Ebola

What worries me most about viruses is their ability to mutate.

(That reminds me - must get a flu jab!)

We see ourselves as top of the food chain, but viruses are the strongest organisms on the planet. They reproduce rapidly and can mutate to enhance their survival. We have a battle on our hands here, and we should not assume that our bigger brains mean we will always come out on top.

On the plus side it isn't in the interest of a virus to completely wipe out it's host I suppose. Did anyone see the programme about crocodiles? They can actually eat animals that have died of anthrax because their bodies have ways of coping with such things. In fact, eveything about them is pretty amazing. They even hibernate when it gets very hot.

You can't guard against complete stupidity can you?

I have tried to read everything here but haven't spotted any reference to the fact that it is possible that the virus might mutate and become airborne.

The Ebola virus has been around for 40 years without mutating and becoming airborne.
We might as well worry that the HIV virus could become airborne as well.

viruses are the strongest organisms on the planet

I remember reading, not too long ago, that the virus is man's only natural predator.

What about lions?

Not many lions on the Isle of Man - what about where you are

You did n't say anything about location. You said "man's only natural predator".

No, I said that I had read it as a quote - I thought it was interesting. And location would have to come into account as lions don't prove to be much of a threat to us in GB do they - whereas the virus does.

The comforting thing is that soap and water and household bleach kill the -- little b******--what's on the surface. Off to buy Flash bleach spray. Do miss flash gel with bleach.

OMG! Is everyone going to start enthusiastic house cleaning so as to not get Ebola?!

Not me for one!

But if you travel, be extra particular about hygeine - you don't know where the person sitting beside you has travelled from, or who they came into contact with while they were there.

Well, that could apply to anyone you're sitting next to on the bus in London, or any person you come into contact with at a hospital, or...

That is my fear for DD, she travels all over the world for meetings.

Anopheles mosquitoes cause a great deal of harm to humans in some parts of the world.

Let's also pray that Ebola will not spread worldwide.

Article explaining why aid has failed in West Africa
Basically saying that aid addresses specific problems and requires targets to be met, instead of ensuring that the underlying infrastructure is in place first.
When you read that healthcare workers are treating Ebola patients without even having the protection of latex gloves, it's not surprising that the disease has claimed so many lives.

From the BBC 8 hours ago:

"Both nurses who became infected treating Mr Duncan have been moved to specialist units for further treatment.

Nina Pham is reportedly in a good condition and has been transferred to the National Institutes of Health in the US state of Maryland.

Ms Vinson was sent to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta on Wednesday."

Every time I read things like this I get worried. Why do they take Ebola cases to places that so far are clear of infection?
It's not as if the Americans have been very careful so far.....

Why do they take Ebola cases to places that so far are clear of infection?

I would imagine it's because those that have been deemed as worthy of saving, need to go into one of the few isolation units (I believe America has 3 but are constructing another 2). They keep repeating on the news that Ebola isn't easy to get. Were these nurses a little careless like the one in Spain was?

Alie you should feel reassured that patients in whom Ebola has been confirmed are being treated in the best facilities where those providing their care are doing so in facilities which provide the best means of cross-infection control, ie the healthcare workers are least likely to become infected themselves.

Ebola areas be on shut down, only allowing medical staff and equipment, and food and water supplies allowed in. Confinement is a must to prevent it from spreading. And no I do not think it is scaremongering.