Ebola

You say" Spreading panic, " I say" Raising awareness". If we turneda blind eye to everything we did not like in other countries and refused to aware of the potential dangers how on earth can we exoect those in authority to take precautionary measures on our behalf and that of others? What happens in the big wide world does impact us, whether that is Ebola, Al Quaeda, Isil, sweat shops in Bangladesho or oil production in the Middle East.

The 'west' needs to step up its efforts to contain the epidemic in West Africa. It's not just going to peter out any time soon. This is absolutely basic. I saw people with the disease being turned away and sent back into their community to die and spread the disease. This makes no sense at all.

Should we be worried? Yes.

Should we panic? No point as jingl said that won't help.

But we do need to put pressure on our governments to look at messures to minimise the risk of it spreading, to develop a vaccine, to create more than two special isolation beds, etc.

And to increase any research being done into finding new antibiotics. What is sad is that, now that it is effecting the West Ebola treatment/prevention will be fast tracked.

The drug and vaccine takes time, but wqork is being done as quickly as possible. More isolation units are being planned for across the UK.

I don't think the government needs any pressure putting on them over this. (We do do these things quite well in this country)

More and more brave people in the medical profession are going to West Africa to do all they can to help.

Leave the hysteria to the newspapers.

Hysteria? On Gransnet?

I so admire those brave health workers who are volunteering to go to infected areas and help. The best chance of it not spreading outside of West Africa lies with people like these, but also Governments world wide and the United Nations making a concerted effort.

I'd like to know exactly what WHO is doing, because it seems to me the answer is not enough.

I feel for all those poor people in the affected areas. What must they be feeling?

They were covering this on the BBCs 'The Papers' last night and both guest presenters did accuse the media over overreacting about one case in Spain and with little (or no) information regarding how the nurse contracted the disease.

They said that it needs to be put into perspective by remembering that 3,000 have died from Ebola (all in West Africa) but over 30,000 are expected to die, in Britain, from influenza this winter; but not a mention of that in the media.

It's probably best to try not to worry about it, there's nothing you or I can do about it and the health authorities are already keeping abreast of things.

I remain concerned, my DD lives in Brussels and is at present in America. Passengers from Liberia and other areas change to the American airlines in Brussels. I asked DD if she had any concerns on the flight she was on and she said not but that she had an empty seat between her and the next passenger.

That is completely exaggerated HolyDaze deaths from influenza in the UK are nowhere near that level. I'm not saying you made up those figures but that you have been misinformed.

The medical and support staff going out to help those at risk of, or suffering Ebola are real heroes.

30,000 to die from flu in the UK Hollydaze? I had my flu jab yesterday, and the nurse didn't mention the risk of an epidemic. I hope Anya is right, and this is incorrect information.

If the red tops haven't got hold of that 30K figure, where on earth did it come from?

"flu is an unpredictable virus and it is impossible to predict the impact of the disease and how many serious cases there might be"

"Last winter, PHE received reports of 904 people admitted to intensive care or high dependency units with laboratory confirmed flu and, of them, 11% (98 people) died.

This does not account for the many deaths where flu is not recognised or reported - estimates of the annual number of deaths attributable to flu range from 4 to 14,000 per year, with an average of around 8,000 per year."

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/public-health-england-and-the-nhs-prepare-for-unpredictable-flu-season

And
"People with flu are approximately 11 times more likely to die if they have an underlying health condition than if they don’t. Despite this, only 52% of people aged 6 months to 65 years living with an underlying condition putting them at risk of severe infection took up the offer of the free flu vaccine during 2013 to 2014."

Ah!! In 2005, Dr. Gilbert Ross, Executive Director, The American Council on Science and Health, New York said (in relation to an article by Alec van Gelder about bird flu panic in the US) that "Even in his native United Kingdom, the best estimates are that more than 3,000 succumb to the flu each year"

MY NOTE - "Succumb to" is not the same as "die from"

I found several references dated 2009 to "30,000 people may be infected with swine flu in Britain", and others that NHS Direct had received 30,00 phone calls on the subject (2009) and one that "Bird flu jab kills 30,000 chickens" in China (2009)

It is worth tracing a startling statistical statement right back to its source, it often proves to have been mis-heard or misinterpreted.

I have just googled the figure of 30,000 and found:

Last winter (2012/13) in the UK, there were 31,000 deaths linked to the cold weather.

www.nhs.uk/Livewell/winterhealth/Pages/KeepWarmKeepWell.aspx

I can only assume that the guests on the panel linked the cold weather to flu (although it may well have played a part) - either way, that is a signficant number.

It is worth tracing a startling statistical statement right back to its source, it often proves to have been mis-heard or misinterpreted.

Apparently not.

Iam64

30,000 to die from flu in the UK Hollydaze?

I haven't searched indepth but it seems most of it may come from a combination of people infected with influenza and not heating there homes sufficiently to overcome the 'flu. Some will most likely come purely from cold-related ailments. Either way, it puts the Ebola deaths (at the present level) into perspective. These deaths are so easily preventable - don't keep the elderly on subsistence income then maybe they'd put the heating on more often.

"Last winter, PHE received reports of 904 people admitted to intensive care or high dependency units with laboratory confirmed flu and, of them, 11% (98 people) died.

This does not account for the many deaths where flu is not recognised or reported - estimates of the annual number of deaths attributable to flu range from 4 to 14,000 per year, with an average of around 8,000 per year."

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/public-health-england-and-the-nhs-prepare-for-unpredictable-flu-season

"31,000 deaths linked to the cold weather" Cold weather produces more problems than just flu. You can't just substitute "flu" for "cold weather" and claim that they are the same thing.

I am not minimising the effects of flu here, just questioning your logic.

You can't just substitute "flu" for "cold weather" and claim that they are the same thing.

'although it may well have played a part' - did you miss that bit in my post?

I didn't 'claim' or 'substitute' anything - no matter how much you might want it to be that way. If you have an issue with the guests wording on the panel, I suggest you write to the BBC and complain.

just questioning your logic.

Nothing new there then.

Whatevah.

No all deaths due to cold weather were 'flu deaths. I read the same article and there were multiple causes, including a significant number due to cardiovascular disease.

Not all deaths - that should read.

Flu is a dreadful illness, and it's not surprising that people with underlying health problems, or those who are simply very old, may die as a result of the impact of the flu infection.

Cold is another potential killer. The cuts in public service and in benefits will no doubt contribute to more deaths. Someone close to us has had his £56 a week benefit stopped for the 3rd time. He has no money at all. He was persuaded to become self employed at a job centre interview. He's working very hard, but how can he continue with no income?

Cuts to refuges, homeless shelters etc, along side the bedroom tax, cuts in housing benefits etc will mean more rough sleepers. Rough sleepers are likely to develop or have serious physical and mental health problems. Won't be surprised if there's an increase in deaths related to "cold".

Sorry, that was off post, and not Ebola related.

There is just too much movement. Sorry but I think people going to stricken areas to care for victims should stay there until it's safe to travel again. Some health workers seem to be returning home after a short time so it's no surprise that the virus is going to be transported around the world.

In the past, outbreaks of ebola have been contained in relatively small areas because the inhabitants don't venture very far from their villages.

And how many health workers would you volunteering under those circumstances? Have a heart! (Both for the Africans and the health workers)

This country managed successfully to bring a nurse back without infecting anyone else.

And they are learning all the time.

get