- Ebola virus has been in the news quite a bit lately, and being the virus fan that I am, I can't let the opportunity pass. But instead of the usual stuff here are some good reasons not to worry too much about it.
- I wouldn't normally link to a Cosmo post, but since this one has a picture of flesh-eating beetles, I can't resist. Oh, and it is also the great story of an artist turned scientist/science educator.
48 comments:
Ebola is not a global threat yet and might not become one. The virus is affecting people in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone so there is a small chance of the disease traveling long distance. However, many doctors and workers helping people with the people with Ebola are at a high risk because they have contact with these patients. Some healthcare workers have died and shows now that these healthcare workers must take precaution. Also Ebola is not highly contagious and can only be spread from person to person through certain circumstances such as when a persons broken skin contacts body fluids of an infected person. I think that Ebola will spread but not far. From these articles I agree and think that this will not become a global issue.
The article about the Ebola virus was very interesting because even though the largest Ebola virus outbreak is currently in Africa, scientists are saying that it is not a global threat. I would think that it would be a global threat because it is spreading throughout Africa and it has killed many people. I thought that this virus was scary because they said that the virus kills 90% of people who are infected with it. Also, it also seems very scary because there is no cure or vaccine to help you if you are infected. Although catching the virus is very scary, the article says that it is unlikely and difficult to get the virus because it is hard for the virus to survive outside the body and it is only spread through direct contact with bodily fluids.
I thought that the second article was very impressive because an aspiring artist called Emily Graslie became a scientist and a famous star of her own Internet show by visiting a natural history museum. It is amazing to see someone use their talents towards making things better. Emily wanted to share her opinion of the value of communicating science to the public and the importance of having more female, with others. I think that by doing this she can inspire others to take interest in science.
The articles on the ebola virus were the ones I found the most interesting this week. The reason being the ebola virus is what Edgar Allen Poe modeled the red death after. For those who don't know the red death is a fictional disease used in the book The Masque of the Red Death. The disease is identified by profuse bleeding from the pores of the body. The book itself is a little gruesome and the virus is extremely exaggerated to the point where an infected person has mere hours to life after initial infection. However, the profuse blooding from the pores of the body led me to believe that the disease was modeled after ebola.
Ebola itself seems relatively difficult to catch as the explanation from the articles pointed out. As a result I wondered why the most recent outbreak in Africa has so many infected and dead. The article itself gave the reasoning that the local cultures were what caused the outbreak as well as local wariness of doctors, however at some point I would assume quarantine would have stopped the virus from spreading. Also while I understand the native people don't trust the doctors, a few soldiers would fix that. When it comes to dangerous diseases such as ebola, taking chances such as letting the natives prevent proper treatment is risky. Ebola isn't really dangerous because of its high mortality rate, because it can cause more danger as a result of the mass panic it can cause. As a result of people being misinformed the disease can cause mass hysteria which is much more dangerous that a high mortality rate. My reasoning for this is because as a whole people act irrationally when they are scared. They would most likely be like the natives of Africa who do not trust the doctors. Therefore, I find that the disease is most dangerous because of the hysteria it would cause rather than the mortality rate.
Article I: Nature.com’s African Ebola Virus
A major thing that struck me in this article was the lack of trust between the Africans and the Doctors that were simply trying to help them. There should be no real distrust between the two groups due to the fact that they have no reason to kill or harm anyone in the infected region of Africa. Imagine for a moment that everyone around you is dying for an unknown reason and some officials came to help you and your village from the epidemic, yet you wish to still stay to traditional standards and physically touch the decaying, dying, and infected bodies of those that were once around you, and shun the very people that could prevent your death; all due to a lack of knowledge and communication between that could eventually save ones that are still alive. A lack of knowledge between people has caused many conflicts in the past, but I do hope that now, in this day and age of advanced communication, more trust can be laid out between groups to secure, contain, and protect the people of the countries, and of a unified world.
Article II: “Why You Shouldn't Freak Out About Ebola Patients Coming to the U.S.”
I like this article mainly for the fact that it educates ignorant populous of the simple fact that the Ebola virus is not as contagious as other sicknesses such as the common cold or the flu that can be spread by merely being near an ill person that sneezed uncontrollably. This article provides well laid-out examples and reason why the Ebola virus will not be highly contagious in America from explaining about the virus in detail and providing information about the carrier that the infected shall arrive in America in. Additionally, a part of the article that I found quite amusing was the poorly worded article title at the end of the article; it shows how much three words can influence the public to think that the government is evil, or dumb dependent on your take, and wishes to infect everyone with the Ebola virus to the government trying to “rescue” infected individuals.
Article III: Cosmo Post
It’s quite amazing how much someone’s entire life goals can be changed just by an interest in a subject and people who support the change of pace of the original person. This “autobiography” was a great story of how a few people could help an art major becomes a science educator. It makes me happy to see that more people are taking a liking into becoming people of discovery and curiosity.
Although the current Ebola outbreak is considered the largest epidemic of the virus thus far, I agree that it should not be as large as of a concern as the media plays it to be. Malaria, diarrheal diseases and poisonous/venomous animals kill more people than Ebola individually every year. Ebola, as mentioned in the articles, is really hard to catch if you are not ignorant of proper health and hygiene regulations. Ebola is a virus that kills 50 to 90% of the people it infects and is most commonly found in fruit bats. The virus needs to be transmitted through bodily fluids, and is highly unlikely to spread through the air. In my opinion, the only factor that is worrying about Ebola is that there are no licensed vaccines for it as of yet. However, it is being caught so easily in West Africa because usually in rural areas, they lack the knowledge of about viruses. As the first article mentions, Africa has different sociocultural views which make it easier for the virus to spread. For example, some people in countries like Nigeria and Sierra Leone might embrace and mourn their dead and sick physically which will facilitate the spread of the virus. Another factor is that the locals refuse to let the WHO authorities and doctors to enter because the natives believe they bring disease. Most importantly, is that they lack Western medication and hospitals, and that is why it has killed almost 1000 people so far. However, we should not be overly concerned about it. The hospitals and regulations of health we have here in America stop the progression of the virus. People need not worry about bringing Ebola patients here because it is not airborne and the patients are heavily isolated and cared for. In addition, you can only spread the virus after you have symptoms. As long as we avoid exchanging of bodily fluids with people who obviously look sick, there will be no outbreak here.
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/
Well phew, it was such a relief seeing how slim the chances were of an outbreak of ebola in the US. It was genuinely scaring me seeing it all over the news in recent weeks. But seeing how hard it is for to spread (the virus has to find a way to get in through the skin) certainly calmed me down.
One thing that still puzzles me is why are they burying the victims of ebola? That not only increases the chances of spread with the people dealing with the dead body, but also allows the virus to spread in the ground. If there are crops nearby or a water source, the virus could spread to those areas and thus contaminate them. This highers the risk of a future epidemic if people eat/drink contaminated products or even if they go swimming in the water with an open wound.
