Ebola Coming to the U.S.

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Mr Nobody

Well-Known Member
Jul 9, 2008
3,306
9,050
Walsall, England
Even diseases want to survive, and so they change over time. Every time a flu returns it's a little bit different, and usually a little bit stronger.

The thing with the Ebola virus is, it usually kills the host or dies off before it can mutate (mortality rates vary between 50% and 90% - it did hit the magic 100% once, in Russia, but then it only infected one person). That's unlike 'flu viruses and most bacteria, which last and mutate because they're generally long-lived and (these days) non-fatal. The other thing with 'flu, etc, is that people take treatments but don't always complete the course, or don't renew a prescription (or continue taking the remedy) once they feel like they're over the worst. That way, enough of the pathogen survives to develop a resistance. Over time, it becomes immune to the treatments. It's not stronger, because there's always a trade. If anything, it's weaker. It's just that it's more of a bugger to shake should you get it.
The Ebola variant in the West African cases is already the worst one, what used to be called Ebola Zaire. As a rule of thumb, if a disease mutates into an airborne form (which takes time and a need plus opportunity on the part of the disease to do so, usually as a response to effective treatments like vaccines - and in the case of Ebola, there are none, and simply keeping the patient hydrated is not enough to 'force' a mutation), that new form will be less, not more, virulent. Since it is airborne, it will naturally make more people sick and more may even die, but the disease itself won't be as effective (the mortality rate may even halve).
In any case, Ebola Zaire hasn't mutated to become airborne in any of the previous outbreaks, of which there have been several, and Reston probably came about as a result of an escaped experiment (but was probably a distinct variant of the virus in the first place), so that could well mean that it can't, for whatever reason.
 

Kurben

The Fool on the Hill
Apr 12, 2014
9,682
65,192
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sweden
I personally think it was right to help. Africa dont have the possibilities to stop the disease anymore. They need help. The rest of the world can't just stand at the sidelines and watch people die and not even try to help. The Institutions that have the facilities and can be sure to isolate the disease and give proper care should do so. Not only in the US. It will also be a chance to learn more about the disease. Perhaps even find a cure or something that slows it down. Of course proper safety measures must be taken but many countries handles things that can, potentially, be very dangerous, like nuclear energy. It is a creepy disease but it doesn't spread through air but through contact. If the patient can be safely isolated i see no reason to be overly alarmed. What should alarm us is when patients are so poorly isolated that they can escape with no problems and so spread the disease to more people. (i read a story about one such incident in Africa)
 

skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
15,683
92,168
USA
Not afraid of catching the deadly strain from these poor people. They are being moved with maximum precautions; besides, it's not likely that we haven't had several variations of ebola (and pretty much every nasty bug you could dream of) here for decades, right at the CDC. IMHO, it's right to give these people a chance that they wouldn't have if left in the epicenter of the crisis.
 

Dana Jean

Dirty Pirate Hooker, The Return
Moderator
Apr 11, 2006
53,634
236,697
The High Seas
Not afraid of catching the deadly strain from these poor people. They are being moved with maximum precautions; besides, it's not likely that we haven't had several variations of ebola (and pretty much every nasty bug you could dream of) here for decades, right at the CDC. IMHO, it's right to give these people a chance that they wouldn't have if left in the epicenter of the crisis.
There are universities that have nasty strains of things. THis stuff is all around us. We need to learn from these people as well as give them the best treatment they deserve. It still scares me though. Because I'm a 'fraidy pants about most things.
 

FlakeNoir

Original Kiwi© SKMB®
Moderator
Apr 11, 2006
44,082
175,641
New Zealand
It makes me sad that a vaccine hasn't been developed and distributed throughout Africa... if the outbreak had have been in Europe/America/Asia/Australasia or some such place, it would have been.
Why is it okay to accept that this hasn't happened? I wish our leaders would put pressure on (and offer to pay, say half) to turn this around.

the_idea_that_some_lives_matter_less_is_the_root_of_all_that_is_wrong_with_the_world.jpg
 

AnnaMarie

Well-Known Member
Feb 16, 2012
7,068
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Other
Experimental Ebola treatment sparks who-you-know debate - Health - CBC News

There is so much in that article. And it makes me so angry.

First of all......two American's develop Ebola and an experimental medicine is flown in to them. The question asked is what about everyone else...why don't they get it.

Well, there is very little. There is not enough for everyone. So, give the best chance to Americans that contracted the disease by trying to help. Makes sense to me.

Also, it's experimental. People are hiding sick family members because they think the government and aide workers are causing the illness. And they are continuing their burial traditions which also spread the virus. So why give the few vials of experimental medicine to people they cannot follow up with?

~~~~

Second major problem....

I hate that Canada is still looked at as the irritating little brother of the US.

I don't know if the possible cure available from Canadians will work or not. That it sounds logical to me means nothing. But I do know it was Canadians that stopped SARS in it's tracks. And The Canadian drug has been used on humans, unlike the US one. It hasn't been used on Ebola, but it has been used safely on humans. This little brother is at least worth listening to.