EBOLA VIRUS SPREADS IN EASTERN CONGO

[xchrom]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AF_CONGO_EBOLA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-09-09-12-17-37

GOMA, Congo (AP) -- Officials in eastern Congo say the Ebola epidemic has spread to a second center after a woman was contaminated during the funeral of a victim of the disease and travelled back to her home. The health officials say 15 people have died since the beginning of the epidemic.

Congolese authorities are warning the population of the risks linked to the washing and displaying of dead bodies, a tradition that is widespread in Africa. The practice facilitates the spread of the deadly hemorrhagic fever. Around 170 people are currently under surveillance after they came into contact with infected patients.

Ebola was first discovered in Congo in 1976 and has no cure. The disease causes severe internal bleeding and is fatal in 40 percent to 90 percent of cases.

[Smilo]

1. This is such an awful virus......

but I doubt anything will really be done until it strikes the western hemisphere.

[xchrom]

2. the u.s. DoD and private companies were working on a vaccine.

they've stopped for now -- money was the sited reason.

[Odin2005]

3. Also because Ebola Reston scared the shit out of everyone, IRRC.

[pinto]

5. Ebola-Reston has not been known to cause hemorrhagic fever in humans.

Some exposed individuals develop antibodies, yet no documented disease or death has been attributed to the Reston strain.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/spb/mnpages/dispages/ebola/ebolatable.htm

[PADemD]

4. Already has

The Hot Zone, by Richard Preston

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0385479565/ref=aw_d_detail?pd=1

[pinto]

6. From my understanding of the epidemiology, Ebola is tragically a self-limiting disease.

i.e. The rate (%) of lethality and the short time frame from infection, disease onset to death essentially limits its spread.
Looks as though prevention efforts are focused locally, based on close contact among family, care givers and health care workers. I assume there are evolving guidelines in regards to contact with other primates who represent a significant local source of infection.

Here's a run down from the CDC -

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/spb/mnpages/dispages/ebola/ebolatable.htm

[xchrom]

7. Indeed. The longer the out break the less virulent

It becomes.

But that's also why we hope it never has an outbreak in a seriously populated area - where it could do real damage in a short time.