Ebola virus

[Rover]

I think the US rushing Dr. Brantly home for treatment is due to the fact that he's one of the few medical doctors in the world with firsthand experience of fighting this virus. I think public outcry is misguided due to preconceived notions of what this virus can and cannot do. If I remember correctly, a single influenza season has killed more people than the Ebola virus had in its entire known existence.

It just seems scarier since we don't know it as well and is of an exotic origin. I would be more worried about another Spanish flu pandemic than an Ebola outbreak.

Further to your point, this is not an airborne virus and easier to contain. And, people with it aren't contagious until they are quite sick. It spreads in Africa where sick family members are being treated at home and family members are cleaning up after them, etc. It is HIGHLY contagious under the right circumstances, but doesn't spread like flu. Bring someone into one of the more advanced isolation wards in the world is not a big risk.

[gjl]

Worries about precedent setting are unfounded in my opinion. Everyone actually involved in this are highly trained professionals who understand what different diseases and different circumstances actually mean. Don't think that they are going to freely fly a theoretical future super virus into the country just because they flew Ebola in once. Similarly, they aren't going to start flying hundreds of Ebola cases in either.

Aren't the 2 people just flown in highly trained professionals? And they somehow got infected.

[David]

The conditions in third world countries in Africa and a secure facility in Atlanta are not remotely comparable, and neither is the choice between them going there to try to save lives and how carefully similar personal will approach handling them and the disease they are carrying.

[PennyQuilts]

Reportedly, the doctor in Atlanta is improving. I sure hope he recovers.

[kelroy55]

Reportedly, the doctor in Atlanta is improving. I sure hope he recovers.

He walked in on his own, with a little help, so that's encouraging.

[RadicalModerate]

He walked in on his own, with a little help, so that's encouraging.

I trust that no rogue or stray asteroids were involved in his treatment.
(no kidding, kelroy, read "The Hot Zone" it might alter your mindset on this sort of stuff. I know it altered mine.)
("Stay Away From Batcaves in IdiAminVille" . . . good advice.)

[silvergrove]

I trust that no rogue or stray asteroids were involved in his treatment.
(no kidding, kelroy, read "The Hot Zone" it might alter your mindset on this sort of stuff. I know it altered mine.)
("Stay Away From Batcaves in IdiAminVille" . . . good advice.)

Wat.

Anyways, we need stronger quarantine and better inspection of health care workers who have been working in affected regions. Apparently, suspected cases of Ebola has spread to outside regions like the Philippines and Morocco.

Although the virus is still not super contagious and mainly limited to bodily fluids, there still needs to be better surveillance of health care workers.

Update!

Looks like the Filipino cases are potential false positives. I commend the Filipino government for at least monitoring the situation: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/625689/...-checked-daily

[BBatesokc]

Its amazing all the Ebola hype I read all over the Internet that centers around unfounded fear that its going to be the next plague unleashed on America. These same people don't even bat an eye when the flu season returns every year and kills hundreds-thousands of Americans (depending on who's stats you want to believe)... what about Rhino Virus or even ulcers (not to mention heart disease and smoking related cancer).... Selective panic/paranoia is something we can all count on.

[KenRagsdale]

It's my understandingthe infected missionary was taken to a "Level 2" hospital in Atlanta, rather than one of the nine "Level 4" quarantine units the federal government has on stand-by for such occasions. This is a concern.

What causes more concern to me is the rapid dispersal of illegal immigrants from the southern border. Some are officially dispersed, others dispersed via their own migration.

Very few (if any) are tested for communicable diseases (TB, Smallpox, diptheria, etc.) prior to disperal. With public schools beginning classes shortly (today), these diseases could spread rapidly and create locally pandemic situations.

I know of no quantine period applied to these people.

[KenRagsdale]

It's my understandingthe infected missionary was taken to a "Level 2" hospital in Atlanta, rather than one of the nine "Level 4" quarantine units the federal government has on stand-by for such occasions. This is a concern.

What causes more concern to me is the rapid dispersal of illegal immigrants from the southern border. Some are officially dispersed, others dispersed via their own migration.

Very few (if any) are tested for communicable diseases (TB, Smallpox, diptheria, etc.) prior to disperal. With public schools beginning classes shortly (today), these diseases could spread rapidly and create locally pandemic situations.

I know of no quantine period applied to these people.

Leaked CBP Report Shows Entire World Exploiting Open US Border

[kelroy55]

Leaked CBP Report Shows Entire World Exploiting Open US Border

and Breibart is a site I trust..... not

[kelroy55]

It's my understandingthe infected missionary was taken to a "Level 2" hospital in Atlanta, rather than one of the nine "Level 4" quarantine units the federal government has on stand-by for such occasions. This is a concern.

What causes more concern to me is the rapid dispersal of illegal immigrants from the southern border. Some are officially dispersed, others dispersed via their own migration.

Very few (if any) are tested for communicable diseases (TB, Smallpox, diptheria, etc.) prior to disperal. With public schools beginning classes shortly (today), these diseases could spread rapidly and create locally pandemic situations.

I know of no quantine period applied to these people.

ATLANTA —

In a Pentagon briefing Friday morning, officials announced that the two American patients infected with Ebola will be coming to metro Atlanta. Officials say the victims, Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol, will pass through Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Cobb County. They did not announce an arrival time.

Emory University Hospital officials said they have been informed that there are plans to transfer patients with the Ebola virus infection to a special containment unit at their facility.

The hospital has a special isolation unit set up in collaboration with the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to treat patients with serious infectious diseases.

