<p>Interesting article on Ebola virus. After becoming symptomatic, the virus is initially found mainly/only in the blood not in the urine or feces. Doesn’t say anything about the vomit. That makes Nurse Vinson going to the bathroom on the plane OK. The fatality is high even compared to small pox, 70% against 30%. How does small pox spread? Is it through air? SARS only 11% fatality, easier to catch but harder to die of it.</p>
<p>You must not have read about the guy in FW who called an ambulance to a restaurant because he overheard a pilot next to him saying he had just returned from Europe–the guy somehow thinks Europe is part of West Africa. (I posted this on the hysteria thread.)</p>
<h1>1445 - Obviously. I phrased it that way trying not to get too graphic. But if Ms. Vinson was menstruating when she flew, the virus could have been shed that way onto her napkins or tampons, then into the disposal bins. Or a bit may have gotten on the seat.</h1>
<p>Since it is a hemorraghic fever I’d expect the flow to increase actually. More bleeding. </p>
<p>Tatin, have there been any cases of someone getting Ebola because they were on a flight with an infected person? Any of those people who flew with Duncan, presumably several hundred of them at least? For that matter, any of the people who shared a small apartment with him? How about the other patients in ER (either visit)? </p>
<p>“Since it is a hemorraghic fever I’d expect the flow to increase actually. More bleeding.”</p>
<p>Hemorrage happens when the organs begin to fail and liquiefy. This happens at the late stages of the disease. In the earlier stages of the disease, this is not the case, so logically, there should not be extra bleeding. </p>
<p>In this country, none known. In Africa, I don’t know. Obviously people in Africa who shared homes and apartments with Ebola patients have contracted Ebola. </p>
<p>The worker in the cruise threw up. That started the chain of events.</p>
<p>Flying with Duncan isn’t relevant since he didn’t have symptoms until after he arrived in Dallas. Even if he had symptoms, It is a safe bet that he didn’t menstrate. Nurse Duncan on the other hand had symptoms on the return flight and possibly on the outgoing flight as well. Symptoms can show withou fever. If Nurse Vinson was menstraing, that’s a possible source of contamination and something to look out for.</p>
<p>“In Africa, I don’t know. Obviously people in Africa who shared homes and apartments with Ebola patients have contracted Ebola.”</p>
<p>The lack of anything other than a bare bones health care system in those countries makes a huge difference. Family members are often the ones caring for the sick & dying and that is how they get exposed, It’s a vicious circle. That is why it is so crucial to get more doctors/health care workers and open more treatment facilities to the hot zone. The military sent there is doing the latter but too slowly for now. </p>
<p>How did get small pox fatality 30%? Was it in the primitive setting before it was modernized or is the number from present time? Nobody gets small pox any more. Bare bone facility in Africa today may not be any worse than the primitive state when small pox was raging. It killed 30%. Ebola kills 70%.</p>
<p>Small pox spreads only through contact with fluid from the rash. That makes small pox harder to transmit than Ebola. It kills only 30% not 70%. Would you be happy to have small pox coming in if there’s no known cure/vaccine at present?</p>
<p>Maybe the worst is over unless we import another carrier. The first group of people quarantined will be free after today. Since Duncan died over 10 day ago, it is less likely any more health workers will show symptoms now.</p>