The success of the recent treatment given to the patients infected is definitely an encouraging sign. In the near future, hopefully the African countries will receive it and thus slow down and eventually put and end to this.
Although Ebola is dangerous with a 56% fatality rate it is a huge relief that it is hard to catch because the bodily fluids of an infected person must be in contact with mucus membranes or broken skin. (http://www.nature.com/news/largest-ever-ebola-outbreak-is-not-a-global-threat-1.15640?WT.mc_id=TWT_NatureNews)
However the reason that this outbreak hasn't been controlled quickly before spreading as much as it did, was because the public does not trust medical officials and have not been taking proper medical precautions. Although this is the largest Ebola outbreak yet it is not a viable threat to the U.S. The media is amping up coverage and publicity to make money. Fear is an emotion and they can exploit it even unintentionally.
Also, I found the Cosmo post really interesting because I love art and science. Emily Graslie's story was inspirational because she found something she was passionate about and made a career out of it. I think thats awesome.
Ebola is clearly not something to worry about, especially because it can not be transmitted when there are not symptoms and can only spread through bodily fluids that enter the body. Not many people want to be near a sick person, let alone play with their bodily fluids. However, the people who will most likely suffer from Ebola are the villages in Africa who refuse health care. These people do not understand the disease, yet they think that they can remain safe from it and trained medical teams will spread it to them. Since it seems that they are contracting disease by handling dead bodies and taking care of infected persons without proper protection, I believe the epidemic will die down after most of the villagers contract the disease. One of the most important reasons why Ebola will not spread is because it does spread when no symptoms are apparent, unlike HIV. This means that infected people are not a threat until they start showing signs of sickness. Most likely these people will seek medical attention, allowing them to be quarantined before they can infect anyone. The villages who do not seek help will most likely die out and form a dead zone that can carefully be examined for any traces or variations of the disease. There is not much threat from dead animals either because if animals are disposed of properly, then the virus can die out on its own from not being able to survive in the air for more than two or three days. Therefore, it is most likely that this outbreak will die down after quarantines are established and the tribes that do not want medical realize that they need outside help.
After reading the two articles about the spreading of the Ebola virus, I was relieved to see that Ebola does not pose as big of a threat as we make it seem. Although there are no licensed drugs or vaccinations to treat this virus, it is not highly contagious since it is only spread through the direct contact of broken skin to the bodily fluids of an infected person. Also, because people who have Ebola do not affect others until they have symptoms, it easier to track down the people with Ebola and isolate them in order to prevent it from spreading further. It suddenly seems so simple to contain this virus, so why is the outbreak continuing throughout a few African countries? I found it interesting how local sociocultural factors affect the theoretically simple treatment of Ebola in countries such as Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. Controlling the spread of the virus in these areas has been made more difficult because of the lack of trust and cooperation between health workers and the villagers. Not everyone who has Ebola is seeking immediate care either because they fear medics will bring more disease. Even the traditional burial rituals of these villagers involve the mourners having direct contact with the body of the deceased, often someone who has died from Ebola. As a result of these factors, the virus spreads even more rapidly which still worries me since this is already the largest ever Ebola outbreak in recorded history.
The second article managed to ease any doubts though because it thoroughly explained how foreign Ebola patients were transported safely to America, diminishing the risk of spreading the virus here as well. By using our advanced technology such as the Aeromedical Biological Containment System which effectively isolates Ebola patient, we can help treat the patients while also preventing another outbreak. Even in the hospitals, the patients will be isolated in a unit with negative air pressure to prevent the virus from escaping the room and it would be rare for health care workers to become infected because of how the virus spreads only through bodily fluids. Although the situation in Africa continues to be a problem because its countries lack their own healthcare infrastructure and often resist our own attempts to help, I am sure that we will eventually be able to put an end to this outbreak through persistence and persuasion.
There has been a recent, record breaking ebola outbreak in Africa. The virus is affecting people in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. Although the disease is serious and has high mortality rates, the odds of us having an outbreak in the US is slim to none. Unlike the flu or cold, in order to become infected with the disease one must have direct contact with bodily fluids of an active infected person. It is a relief to know that here in the US with our healthcare system being so advanced and trusted we won't have to worry about being infected with the ebola virus. I was surprised to hear that people in Africa were choosing not to obtain care from healthcare professionals because they didn't trust them. If I was in their position I would seek any help I could get in order to save my life and the lives of those around me.
It is not a global pandemic and Even the Patients coming to the U.S. are not that big of a deal:
For months, the Ebola epidemic was a terrible problem isolated in Africa, but now that the two sick American healthcare workers have been airlifted to Atlanta for treatment, many fear that this will bring the disease to the US. It has also raised questions about whether hospitals, air traveling, and public exposure is safe.
Granted that Ebola is a deadly virus that appears to kill about 90% of the people it infects and so must be treated with respect, but this virus can only be acquired upon contact with blood or bodily fluids. In other words, it is easier to get sick with measles and other airborne diseases. The risk of getting infected with the Ebola virus is very low, probably the same chance as contracting HIV.
The Ebola virus only causes sporadic localized outbreaks that can usually be stamped out. The reason the outbreak is still continuing in West Africa is because of local sociocultural factors that are hampering the efforts of healthcare workers. Authorities need to win over public trust, persuade people to bury their dead safely, and continue to step up local and regional efforts to trace and isolate infected people and their contacts. In the US, now is the time to educate ourselves on prevention and healthcare measures.
It would be interesting to see if the experimental drug used on the two sick patients proves to be the long awaited solution to the virus.
I found the articles on Ebola to be very interesting. One July 20, an Ebola outbreak started in Lagos, Nigeria. It is thought to be started by a man who arrived on a flight from Liberia. This is the only case that was internationally exported by air travel. The disease has also spread to Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. The most interesting think I learned from reading this article is that this case is not a global threat. Disease Prevention and Control says that sharing public transportation with an infected person is not much of a threat. However, healthcare workers and doctors are at a higher risk. This surprised me because I thought most viruses such as Ebola would be easily transferred by public transportation. I learned that Ebola is hard to get in the first place. It's not like the common flu which can be transferred through the air. In order for a person to get it, an area of broken skin must be in contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person. The big reason this outbreak is hard to stop is because of the size of it, and sociocultural factors. People do not trust foreign doctors and healthcare workers. If we can get their trust, it would be easier to stop. Overall I was surprised by all this. It made me realize that viruses are all different. Some are hard to catch but deadly. Others are easy to catch but have cures. I am relieved to know that the chances of an outbreak in the United States is relatively low due to the modern hospitals and healthcare. In the end, I found this weeks articles very interesting. Once again, it brings new questions into my mind. Like what would happen if a more powerful virus arises in the future? What if there was a global outbreak? It's interesting to think how people would react in situations like this.
