It's been twelve days since Thomas Eric Duncan displayed Ebola symptoms.

[MohRokTah]

That's twelve days since he became infectious. That's 21 or 22 days since he was first exposed. He demonstrated symptoms 9 or 10 days after exposure.

Family members were living in close quarters with Duncan when he became infectious.

Odds are at least one would display symptoms by now or within just a few more days if any became infected.

So it's looking more and more like we may have this infection contained to one person. If not, we may have the infection completely contained through the quarantines of those exposed.

So tell me, why the hell is this being called an "Ebola Crisis" by the media???

[arcane1]

1. Nothing sells like fear. Nothing.

The network that says "nothing to worry about" won't get nearly the same ratings as the fear-mongers.

[trotsky]

9. Winner, winner, chicken dinner. n/t

[Avalux]

2. Because the media needs an audience, and the majority of that audience is stupid.

I hate to be so blunt, but it's the truth. It's almost like being in a different reality, watching cable news and listening to them. Some information is accurate and useful, but the majority of it isn't. Headlines like "Ebola in America" and leading the news hour with the story are just irresponsible, IMHO. But the people watching aren't able to discern whether or not the media's level of attention is warranted so they watch - and become hysterical.

[elleng]

3. Because that's what they do,

modern technology enables instantaneous communication, and many act as if because they 'can' do something, they 'should' do something, like 'it's a free country,' 'free speech.' Repugs take advantage of our freedoms freely to dumb the populace down, hand in hand with 'commerce.'

[NutmegYankee]

4. When you have only 3 hours of news and a 24 hour day, you get "re mer gawd" coverage.

Sensationalism is all the MSM have.

[seabeyond]

5. further. why are we not acknowledging that one person brought it in, and it appears

we... as in dallas and cdc and cops and medical field were able to contain.

the one persons contagious.

[MineralMan]

6. Let's hope none of the contacts contract Ebola.

Why is it called a crisis? Because crises attract readers and viewers. No other reason.

It's not a crisis. It's an incident. Fear-mongering and sensationalism are the stock in trade for the media.

It's working, too. Even on DU, we have our share of hand-wavers and folks running around in circles over this incident. This weekend was an eye-opener. Lots of panicky posts and surprisingly little actual information. It's not a good thing.

[MohRokTah]

7. Every day that goes by without a second infection is excellent.

We won't be completely out of the woods for another two weeks, but it's really looking like this has been completely contained even with additional patients and may only have the one infected individual.

[logosoco]

10. I agree that it is an incident, but perhaps one that shows we might not really

know what to do in the event of a real crisis.

I myself seem to go into the panic mode, then while i am there realizing I am being silly and swing back over to the "we need to keep a level head and learn about this and how to handle things like this". That won't sell any newspapers.

[MineralMan]

12. Looks to me like we did know what to do.

The contacts are being followed and checked for symptoms. That's how these things are handled. Since they aren't contagious until they develop symptoms, the action taken was taken in plenty of time. The only person who is contagious is in an isolation room in a hospital and all precautions are being taken.

Nobody else has symptoms, so nobody else is being exposed. This incident appears to be contained. Looks to me like the CDC was doing its job just fine in this case.

Now, if any of the people being watched develop symptoms, more tracing of contacts will be done, but the most likely to get the symptoms are already quarantined and won't be making those contacts. None have symptoms, so they can't infect anyone.

I fail to see where anything failed here. It looks like a textbook case of containment to me.

There will be other cases that come in on the airlines, I'm sure. I expect one in the Minneapolis St. Paul area soon. Our hospitals have already done drills to make sure they're ready. Any other case that appears here will be quickly contained.

[MohRokTah]

15. I believe we are fortunate that Ebola is difficult to transmit.

I don't think much can be done about a virus with a higher r naught factor that is airborne.

[MineralMan]

18. Well, yes. That is fortunate, but that is the reality of Ebola.

Containment measures, if implemented properly, will prevent a widespread outbreak. Fortunately, in the US, we're equipped to do that. There was a lot of uniformed panic about this at first, but if you looked closely at how it was handled, the containment process was handled neatly and efficiently.

The healthcare providers are another group that will have to be monitored, but if their protective measures are followed well, there shouldn't be any of them who get infected. It's just not a disease that is impossible to protect against.

Again, though, we are very likely to have a few more isolated cases pop up. The CDC is at the MSP airport here, meeting planes that may have people who have traveled from the affected area. There aren't many of them to meet, though. They have passenger manifests, courtesy of the airlines, too, and know the nationalities of every passenger.

If some person does develop it here, they will likely have been spotted and will be followed through the incubation period.

Frankly, I'm not particularly concerned.

Now, I'm heading out to get my flu shot. I'm 69, so I"m getting the quadruple dose one.

[MohRokTah]

20. Thanks for the reminder.

I need to get my flu shot, too.

[logosoco]

21. I don't know. Part of me is still skeptical.

Once the CDC got involved, yes, then things went like they should. I am thinking more of the before that happened. I don't understand how the hospital released him the first time he went.

As far as the airlines go, it seems like it should be they know when an airport is having natural disasters or just bad weather. Couldn't they have some precautions in place for when a person is coming from an area where there is a known contagious disease and check the passengers better? Maybe not the overkill that happened here when someone had a shoe bomb and then for years everyone had to take off their shoes (I don't fly, so I don't know if they still do), but something like that?

I know a lot of the problem with the spreading in Africa is because of lack of knowledge and resources. The panic side of me comes out because my son is in Tanzania. He is following precautions for malaria, and i know he understands "cleanliness". And that is on the other side of the continent, but every once in a while I get afraid, and I don't even watch TV!

[MohRokTah]

13. IF this was an airborne type of virus with an r 0 factor of 2, it would be bedlam.

Fortunately, Ebola just doesn't have the structure to become airborne.

The bigger concern with Ebola mutation is that it will become infectious while the infected person is asymptomatic.

[kestrel91316]

8. Dallas is not in the clear until 42 days pass from his hospital admission.

Until then, don't be celebrating.

[MohRokTah]

11. Incubation is 2-21 days.

That means, if nobody shows symptoms by October 19, nobody is going to.

[kestrel91316]

16. The area will not be considered free of Ebola until two full incubation periods have passed.

This is per CDC. They do not immediately drop their guard at 21 days. They go 42 out of an abundance of caution, which is sensible.

[MohRokTah]

17. Okay.

But for all intents and purposes, October 19 is the day.

[kestrel91316]

19. Not for anybody who is doing the watching and waiting. For the isolated folks, yes.

Although the calendar should have been reset for the 4 high risk contacts who spent 4 extra and unnecessary days in that filthy apartment. THEY should not be out of isolation until 3 weeks from last Friday (the 24th), since virus particles can remain infectious if protected by proteinaceous debris/dried bodily fluids for possibly up to 5 days.

That right there is one of those unknowns/variables that are why CDC doesn't turn its back for 42 days.

[MohRokTah]

22. Well, for the general public, it'll be time to give a sigh of relief.

And your timing is correct for those in isolation.

Every day is one day closer to this being a single isolated case.

[uppityperson]

14. Because fear sells media

[theHandpuppet]

23. Because ramping up the hysteria media butters their bread

Unfortunately, it works.