Let there be no question now. Like I have be saying (contrary to what some others are saying), this new strain of Ebola is classed as a Category A Biological Weapon (they dont get any worse than that!). And although it isnt an airborne virus on its own (it needs a carrier and you need to be near someone who has it and come into direct contact with them through their saliva, sweat, blood etc), it DOES have the ability to be transmitted via the air nonetheless and you may have NO idea who has it (they may not even know they have it until between 3 to 25 days). Whilst most of us are safe at the moment as it poses very little risk, the worry is that there are at least 30,000 people out there (tourists included) who apparently have it and they cant find most of them to contain and quarantine them. This is how outbreaks start. Everyone is safe until the gates have been opened and the risk is spread to the greater population. The question is, where does the world sit right now, who is infected, how many, where are they and do each of their countries have a handle on how to deal with them when they come home? How do they intend to keep track of all who have come into contact with each of the 30,000 plus infected people who by now will be showing symptoms (if they sadly havent already died); this is when they are contagious. How do they intend to handle the ripple effect overall....a near impossible task really. There are many other potential risks associated with it as you will read from the WHOs following report (including people who will be traveling with it and dont know they have it and think they might just have the flu; people who look after them thinking they just have the flu and so on). From the horses mouth so to speak - here it is from the Chief of the World Health Organisation herself and I quote: West Africa’s outbreak is caused by the most lethal strain in the family of Ebola viruses.The outbreak is by far the largest ever in the nearly four-decade history of this disease. It is the largest in terms of numbers of cases and deaths, with 1,323 cases and 729 deaths reported to date in four countries. It is the largest in terms of geographical areas already affected and others at immediate risk of further spread. It is taking place in areas with fluid population movements over porous borders, and it has demonstrated its ability to spread via air travel, contrary to what has been seen in past outbreaks. Cases are occurring in rural areas which are difficult to access, but also in densely populated capital cities. This is not an airborne virus. Transmission requires close contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person, also after death. Apart from this specific situation, the general public is not at high risk of infection by the Ebola virus. At the same time, it would be extremely unwise for national authorities and the international community to allow an Ebola virus to circulate widely and over a long period of time in human populations. Constant mutation and adaptation are the survival mechanisms of viruses and other microbes. We must not give this virus opportunities to deliver more surprises. Read the whole report here:
Posted on: Sun, 03 Aug 2014 13:31:45 +0000
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