When I finished reading the article on Ebola, I became interested and typed “Ebola virus” in the search bar. I took a peek at the current articles and found that most expressed Ebola as a world threatening and health concerning disease. However, the other two assigned articles gave a fresh take on this and explained it in a way where it gave the readers a mental relief. Though the largest outbreak of Ebola is occurring now, even to the point of declaring an emergency, we don’t have to be in a panicked state.
I feel that the two main contributions of contaminating Ebola is having luck and practicing proper hygiene. As it says in the article, Ebola is contracted by direct contact of body fluids, and the spreading can only occur when the ill shows physical symptoms. If humans regularly practice good hygiene and are at the right place and time, surely, the risk of contracting Ebola will be less than .01% (besides the threatened African countries).
Actually, I was really impressed by how Ebola patients are being sent to America to be cured and how the actual procedure worked. Especially in places like Nigeria and Liberia, the population is just so over weighted and infected that the risk factor has become so high. By sending some families every year and having proper facilities and specialists, the ratio of sick patients may slowly decrease. And with the minimizing of the population, the spreading of Ebola will be less prone, thus restoring Africa to before the outbreak.
Ashana P
The first article about the Ebola virus was fascinating. I was shocked to realize that this Ebola breakout is the largest that ever occurred but yet it is not a global threat. Ebola has spread to Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, but the reason why the virus may be continuing to spread may have to do with many of the doctors and response teams getting infected with the virus. Another reason why many people are getting infected with the virus is because the people who are infected are not getting the treatment they need, therefore possibly spreading the virus to others. Another reason is because when families bury the dead they have a possibly to come in contact with the deceased, and they have a chance of catching the virus if the family member had Ebola. I also found it interesting that venomous animals cause 27 times as many deaths as the Ebola virus in 38 years. Considering how much the Ebola virus is spreading within Africa I’m surprised that a vaccine was not created yet, but I’m glad to hear that they are working on creating one. I think that precautions should be strictly enforced in the areas where this outbreak is occurring to stop the virus from infecting even more people.
In the second article it stated that Ebola could only spread through direct contact with bodily fluids. I thought that was interesting because that means that this virus is not airborne like others viruses can be. Like it says in the article Ebola is not contagious during its incubation period so you can only get sick from others who are sick. I thought that the containment system that was used in the plane to move the Ebola patients seemed extremely secure. This virus does not seem to spread easily, but this virus still has a possibility to spread to other countries and cause more people to get infected.
The third article discussed how people could change their careers and do something that they enjoy. The article talked about Emily Graslie and how she started volunteering at a Natural History Museum in Montana, even though she was studying art not science. Another interesting thing they mentioned in the article is the way that they separate the flesh from the bones because I never thought that they would use flesh eating beetles, it seems like an efficient way to separate the flesh from the bones. I also thought it was great how she is encouraging other females to become more involved in science.
The other day I was jogging on a treadmill at LA Fitness and I look up to the TV screen and I see the headline: "AMERICAN EBOLA VICTIM ARRIVES IN NEW YORK CITY". Recognizing the fact that New York City is pretty darn close to New Jersey, I was alarmed and I quietly grabbed a disinfecting wipe and fervently scrubbed the treadmill (like that was going to protect me from Ebola for good). However, learning that Ebola is not that contagious was quite reassuring. So, the rest of the world is relatively safe from the Ebola monster. That is spectacular. However, Africa is living through hell at this very moment! I understand that thousands of Africans are dieing mainly because of public distrust of foreign health programs and the lack of beneficial/approved vaccines. But, why is a virus that is apparently not that contagious, spreading like hellish wildfire in Africa? Ebola can only be spread through direct contact with bodily fluids such as stool, urine, blood, and saliva. Are the sanitary conditions absolutely horrendous there? It seems that people over there coming into contact with bodily fluids as easy as 123 ABC! Perhaps, the phrase "third world countries" sheds some light onto such puzzlement. This outrageous Ebola outbreak in Africa is absolutely devastating and disturbing. I wish to hear no more of such grim news. I wish for the outbreak to be quenched very soon.
I read about the two articles about the Ebola pandemic. The two articles explained thoroughly that although Ebola is a deadly virus that has no cure or vaccination, we should have nothing to fear as long as we be generally sanitary and quarantine Ebola victims. Since Ebola is passed through bodily fluids and open wound contact, it poses very little of a threat. The fact that only people that have active Ebola in them can transmit Ebola(no incubation stage) only increases the possibility of it not spreading. Even with the two people coming to the US as Ebola victims, it is still unlikely Ebola will spread as the transport and holding facility is completely quarantined and sterile. My personal opinion on this is that even though we have little to fear in the US of Ebola, the government should beef up Ebola containment facilities and doctors and scientists should continue to study Ebola in hopes of finding a vaccine or a cure to help less developed countries with undeveloped sanitation systems such as Africa. Overall, this article made me think that if we all work together, many lives can be saved.
I was relieved to learn that there is a small chance of Ebola becoming a global pandemic. The news in the past weeks have "frightened" me, especially since 2 Ebola patients came to Atlanta recently. Although the outbreak of Ebola in Africa is larger than any other outbreak in recorded history, consisting of 814 lab-confirmed infections and 456 deaths, I believe that it is not as big of a danger as the news and media portrays it to be. More people die from malaria, diarrheal diseases, and by snakes and other venomous animals. One main reason we shouldn't be so concerned about an Ebola epidemic is because Ebola is hard to catch as stated in the first article. With proper knowledge of the virus and hygiene I believe it would be relatively simple to avoid catching Ebola. Ebola is transferred by having the mucous membranes or an area of broken skin coming in contact with an infected persons bodily fluid (blood, urine, saliva, semen, stools, or materials contaminated with these fluids). However the outbreak is continuing in Africa because of lack of knowledge of the virus and sociocultural factors. For example, families continue to perform traditional burials, these burials involve mourners having direct contact with the dead bodies. The direct contact will increase the chance of catching Ebola. Overall, Ebola is a deadly virus however with the proper precautions, awareness, and hopefully drugs and vaccines in the future we can prevent catching it.
Ebola Epidemic
I am relieved to know that the chances of Ebola entering or gong through the United States are very low. Ebola does not survive long without a host which makes it to spread harder in countries with lower population and frequent contact. The U.S. has the proper equipment in healthcare facilities to decrease the chances of spreading Ebola if patients are brought here to be treated. They way the CDC is bringing in the infected Americans is very interesting because the airplane is so unique. Ebola does not transmit airborne so the people that will attempt to heal these patients will not have to wear a full protection suit. The reason for The spread in Africa is because it doesn't have a strong health infrastructure like us which allows Ebola to spread more effectively. I feel so thankful for the healthcare provided to me when I read things like this because I understand how lucky I am to be healthy.i feel a 56% kill rate is extremely high in today's advancement in technology and medicine. The number is high most likely because some countries cannot prevent viruses like Ebola. I think the first world countries should do more than that is being done for equal healthcare representation to reduce the amount of people dead from petty viruses. I know Ebola is not one of those.
