Ebola. Are You Confident We Can Keep The Virus In Check As We Bring Infected Americans Back To The U.S.For Treatment?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 13:36:41 -0400

What do you think?

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2014 2:17 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 14:17:21 -0400

We have had Ebola infected primates in the US for many years. Although one of the early containment facilities in Reston, VA did have the virus escape the initial containment lab, it did not escape the building. We apparently learned from that experience and have not had problems with containment since then, I believe. Not sure that two individuals will pose any significant increased threat as opposed to the primates already here.

Also, this articles points to some of the misconceptions about Ebola: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/largest-ever-ebola-outbreak-is-not-a-global-threat/

Largest Ever Ebola Outbreak Is Not a Global Threat

Although the virus is exerting a heavy toll in West Africa, it does not spread easily

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2014 2:43 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 14:43:18 -0400

No problem. The real risk is if it mutates to be airborne. Appropriate precautions are now in place to protect against this unlikely outcome. There is zero contagion risk at this point. A new effective treatment for Ebola is cocktail of monoclonal antibodies that is available in very limited quantities:

http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/04/health/experimental-ebola-serum

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/08/the-secret-ebola-treatment/375525/

http://globalbiodefense.com/2014/07/30/mapp-biopharmaceutical-awarded-funding-ebola-drug/

http://www.defyrus.com/images/News-July152014-ZMAb-license.pdf

Ebola drug likely saved American patients - CNN.com

An experimental Ebola drug called ZMapp was given to two Americans infected with Ebola. The Americans are improving after being given the Ebola drug.

Response by SGT Charles Napierala made Aug 4 at 2014 2:46 PM

SGT Charles Napierala — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 14:46:54 -0400

Sir,

There's a treatment and a cure for the Ebola Virus. They've been testing it on apes for a long time and have finally had the outbreak they needed to test it on human specimen. In my opinion, the Ebola is going to treated and contained in the most professional manner. I strongly believe that these two will be the turning point for this test cure that will be hailed as, possibly, the greatest scientific advancement of the decade.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2014 2:50 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 14:50:04 -0400

In answer to your question, "As We Bring Infected Americans Back..." yes. As the United States coordinates the transportation and treatment of these individuals, there should be no problems unless there is some fluid sharing with the infected and non-infected. Could happen, but I doubt it.

However, the problem is not with the Americans the United States brings back. The problem is with those who come to the U.S. who have not been identified with Ebola. The ones who come by way of another location after the contracted. Those are the population you cannot control and would spread the virus unchecked. Isn't the Ebola incubation somewhere around 2 weeks where it is undetectable? How many people might have this and travel and spread that is the real safety issue to the U.S. IMO

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Aug 4 at 2014 3:29 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 15:29:42 -0400

I don't think we'll have issues containing it. Remember, the reason why it spreads so readily in Africa, are the relatively primitive conditions in Africa.

Response by SSG Ed Mikus made Aug 6 at 2014 5:45 AM

SSG Ed Mikus — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 05:45:11 -0400

can we? yes,

will we? i have doubts.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2014 4:04 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 16:04:55 -0400

The problem is we can't always trust the host country to administer the medicine. We send the medicine, who knows what the patient will get, or where the medicine will end up (sold).
By simply flying the patient, takes about the same time to get the medicine to him (or her), and we are (usually) better equipped to deal with complications, increasing the survivability of the patient.
Ebola isn't spread trough the air, but through contact, so there's no fear of quarantine failure.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 3 at 2014 9:48 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 09:48:57 -0400

I think we'll keep it in check because if we're so anal during the process of deployment & redeployment, they'll go the extra 100 steps to make sure all civilians and soldiers are checked thoroughly

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 3 at 2014 1:06 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 13:06:48 -0400

I have lost my trust in the CDC. This was BEFORE the Ebola. The CDC can't even handle Anthrax!

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 3 at 2014 5:53 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 17:53:12 -0400

Sir, I was confident, and I guess I still am, but my confidence level has dropped just today (3 October). In our area (DC/Baltimore) there were announcements of two suspected cases of ebola today. I guess this is the knee-jerk reaction that's bound to follow the Dallas case and the tragedy in Africa.

I admit that I'm not all that worried, because I hear that (a) a person must be noticeably sick to transmit the disease and (b) it can only be transmitted through body fluids. I believe that our health system is up to the task. Unfortunately, we seem to be programmed to "soldier on" through just about anything, and that's where the biggest problem arises, in my opinion - sick people continuing to go to work and interact with others.

Response by Cpl Brett Wagner made Oct 14 at 2014 12:41 PM

Cpl Brett Wagner — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 12:41:12 -0400

Here is my response - I thought you could only get ebola through direct body fluid contact? That's what Obama & the CDC said... Why are these clowns in Chem suits?

RIGHT NOW: All 5 passengers showing flu-like symptoms have been removed from the ‪#‎Emirates‬ plane at Logan Airport and are being taken to local hospitals.

Meanwhile, a passenger just shared this video from inside the plane.

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