infecting lots of people who would be difficult to track down.

[45thAnniversary2SS]

Originally Posted by Scalded Dog

I did some basic math: At the rates of spread cited by SOME sources (and there are wildly conflicting reports of how many have it, what its exponential spread rate, and so forth are... I sort of went "middle- of- the- road/ average" for this), if 1.4 million COULD be infected by January, that rate of spread, unchecked, would reach 11 billion people by May of next year.

Clearly, we don't have that many people on the planet, and, of course, there are a nearly infinite number of variables to factor in, that render this 11 billion figure essentially worthless... but it's something to think about.

I'm not an alarmist... I'm always the guy who rolls his eyes at news sensationalism, and who talks people down from panic or concern. However... Ebola is a thing we've never faced before. There does not seem to be any way to contain its geographical spread, especially not in our world of constant travel and mingling with others.

I WAS a proponent of a travel ban: However, at this point, I see it as pointless... too late. We can't stop ALL travel from those countries, so it seems pointless. Let's say you have a bucket of water... the bucket has ten holes in it, so all of the water runs out. But if you plug seven of the holes... well, all of the water still runs out. Even if you plug NINE of the holes, every drop of the water will still run out. Same with preventing this virus from spreading stateside: If we can't plug ALL of the holes, then it seems pointless. We can't track a person leaving Africa who travels to New Delhi, then to London then to Quebec... we can't even tell who is carrying the virus (but doesn't show symptoms), or stop those people from later spreading it to a LOT of other people. We don't even understand how to contain it by following "CDC protocol." We are up against something that NOBODY can contain.

AIDS was scary... but most people figured that if they did not engage in risky behavior (sexually and with drug use) that they were very unlikely to contract the disease. Ebola is different, and that's why it scares people: Anybody can get it.

IF the shit hits the fan here in the U.S., the usually- mocked Preppers will be king. Everybody will wish they'd prepped.

Only time will tell where this goes. We could develop a vaccine, we might figure out a way to contain it.

Pointless? Surely stopping some or most is better than not checking anymore just because a few have gotten through.

[Scalded Dog]

Originally Posted by 45thAnniversary2SS

Pointless? Surely stopping some or most is better than not checking anymore just because a few have gotten through.

Agreed... I should not have said "pointless." However, I AM pissed off that travel restrictions were not enacted earlier, on a global scale, as it seems it would have had a much better chance of containment.

At this point, travel restrictions will only delay the inevitable... and, yes, this could be a good thing... especially to those who are still alive if and WHEN a vaccine is available.

[RobertRS]

Originally Posted by Steve Dallas

On another note...you know what really scares me?

That somehow ISIS, Al Queada or some random lunatic will purposely infect themselves. Then at the point that they become sick, they start travelling on planes and purposefully infecting lots of people who would be difficult to track down.

Not far fetched at all considering how many are willing to die to kill Americans.

[45thAnniversary2SS]

Originally Posted by Scalded Dog

Agreed... I should not have said "pointless." However, I AM pissed off that travel restrictions were not enacted earlier, on a global scale, as it seems it would have had a much better chance of containment.

At this point, travel restrictions will only delay the inevitable... and, yes, this could be a good thing... especially to those who are still alive if and WHEN a vaccine is available.

I agree with that. Especially restricting travel from West Africa. I mean how many americans would that have been a burden on? Surely preventing the spread of the virus would far outweigh the inconvenience of a few travelling from Africa.

[90503]

Originally Posted by Steve Dallas

On another note...you know what really scares me?

That somehow ISIS, Al Queada or some random lunatic will purposely infect themselves. Then at the point that they become sick, they start travelling on planes and purposefully infecting lots of people who would be difficult to track down.

Something will need to be done with this air-travel business for sure....but it is only a matter of time before we see Ebola infected "boat-people" types from around the world trying to get into the U.S. via air travel or any means possible as a last resort for treatment and a cure...

[Steve Dallas]

Originally Posted by 45thAnniversary2SS

I agree with that. Especially restricting travel from West Africa. I mean how many americans would that have been a burden on? Surely preventing the spread of the virus would far outweigh the inconvenience of a few travelling from Africa.

I hope we stamp out the hotspot currently happening in Dallas. We'll know in a few weeks.

I do think that we need to look seriously at travel quarantines or outright bans to and from certain areas.