This entire Ebola news flurry had me confused and scared due to lack of knowledge, but now that I know the chances of getting it in the US are extremely slim, I feel reassured. Ebola is not highly contagious, which came as a shock to me. It was painted to be a virus that was infecting people by jumping from one to the other, similar to a cold or flu. However, to catch Ebola, a person’s mucous membranes (areas of broken skin) must come into contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person, such as blood, urine, saliva, semen, stools, or materials contaminated with these fluids. Due to the fact that it doesn’t spread by coughing or sneezing, outbreaks of Ebola are sporadic, localized, and can be eliminated. The reason why these outbreaks can’t be stamped out though, is because locals aren’t trusting the doctors who come in to try to help them. Organizations such as WHO and Doctors Without Borders are struggling to control the spread of Ebola because the affected fear they will bring the disease. This lack of trust and cooperation described in the article is contributing to the largest outbreak in recorded history. However, the United States as well as other countries don’t need to worry due to the rare circumstances that need to occur to obtain the disease. The second article only proves this point further, as it describes how hard Ebola is to catch in the US due to our modern hospitals and healthcare systems. If we were a third world country instead of a first, like many countries in Africa, this could be a completely different story, but since we are a first world country, there is nothing to worry about.
Ebola has killed up to 90 percent of its victims and is currently wreaking havoc on and spreading through West African countries such as Nigeria, Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone. Two Americans sick with this disease are now returning back home, bringing the virus with them. Should we be worried?
Ebola is not highly contagious in that it only spreads through direct contact with an already-infected person’s blood or any other bodily fluids. This includes direct contact with materials contaminated with such fluids- such as unclean clothing, bed sheets, or medical equipment. It cannot be contracted through any way that does not involve direct exposure to an infected person’s bodily fluids, as it does not survive well outside of the body.
The ones who are most at risk are healthcare workers and Ebola patients’ family members- people who make direct contact with infected bodily fluids in order to care for their patients or loved ones. They have been advised by the World Health Organization to “take strict precautions” in order to lower their risk of contracting the virus from the sick who they stay in close proximity with.
* Another similar article concisely states that “the outbreak in West Africa is so severe for a number of key reasons, including a lack of resources, inadequate infection-control measures, and mistrust of health workers.” I think West Africans suffering through this outbreak are more exposed to the virus than they are actually educated about it. Necessary medical gear and equipment is not commonly available there and sanitary conditions are unimaginable. Distrust and resistance towards foreign healthcare workers among the West African public makes fighting the epidemic even more difficult.
I believe people do not need to obsess over these two individuals returning to America, who will be isolated in modern, specially equipped hospital units and treated by fully-trained and protected professionals. Their arrival will be entirely “controlled and contained,” the absolute opposite of the extreme circumstances in the Third World countries of West Africa. We should replace our panic with concern, empathy, and aid for those who actually are being affected by this virus.
* vox.com/cards/ebola-outbreak-2014/how-hard-is-it-to-catch-ebola
After hearing about Ebola on the news and reading about it on social media, i developed the opinion that ebola was very serious and became worried. However, after reading the two articles on the epidemic i was able to relax. Although the virus is very deadly killing up to 90% patients that are infected, what makes it less serious is its mode of transport. In order to catch the virus an individual must make direct contact to the stool or blood of an infected person. To make matters better for humans, the transmission of the virus to become sick can only happen while the patient has symptoms. Even if there was an Ebola outbreak in Monroe, looking back i do not remember the last time i came into contact with another individuals stool or blood. Usually people avoid these things and this ideology only helps to disable the virus from spreading. In America people understand that when a patient feels sick to reach out to medical help. That is not the case however in some villages in Africa. Some villagers blocks doctors and helpers reach the patients for fear of the doctors bringing the virus. In turn there are no safety measures in place to keep the people caring for the patient safe from the virus because they are uneducated for the most part. Even after the patient dies he/she still carries the virus and due to traditional burial techniques people come into direct contact with the sick. These sociocultural factors often result in the spreading of Ebola and the fact that natives are uneducated about the virus baffles me. Being the largest outbreak of Ebola in history is alarming and the fact that there is no real cure for it is scary but compared to other causes of death Ebola shouldn't be taken as seriously. Although 2000 people have died from Ebola since its discovery, in perspective the virus is nothing. Malaria kills 3200 people a day yet people are fearing Ebola. Yes any amount of death is bad and the lethality of Ebola is insane, people shouldn't fear Ebola because it can't spread. If the virus was airborne like the flu then it would be a lot worse but until then all we can do is isolate the sick and educate people.
I really liked this week's blog topic because everywhere I go I'm hearing all these jokes and precautions about Ebola. It also helped me get the real facts behind this outbreak. Like if someone is sick, at least one person will say that they have Ebola. I think a lot of people have the assumption that Ebola is the next Swine Flu, but it really is not that serious at all, well at least in America. I think the media just grabs a hold of this disease and tries to get people all hyped up for no reason at all. The fact that the disease is only contagious once symptoms start showing up comforts me a lot. On the other hand, Ebola is a serious issue in Africa right now and it's truly a tragedy that Ebola is currently claiming the most victims it ever has in a single outbreak. It is even worse that even though Western countries have come to aid these people, but some decline their help because they think the doctors will spread the disease even more. I guess the saying "You can bring a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink" is true in this situation. Hopefully, the Africans can be soon be healed and doctors can work to find a cure and a way to prevent future outbreaks.
I read the article about the Ebola virus because I was interested about its largest outbreak. Although the outbreak might seem scary, it really isn’t. That’s just a trick the media uses to scare you so that they get more viewers. Although there are no licensed drugs or vaccines for it, it is unlikely that you’ll even need it because it is not very contagious. It can only transferred by liquids to broken skin, so unless a doctor tripped, scrapped his knee and decided not to put a band aid on it, it’s highly unlikely that Ebola would spread. It is a little worrying though that they patients are coming to the U.S. My parents especially are being quite paranoid, so I should send them a link to this article too. Although the doctors do not wear full body suits (because they do not need to) it is still unlikely that the virus would spread to outside the hospital because Ebola is transferred through fluids not the air. If Ebola could be transferred through the air, then we would definitely have something to worry about since it would be highly contagious, but thankfully, that is not the case. In conclusion, Ebola is not going to become a global pandemic and there is nothing to worry about.
