Ebola outbreak in Guinea an ‘unprecedented epidemic’

[Katashi_itto]

1. Senegal has closed border crossings to Guinea “until further notice”.
2. The Ebola incubation period can be as short as 2 days or as long as 21 days.
3. Even if a person exhibits no signs or symptoms of Ebola, he or she can still spread the virus during the Ebola incubation period. Once Ebola virus symptoms begin, the person can remain contagious for about three more weeks.

Aid organisation Doctors Without Borders said Monday an Ebola outbreak suspected of killing at least 78 people in Guinea was an “unprecedented epidemic” that had spread across the west African nation.

“We are facing an epidemic of a magnitude never before seen in terms of the distribution of cases in the country: Gueckedou, Macenta, Kissidougou, Nzerekore, and now Conakry,” Mariano Lugli, the organisation’s coordinator in the Guinean capital, said in a statement.

The group known by its initials in French MSF said by the end of the week it would have around 60 international field workers with experience in working on haemorrhagic fever divided between Conakry and the south-east of the country.

Its team includes doctors, nurses, epidemiologists, water and sanitation experts as well as anthropologists.

“MSF has intervened in almost all reported Ebola outbreaks in recent years, but they were much more geographically contained and involved more remote locations,” Lugli said.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/03/31/ebola-outbreak-in-guinea-an-unprecedented-epidemic/

[Katashi_itto]

1. k

[siligut]

2. Last I read the WHO hadn't limited air travel out of Guinea and there is a suspected case in Canada

Incubation period of 2-21 days, up to 90% death rate? Close the damn borders.

[Katashi_itto]

3. All you need is Rabies in the mix, and you would have the movie "28 Days Later"

[siligut]

7. You made me laugh, but its true

Ebola is spread through body fluids. I just wish that containment would become a priority.

[Katashi_itto]

9. Yeah,it really is a concern

[laundry_queen]

4. That guy in Canada tested negative.

They don't say, though, what it is he had that made him so sick. If I was wearing this: I might be a little suspicious.

I agree, they are being way too relaxed about this. The more infections there are in humans, the more likely Ebola is to mutate to an airborne form and THEN we will have big problems.

[Katashi_itto]

5. I agree

[siligut]

8. If they don't close the airports, it IS airborne

Kidding, I know and agree, the more cases, the greater chance of mutation. The DOD has two vaccines that have been tested on, ironically, guinea pigs and they are 100% successful in preventing the disease. If I were a careworker in Guinea, I would willingly human test the vaccine for them. I know one of the companies has been in talks with the Guinea government. It is a horrible disease, a horrible way to die.

[Avalux]

6. It's highly improbable Ebola could become a pandemic.

Humans are infected either by handling of dead or alive infected animals, or by being in direct close contact with someone who is sick with or has already died from Ebola. It is not an airborne illness - it's very difficult to catch.

Also - the fact that it's so lethal and deadly works against it spreading worldwide. Most people are debilitated by day 2 or 3 of being infected, and die within a week (despite the reported 21 day incubation period). This keeps it confined to specific areas of Africa.

It's certainly a horrific illness, but not something we need to worry about.