"It is physically separate from other patient areas and has unique equipment and infrastructure that provide an extraordinarily high level of clinical isolation," a spokesman said in a release.

The hospital said doctors, nurses and staff are trained in procedures to handle this type of patient.

The hospital is only one of four such facilities in the country.

[Chadanth]

Leaked CBP Report Shows Entire World Exploiting Open US Border

It doesn't actually break down where those people are apprehended, i.e., there's no indication that the Pakistanis are, for example, being picked up at the southern border, or the trend for that type of apprehension with any particular nationality.

[FritterGirl]

I think the US rushing Dr. Brantly home for treatment is due to the fact that he's one of the few medical doctors in the world with firsthand experience of fighting this virus. I think public outcry is misguided due to preconceived notions of what this virus can and cannot do. If I remember correctly, a single influenza season has killed more people than the Ebola virus had in its entire known existence.

It just seems scarier since we don't know it as well and is of an exotic origin. I would be more worried about another Spanish flu pandemic than an Ebola outbreak.

It likely sounds harsh, but really, what better opportunity to study this disease in the optimal conditions possible (not a remote field hospital) where the disease itself is hosted in one of the top experts of said disease? This may give physicians and infectious disease specialists the opportunity to look at treatment options in a way they cannot in a laboratory setting.

[PennyQuilts]

I'm starting to wonder if bringing them back had something to do with testing the experimental serum in more controlled conditions.

Reading about the possible ebola outbreak in NYC (at this point, they are saying it is unlikely that the latest patient has ebola and they are being cautious) freaks me out. I have already annoyed my kids by telling them that if ebola breaks out in NYC, they are to come straight home. I started to suggest they not bother if they've been exposed (you can thank me for the thought) but as a mother, I left that off since I felt it my duty to nag them and put their welfare above public safety.

[Mel]

Sort of on topic. TB is on the rise. We watched the Grandkids today while my DIL, an RN, spent the day in a orientation and received a TB vaccine at the end. It's getting scary out there.

[David]

I'm starting to wonder if bringing them back had something to do with testing the experimental serum in more controlled conditions.

Yeah, in hindsight I think it's pretty likely that's what was really going on.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[silvergrove]

I'm starting to wonder if bringing them back had something to do with testing the experimental serum in more controlled conditions.

Reading about the possible ebola outbreak in NYC (at this point, they are saying it is unlikely that the latest patient has ebola and they are being cautious) freaks me out. I have already annoyed my kids by telling them that if ebola breaks out in NYC, they are to come straight home. I started to suggest they not bother if they've been exposed (you can thank me for the thought) but as a mother, I left that off since I felt it my duty to nag them and put their welfare above public safety.

I believe the experimental serum is working well. Apparently the doctor was near death and told his caregivers he felt that he was dying. That accelerated the plan to go ahead and give him the thawed experimental serum (with his consent) and after an hour, his condition dramatically improved. This was how he was able to walk on his own two feet when he arrived in the US.

The experimental serum consists of three "humanized" monoclonal antibodies as noted here: Local Biotech Increasing Production of 'ZMapp' Ebola Drug | Times of San Diego

This combination seems very promising, as the monoclonal antibodies appear to block the virus post-infection. Another cool technique they're using is that these antibodies are produced in transgenic tobacco plants. The resulting antibodies are then extracted and purified from the plants. Although it's not approved for human use yet, the patients gave consent and the FDA gave the go-ahead for the experimental serum after promising results from primate studies earlier this year.

Usually monoclonals are produced from hybridomas which are chimeras of the antibody producing cell (B cell) and a myeloma (B cell cancer). The chimera cell have properties of both cells - it can produced the valuable monoclonal antibody with the "immortality" of the cancer cell. These hybridomas are usually grown in tissue culture where afterwards the monoclonal antibodies are extracted and purified. I'm not familiar with the transgenic tobacco plants but still very interesting nonetheless.

[PennyQuilts]

I wonder how long it takes to cook up a dose and if they have many already available.

[Plutonic Panda]

Global Pandemic Map - Business Insider

[Bullbear]

I'm starting to wonder if bringing them back had something to do with testing the experimental serum in more controlled conditions.

Ding Ding Ding.. Winner winner chicken dinner!.. Lab rats!

[BBatesokc]

Ding Ding Ding.. Winner winner chicken dinner!.. Lab rats!

If I'm infected with something with a mortality rate up to 90% - you are free to experiment with any serum you believe may help me!

[Bullbear]

If I'm infected with something with a mortality rate up to 90% - you are free to experiment with any serum you believe may help me!

Oh I totally agree 100%.. im not above being a lab rat. if it helps me and others I am completely fine with it.. but it doesn't change the fact that I am a lab rat.

[silvergrove]

If I'm infected with something with a mortality rate up to 90% - you are free to experiment with any serum you believe may help me!

Experimental procedures are tightly regulated in this country, which is necessary for scientific ethics and also to assuage public paranoia for science gone wild.

Recently, my PI wanted to do blood studies in the laboratory so he wanted to draw his own blood for a study. The institutional review board (IRB) informed him that he had to get a consent form. So he filled a consent form to where he, the donor, provides consent and understand the risks and use of said donated tissue to the investigator (him as well), for research.

Just a funny little anecdote.

[G.Walker]

Yes, Ebola is bad, but technically it only has a 55% mortality rate, and that's with most cases in rural Africa, and not receiving proper medical treatment. If an outbreak were to occur in the US, the mortality rate would drop significantly, I would say in the 30-40% range, so I am not worried.