The Ebola epidemic has been a terrible problem in Africa and many are fearful of its spread into the US. Ebola is a very deadly virus if caught and many Americans are fearful of its spread. Ebola only spreads with direct contact of bodily fluids or blood. This means most at risk people to catch the disease are family members and caretakers. Patients that are infected are transported to the US in isolation and are transported to a hospital in Georgia. Healthcare workers have to wear full protective gear in order to treat patients so that they do not catch the disease as well. The Ebola virus is a deadly disease and its awareness and treatment need to be monitored carefully
Ebola virus is an infamously deadly virus that can cause ghastly symptoms. The virus is prominently known for its high fever and substantial internal bleeding! When I first saw the outbreak of Ebola on the news-taking place in the largest cities in Africa, I was frightened it would soon spread into the United States. As I was reading through the article I read that Ebola virus can only affect a person by coming in contact with their bodily fluids. For example, blood, urine saliva, stools, or even materials contaminated with these fluids such as soiled clothing and bed linen. What I found interesting was how sociocultural factors can cause the spread of the virus. According to the local health authorities in these cities, due to the lack of trust between them and the affected population and villagers, villagers do not allow local health authorities such as the WHO and Mediecines Sans frontieres to help. Villagers think that these authorities might bring the virus to them. Further into the reading what I found unwise was how mourners can have direct contact with dead Ebola patients during burial traditions. By touching or coming in contact with an Ebola patients can affect the toll of the infection spreading to other people. In conclusion, taking precaution is important if you want to contain the virus. So that means that these cities must not be careless with virus from further spreading.
Largest ever Ebola outbreak is not a global threat.
When there is a pandemic recognized globally, the whole world panics. The deadly Ebola virus is said to start in Lagos, Nigeria on July 20. A man flying from Liberia was thought to be infected. Because of this, the largest recorded Ebola outbreak is seething in Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone. The UK foreign secretary announced a government meeting concerning Ebola. There is pandemonium spreading across the world right now. Even in this chaos there is evidence that Ebola does not pose a global threat.
There is not solid evidence that the Liberian man had Ebola. If he had Ebola, and if proper measures were taken at the airport and hospital, the risk of people being infected as a result of contact is low. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control states a low probability of an Ebola infected person getting on a flight. This is because there are very few number of Ebola cases. The World Health Organization estimates a high risk of spread to countries bordering Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone, a moderate risk of spread to slightly farther countries, and a low risk of spread overseas.
Ebola is not highly contagious and is hard to catch. To become infected, a person’s mucous membranes or broken skin must come into contact with the blood, urine, saliva, semen, stools, or materials contaminated with these fluids such as soiled clothing or bed linen of the infected person. Ebola is not an airborne virus that can be spread by coughing or sneezing. This suggests that the Ebola virus only causes local outbreaks that could be neutralized. In the countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, the outbreak is continuing because of the size of the outbreak. The WHO reports that as of July 23 there were 814 confirmed infections, with 456 deaths. If this continues the numbers could rise to 1,201 infections including 672 deaths. This is the largest outbreak of Ebola. The past largest outbreak was in Uganda between 2000 and 2001. 425 people were infected and 224 died.
After reading the article about the Ebola virus, I was pleased to find out that the virus is nowhere near us and isn’t as dangerous as I thought it would be when I first started reading the article. Ebola virus outbreak started in Lagos, Nigeria, and was mostly started by a man who had a flight from Liberia. The disease has also spread to Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. Ebola isn't that easy to spread since it is only spread when skin is broken or through bodily fluids. However, they haven’t found a cure for the virus. Even though the virus is very hard to catch, it does worry me because of those who had the disease 56% of those people have died. The fact that over 50% of those infected with the disease have died does show that even though the virus isn't globe threat; it does kill a decent amount of people affected. This virus is mostly dangerous to doctors and nurses who have to deal with these patients one on one. Even though this infection isn't as dangerous as some other ones, there is a need to find a cure for it. It is interesting that it is the largest outbreak in history, yet is not considered a global threat. I can’t imagine how people in Africa live in fear of catching this virus, and made me wonder if there would ever be a virus even larger than Ebola! What if that virus was near our area? Hopefully that will not happen and Ebola will be the largest and will stay far away from us!
I also think that Ebola is not likely to spread that far. Based on the way it spreads to people it seems like its less of a threat then a pandemic flu virus. I also think that if better control methods were taken then it would lower the chances of it spreading in Africa and other areas nearby. Diseases like Ebola may be deadly but can be controlled if precautions are taken. As the article said, the sociocultural factors also contributed to the higher chances of it spreading in Africa. Persuading the villagers to place their trust in the healthcare workers can help control the spread as well as help those infected stay separated from people who are not. Although it might be difficult to change the traditional burial methods people were using, it would be would be helpful if at least the people attending would wear gloves and other clothing to help prevent the spread of the disease.
In the second article I found it interesting how they would transport an Ebola patient through a plane. I also agree that with all the measures we take in the U.S (for high risk patients) that the spread of Ebola is highly unlikely.
The third article was fascinating to read. I really enjoyed reading about Emily Graslie journey to where she is today. She has gotten the opportunity to talk to many people and inspire other young people to pursue science in the way that best interest them. She found an artistic aspect in science that she was interested in and started new projects as a result. Her experience at the museum was such a crucial and life-changing part of her career. I also think it is really impressive and inspirational that she was able to get so much support and make her every-day work extraordinary.
After reading the articles about Ebola, I’m not worried about this virus as much as I was before. Though it currently has 56% death rate, only people who actually come in contact with bodily fluids form a person who is infect and it goes through their skin can get the virus. How likely is that? Not very. Well at least in the United States. Luckily, when the patients with Ebola came back to America they were kept in highly protected and concealed plane. Africa has a high infected population probably because of the close proximity and lack of proper medical equipment. Also, the fact that Ebola has killed only 2,000 people in total while malaria kills 3,200 a day is assuring. Though I am not worried about the spread of this virus, there is still one major drawback… there is no real known cure or vaccine. Fortunately, possible candidates are being experimented with in labs.
This virus has been a hot topic and the center of many peoples’ concerns, but what those people should is that Ebola is not highly contagious and they do not need to worry too much about it.
I think that the articles on the Ebola virus are interesting. Ebola seems to be a very scary virus that started from infected fluids of animals that carry it. However, it baffles me how we are still being told that despite the high death percentage and dangerous symptoms, we shouldn't necessarily "freak out". First off, a part of Butler's article denotes that the Ebola virus kills up to 56% of its victims, yet Zhang's findings state that the death rate is up to 90%. Knowing that both percentages are high is the exact reason why we should actually be concerned about this outbreak, even if there are only a few people in the US who have it. Additionally, even though Ebola can only spread via contact to infected bodily fluids, doesn't mean we should stop worrying about it. As Butler has stated: "By contrast, respiratory pathogens such as those that cause the common cold or flu are coughed and sneezed into the air and CAN be contracted just by BREATHING or TOUCHING contaminated surfaces such as door knobs." In other words, ebola can also simply spread to other humans as well. Along with that, some of the doctors who are handling the patients with this virus are in high risk of contracting it as well. Finally, I think Graslie's decision in changing her interest from art to science really got my attention, because when many people hear the word "science" or "biology", they have a schema of it consisting of tedious textbook readings and diagrams. This impression is imprinted in the minds of many people. However, what many overlook is how science, specifically biology, is uniquely tied to all things in life. Knowing that Graslie pursued her interest in painting and nature in high school, then went on to science, can imply that art and science can be two different concepts that are yet intertwined in so many things in life, such as nature and animals.
