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I watched a documentary on Frontline this week. The doctors were covered head to toe in the hazmat suits. Covering their eyes, mouth, nose etc. The doctors are overwhelmed, and they believe that airborne transmission is possible.
If this disease didn't have the possibility of being transmitted through the air, why all the spacesuit-like precautions?
We don't do this with people who have TB. What other infectious disease that isn't KNOWN to transmit through the air, do doctors wear hazmat suits to care for patients?
Quote:
The current Ebola virus’s hyper-evolution is unprecedented; there has been more human-to-human transmission in the past four months than most likely occurred in the last 500 to 1,000 years. Each new infection represents trillions of throws of the genetic dice.
If certain mutations occurred, it would mean that just breathing would put one at risk of contracting Ebola. Infections could spread quickly to every part of the globe, as the H1N1 influenza virus did in 2009, after its birth in Mexico.
Dr Michael Osterholm of the University of Minnesota said virologists are privately concerned the deadly virus could mutate
Currently Ebola can only be transmitted through close contact with a victim's bodily fluids, including blood, vomit and sweat
Dr Osterholm warns if the virus develops it could be transmissible via air
But chair of the Health Protection Agency in the UK Professor David Heymann said it is 'impossible' for scientists to predict any mutation
He said not enough is known about genetics to know if the virus will be able to develop to attach to the receptors in the respiratory system
So far more than 2,000 people have died in the current outbreak
Oxford University scientists today revealed a map showing 15 countries and 22 million people are at risk
If Hep C, or AIDs, or the black death, or any other terrible disease had a mutation that made it easier to transmit it would be disastrous. Worrying that it is only a matter of time is disingenuous, and a sign of something wrong.
Three factors make such a potential biological threat more of an issue today, even with our modern medicine:
1. Poverty (which has always been around)
2. Population density (growing every year)
3. Modern transportation.
I watched a documentary on Frontline this week. The doctors were covered head to toe in the hazmat suits. Covering their eyes, mouth, nose etc. The doctors are overwhelmed, and they believe that airborne transmission is possible.
If this disease didn't have the possibility of being transmitted through the air, why all the spacesuit-like precautions?
We don't do this with people who have TB. What other infectious disease that isn't KNOWN to transmit through the air, do doctors wear hazmat suits to care for patients?
Many diseases never go mutate to become airborne, worrying about something that has not happened is not healthy. Best deal with the issue that already faces us and worry about what if's if they become a reality. In fact the Flu kills Millions every year, are you scared to death of catching the flu?
They don't think it can move by air but they are not certain that it can't..hence the precautions.
They have said it has mutated since first detected from last March although they don't know if it's a true mutation or another strain that entered the picture.
They don't think it can move by air but they are not certain that it can't..hence the precautions.
They have said it has mutated since first detected from last March although they don't know if it's a true mutation or another strain that entered the picture.
They did not say it was airborne just a different strain. They wear the protective gear because any exchange of bodily fluids can result in catching it. I admire anyone willing to do that for their fellow man, True Hero's, every one of them.
I don't know... it seems like just as it is... there is plenty to keep health authorities occupied with an Ebola that leaves Africa! Why all the concern over airborne transmission? If it looks like a duck... again, I don't know.. but maybe this Ebola isn't transmissible except by "direct contact" with bodily fluids but that "direct" thing needs to be defined. AIDS isn't transmissible except by "direct contact" with bodily fluids but I doubt that anyone reading this is terribly concerned about contracting AIDS!
What I know is that the PPE that is being deployed among the health care workers needs major improvement, pronto so that the affected countries can hold onto enough care workers to make a difference. I think that is a more practical outlet for the creative energies of Allied Health than culturing batches of unproven vaccines and treatments for testing!
I remember that shortly prior to the invasion of Iraq it was discovered that the PPE for the ground forces was not actually able to protect forces if actual bio-toxin was present in the air. ??? What we are witnessing is fraud on a massive scale as the PPE that has been in routine use for decades has mostly been a cosmetic enhancement.
That's kinda what I was thinking when I read that title.. "What is an inevitable possibility?"
And I can't read anymore of this thread because I just...can't...bring myself to do it..
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