After I read the first paragraph or so, I got really scared about Ebola spreading in the United States. When I found out that it is pretty difficult for the virus to spread, I was relieved. It could be really bad if it was like the flu, which spreads very easily. The flu can be gotten if pathogens are coughed or sneezed into one's environment. It can also be contracted by breathing or touching a contaminated surface. On the other hand, Ebola spreads by going through broken skin with contact of a contaminated object. As long as the people in Africa stay away from those who are sick, the spreading of Ebola will stop. However, the people don't trust the health workers, so this virus will continue to be spread. The number of deaths and people contaminated is incredibly high. The hospitals must be really busy right now and are panicking. There are 456 deaths and 814 people infected that are confirmed to have Ebola. On a more positive note, Ebola doesn't spread very quickly like the flu and common cold do. Hopefully, the virus stops spreading soon and the people infected get better.
When I first started hearing all about the Ebola virus in the news, I was afraid that it would end up being like the swine flu outbreak that we had a couple of years ago. Thankfully, because of this article, I learned that Ebola won't become a global pandemic since it's hard to spread from person to person. Ebola can't spread during the incubation period which means that it could only be caught by a person who is already experiencing the symptoms. Because of this, we will be able to isolate the people who are experiencing the symptoms from the rest of the world so that the virus won't be able to spread from person to person. Another good thing about the Ebola virus is that it can't survive out of the body which means that it could only be spread through bodily fluids coming in contact with an open wound. Knowing that Ebola can kill up to 90% of its victims, it is reassuring to know that the likelihood of getting the virus is extremely slim and that people are doing whatever they can to wipe out the virus completely.
Before I read this article I had never heard of a disease called Ebola, after I read the article I was glad that the chances of me or anyone I know catching it was very low duo to the fact that you can only get it through the transfer of bodily fluids. But this also concerns me because there is another disease called aids that is contagious though the same way as Ebola. Now I know aids spread a lot in its early stages due to the fact that there was very little known about it and humans didn't have the medical technology to treat it yet, and to this very day aids does not have a cure. the thing that worries me most is that Ebola or any other disease similar to it could turn out to be as major as aids if we don't treat it seriously. Moreover I think it was a good decision to quarantine the two patients into their own little "cage". In conclusion even though Ebola is not very contagious I believe it still should not be "underestimated" and be taken just as seriously.
Article 1: The recent Ebola outbreak in Africa has caused many new questions to rise to my head. For instance, the outbreak has been hypothesized to of started in Lagos, Nigeria. A man brought the epidemic to Nigeria after flying from Liberia a country that has been infected with Ebola outbreak. This made me wonder if a disease is easily able to be travel by air, what are countries doing to prevent spread of other diseases through other transportation (train, ship, car etc.)? Perhaps, in the future we may have medical examinations, similar to security tests given at airports and train stations. This examination will test for any sickness and disease that can harm other. Maybe this may prevent the spread of different diseases. In fact, there are other ways diseases can travel besides transportation? What if a disease can be transferred or made through GMO products from different countries or maybe even be in a toy that was made in another country by someone with a disease? There are numerous ways of how diseases can be spread, but how can we stop them? Although, we cannot prevent every possibility at this point in time, we must try and use a health examination plan as mentioned earlier and use basic safety precautions. This includes washing our hands with warm water, using a tissue when we sneeze, using gloves when touching an object with rust or other dirty material etc. Therefore, a health system should be proposed soon because who knows what other disease are lurking waiting to have an outbreak? Although the man who came to Nigeria was quarantined, many people were infected with Ebola. In addition, Ebola kills 56% of all people; however, you cannot easily be infected. Although, the risk of being infected is minimal, an immense lethal risk is posed to those who have the disease. Although, Lagos is large city; luckily the outbreak had not occurred in a heavier populated city. For instance, if the outbreak occurred in a large, heavy tourism city such as New York City, there could have been a worldwide outbreak. Since, many people around the world visit the city, if the tourists get the disease in the big city, and then bring the disease back to their home country outbreaks will soon occur. Therefore, diseases will cause a worldwide outbreak similar to the Bubonic Plague in the 1300’s – 1700’s. As a result, large cities should have more health safety precautions in order to prevent a worldwide outbreak. In addition, the article mentions that the affected population of Ebola resists healthcare workers and doctors in the area because the people fear that they will bring the disease. Therefore, if the population were more open to receive assistance from the healthcare workers, maybe more people would be alive. The government of Africa must try and build the trust of the public in order to send medical assistance. Perhaps, they might try to send help to small villages first and then aid large cities. Maybe, the government might ask everyone to take a medical examination at a facility. In the future, they can make a mandatory law stating that citizens must have a medical examination twice a year to test for diseases and this can be done in countries around the world. Maybe citizens in small villages don’t have enough knowledge of infections and how to prevent them causing them to catch a disease. Another key factor, that can help decreases the number of infections found in patients is having enhanced technology. Many places in Africa and other parts of the globe lack the medical technology in order to aid their patients. Perhaps if better technology is introduced to the hospitals, less infectious cases will be found. The technology could of contributed to patients cases not being treated of Ebola in Africa Therefore, I feel that the Ebola outbreak could have been prevented; however, the lack of trust among the affected population and technology increases the chances of finding more Ebola cases.
Both articles on Ebola were very interesting to read. First things first, I was very happy to come to know that the spread of Ebola in the United States is near to impossible. Ebola has been taking the lives of hundreds of people in Nigeria, Guinea, and Sierra Leone in the past few months. When I first heard about the Ebola outbreak on the news, I immediately had the fear of it possibly spreading to America. Reading these articles has helped reassure me that the spread of Ebola to countries across seas is highly unlikely. Especially with the advanced medical technology we possess, the two patients brought back to America will be taken care of without harming the health care professionals and caretakers around them. Since Ebola can only be spread through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person, Ebola is not considered to be a very contagious disease. Then why has there been such a wide outbreak in these African countries? While reading the articles, I was intrigued to find out that many of the people infected with Ebola refused to seek the correct medical attention. Furthermore, I was shocked to see that even contact with a dead individual who had Ebola can spread the disease. This has been happening because the traditional burial rituals require the mourners to come in contact with the dead individual. It is truly unfortunate that there still is no cure for this disease. I hope that this epidemic can be put to a halt before more innocent lives are taken.
Before reading the article about ebola, I didn't know much about ebola. I learned that Ebola can only spread by transferring to bodily fluids. when i first read this I thought this is similar to Aids. Aids is hard to get but once one gets it then it becomes worse really fast. This means that Ebola will be very hard to cure once it is in its last stages. I believe that doctors will work hard to find a way to cure this. Another disease Ebola reminds me of is the swine flu. The swine flu also was once a disease that just randomly came up just like the . The symptoms of Ebola and swine flu are similar, for example, like both of them have chills, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, and nausea. I think that doctors will create a new vaccine similar to the vaccine for swine flu. In my opinion, Ebola is disease that has a mixture of Aids and Swine flu.
The COSMOPOLITAN article was very interesting. I really thought the her switch in career fields, from art to biology was out of genuine love for the subject, which in my opinion is very hard to see these days. The fact that she became an educator just on the basis of her love for science was amazing to read. I also think that her work and her goal to make females more represented in STEM fields is great. I also read the article about the Ebola virus. I thought it was interesting how the virus can only be transmitted through bodily fluids. I think many people automatically think that a virus or any sort of illness is a matter of “catching” someone’s germs through the air. I think many of us compare many illnesses/diseases with the common cold and how we can catch just by inhaling their germs. Although this article, lessened the paranoia hype about the Ebola virus, it also stated that this was the largest outbreak, resulting in 456 deaths. How come this outbreak was so large? What can we do beforehand to make sure that this doesn’t happen again, at least on this level? After reading this article, I was relieved to find out that steps are being taken to stop the problem and save the lives of these people .
Ebola is a deadly disease however the chances of actually contracting it are extremely slim. If one was to catch the Ebola sickness, their chances of death are 56% which can be around the same mortality rate as different types of cancer. The article states that although there is a high chance of spreading Ebola to countries with existing outbreaks, there is little chance of the disease spreading overseas. Ebola is not highly contagious either. This disease is not anything to worry about since it is not easily spread or caught; however, one detail that is important is the fact that the Ebola outbreak is larger than any other outbreak recorded in history. Another slightly worrying aspect is that there is no vaccination or drug for the sickness. If you get the disease, then you either wait to die or get lucky and live. Ebola is very hard to catch but is life-threatening if it happens.
While the Ebola virus is a threat because of the facts that there is no cure for the hemorrhagic fever and death rates in past outbreaks have reached approximately 90 percent, it is not as much of a threat as the media portrays it to be. Personally, I have been following the news regarding Ebola and was a little scared when a man was checked into Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City with symptoms of Ebola. Thankfully, Ebola does not spread like the cold or flu spreads. Ebola can only be spread through direct contact with bodily fluids. Thus, it would be extremely rare for it to be spread in an airplane or any public place. Additionally, Ebola has never been spread in the United States by a traveler. Third, the Ebola virus has much of a smaller risk compared to diseases that are killing people by the millions, including malaria and pneumonia. Therefore, with the strict infection control procedures being carried out by hospitals, it would be extremely rare for an outbreak to occur in the United States.
The striking thing about the first article was that many feel that there shouldn't be an issue with the Africans trusting the doctors. However, the doctors in Africa aren't educated enough on these diseases and tribesmen prefer to stick to their way of life to preserve their culture. This has been the worst outbreak of Ebola. The villages are suffering however there have been worse disease that are killing them off more frequently. Malaria for example is a more common cause of death and claims more victims than Ebola ever could. Ebola itself is only spread through ignorance. Sierra Leone for example has one of the highest death tolls for Ebola. It has the typical poor environment of a third world country and very poor education in hygiene and with the consistent political and social unrest poor education in general. This disease is mainly spread through contact with bodily fluids. The first article is about how locals are very cultural and make constant contact with the dead and the dying. They also REFUSE help from authorities and doctors because they believe these people spread the disease. The lack of medication and hospitals is also a leading factor with the ignorance and misinformation about how it's spread on that level. Poor hygiene in west African countries such as one large shared room in the house shared with the sick person and a lack of clean water for drinking and baths also is contributing to the death toll. I don't feel the US is necessarily at risk for the disease because we are all hopefully more advanced in hygiene and knowledge. We also know how to avoid the disease since it is not airborne.
As deadly as it may sound, I believe that the Ebola virus is not a huge global threat to overseas or any other countries other than the ones mentioned in the article. Hospitals, airports, and other health care agencies are taking proper measures in order to ensure that the 40-year old man that entered Africa would not spread the disease to other people in the country. They did so by quarantining him. I believe that based on how hospitals and airports handled the situation with the 40 year old man that was suspected to have Ebola, they will ensure a situation like this will not occur again and will take even heavier precautions. In addition, now that there is a legitimate Ebola outbreak, ECDC and airports of Africa will try to determine whether people are carrying the disease before they are allowed to leave the country. As a result, this prevents the outbreak from being worldwide.
In the article, it stated that villagers were blocking off doctors from entering their homes because they believed that they may be carrying this virulent disease themselves. Even though the doctors are just trying to protect their people, the villagers think that they are a threat. Therefore, doctors should try to gain their trust and ensure that they are just trying to protect and prevent them from acquiring this disease. Like it was said in the article, I think one of the ways to abolish this outbreak is to first gain the public's trust that the issue will not be as serious If they allow medics to protect them and prevent them from catching the disease.
Why You Shouldn't Freak Out About Ebola Patients Coming to the U.S.:
After reading the article, you feel a sense of relief. The goal of the article was to reassure and inform all of the people with doubts or fears about the safety of bringing the infected patients into the country. The article described the conditions and safety measures taken to transport and treat the patients. It also discussed how to prevent catching the virus. The fact that there is no cure is a very alarming thought. According to the article, as long as we're careful and take precautions we should be in the clear.
The Ebola virus has been infecting people in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia. This virus is very dangerous if contracted and I find that fact that 90% of the people who have this virus die – very scary. What adds to the problem is the fact that there isn’t any vaccines or drugs which could cure the illness. However there are treatments that help suppress the mortality rate of the disease. Although the public seems very worried about the possible spread of the disease globally, the chances for that are apparently very low. Ebola only spreads when an infected persons bodily fluids come into contact with another’s broken skin or mucous membranes. It is not highly contagious and its not like the common cold or flu in which pathogens get transported easily through air. There was much controversy received towards the news of the two Americans who were flown in from Africa who had contracted the disease. However the chances of contracting the disease is very low. In fact the people who have contracted it are the doctors and nurses who have been constantly surrounded by these patients. There really isn’t such a big risk of getting it unless your open wound or some bodily fluid is exposed to a person with Ebola. Hopefully, this virus won’t evolve into a more dangerous one.
Unfortunatly, the reason why this virus is taking its toll in certain parts of Africa is because of their sociocultural factors. Many people there aren’t educated enough or aren’t aware of the correct methods and treatments needed to help the infected. In one case, they weren’t letting the doctors into their village because they felt they would bring the virus with them. Which prevents their sick people from getting help. Their burial process was another way to contract the virus.
The other article was about a girl Emily Graslie who discovered her hidden passion for science through her love for art. This article really intrigued me since it helped me see that science can have some creativity to it – even if it may not seem so from the outside. She really conveyed a message to me which showed me that there is more to science than one thinks. Emily was hooked by one small interest at the National History Mueseum in Montana, and opportunities flooded her way. She now has her own youtube channel called “The Brain Scoop”.
The Ebola Outbreak
Seeing this week’s articles on Ebola was a huge juxtaposition to what I had generally been seeing. Reading the articles about how the recent outbreak is not a threat was a surprising change from the numerous articles I had read about the dangers of Ebola. The articles gave me a little bit of relief- it was good to know that it is unlikely that Ebola will move overseas. Since Ebola is transmitted through bodily fluids, it has a transmission rate that is much lower than the rate for the flu. Despite the fact that the Ebola virus disease generally kills 90% of the people infected during an outbreak, this strain seems to be less dangerous, killing 56% of the people it infects (still not ideal, but a much better number than 90). As for the patients coming to the United States, it is extremely comforting to know that they pose little to no threat to the general population. Thanks to modern day technology, such as the Aeromedical Biological Containment System, and the outstanding isolation units at Emory University Hospital, the caretakers of the patients should be safe, and the patients should recover. Their recovery will not be aided by a vaccine or drug, as there is no license drug to treat or combat the Ebola virus disease. There are drugs in development, and have been used in an attempt to save the lives of the infected American doctors. Even with the help of the drugs, only one person, Dr. Kent Brantly, has recovered, and there is no evidence that the drug helped him in any way (ForeignPolicy). The earliest a vaccine can be used against Ebola will be in 2015, which gives the virus plenty of time to infect and kill countless others.
Despite being reassured about my health and safety in the United States, I was still left being concerned for the wellbeing of all the people at risk in Africa. Even though Ebola may seem like a distant problem to us, it is a huge problem to everyone in the world. This is the largest outbreak, ever, of Ebola, with an increasing death rate of 1,000 (CBS News). It is true that more people die of other afflictions daily, such as malaria but that does not reduce the gravity of the situation. I believe the distrust of doctors by the majority of Africans only aggravates the situation. The outbreak could have been contained in the first town or village it broke out in – if the patients and their families cooperated. Very recently, a group of armed men broke into a Liberian Ebola clinic, and broke out patients, claiming that Ebola was a hoax. Events like these are becoming more commonplace, and in doing so, are only contributing to the spread of Ebola. If officials and doctors want to stop the epidemic, I believe the only way for them to do it is to gain the cooperation of the locals and the family of the patients. Education sessions should be set up at town gathering places in an effort to answer questions and teach the Africans about the reality of the situation. Unfortunately, local customs, such as the way their dead are buried, must be changed for the burials of the Ebola victims. Misinformation has been the source of several conflicts in the past, and it seems to be the cause of this problem as well. It is my hope that communication can be established between the officials and the locals, and that it results in the eventual end to the Ebola outbreak.
Until reading these articles about the Ebola virus, I did not have much prior knowledge to the situation asides from skimming headlines. In the media it is portrayed with urgency likened to that of swine flu or bird flu, yet cannot be reported to have affected masses in the United States. I can see now that the virus is not likely to become a global threat, yet its effects are still calamitous. What’s most unfortunate is the truth that the first article pointed out, in that outbreaks of Ebola could be eradicated efficiently, but the factors of the affected areas prevent that from occurring. Many victims of the outbreak in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia are the medical professionals that treat the patients because the healthcare systems are not comparable with those of more advanced countries. Also, the burial rites of these areas call for contact with the bodies of the deceased, which can infect many others. It is difficult to appeal to cultures if the recommended safety procedures may appear conflicting and insensitive.
One thing that I found interesting is the image of the medical charter plane from the CDC that went to recover the affected Americans. Before, I had pictured quarantine on a plane from the flight crew in a very “Snakes on a Plane” manner.
After reading these articles about the Ebola virus,I was relieved to find that the chances of an outbreak in U.S is extremely improbable. It seems like the only way one could contract the virus is through direct contact with bodily fluids of an active infected person. It makes sense that some American doctors and aid workers are infected with the Ebola virus because they are constantly tending to the victims. For them it would not be that difficult to contract it. You also have to consider the fact that they were overseas and the working conditions are not as opportune they are are in the United States. Now, the few Americans who have contracted the virus are getting world class treatment in the United States, and the chances for the virus to spread further is extremely low.
It’s inevitable that a new deadly virus is out and about, but what is so special about this one? Deadly Ebola was recently found in Lagos, Nigeria. After finding a supposedly infected man on a flight to Lagos from Liberia, scientists were debating the fact that it could potentially strike one of the most populous African country and in the end, infect thousands. Scientists are still unsure of whether what the man had was really deadly ebola, but it is very likely. He was taken to the hospital upon his arrival and died later that week. Because of this small outbreak, ebola is spreading like wild fire. This outbreak is larger than any other recorded in history. Each day, doctors and scientists are working towards finding legal drugs or vaccines for curing Ebola. Authorities are trying their best to sontrol the outbreak, but their attempts have no been successful. What I find most interesting is that this virus has threatened half the population of Africa. Africa is a large continent and to contaminate over half of it, this virus could be stronger than we think. How is this virus to be put under control and what can the public do to prevent contamination? Ebola contains symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, sore throat, muscle pain, and headaches. With all this how will it be possible to control not only the virus, but the public itself? Also, how long will it be until this virus can be officially eliminated?
When anyone hears the words global pandemic they are sure to panic, and they are not to be blamed as it is quite a terrifying idea. Which is why I found these articles to be comforting as it seems that the chances of the Ebola virus coming to the US are slim to none. It is terrible that the outbreak in Guinea and Sierra Leon seems to be raging. One thing I learned from this article that I found surprising was that Ebola is apparently hard to catch. When one thinks of a virus outbreak sweeping the nation, one would assume that it would be really easy to contract the virus. To become infected with Ebola in the first place, a person's mucous membranes, or an area of broken skin, must come into contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person, such as blood, urine, saliva, semen or stools, or materials contaminated with these fluids such as soiled clothing or bed linen. While the pathogens of the common cold or flu can be spread through the air, are much more easily contracted, and can spread around the world in days or weeks and may be unstoppable. The Ebola virus causes sporadic outbreaks that can be easily stamped out.
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