"Winning the Battle on Ebola?"

1SG Steven Stankovich — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 17:02:43 -0500

I read this article this evening. While it is very "motivating" in the message it delivers, I would like to get your take on it. Are these numbers quantifiable? What reporting mechanisms are in place to justify this statement? Again, not down-playing the role our Service Members are filling in this mission because they, along with their families, are sacrificing immensely, I am just asking about the "measurable..."

http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/2014/12/04/ebola-cases-decreasing-liberia-gary-volesky-101st/19917239/?sf34393502=1

2-star: Ebola cases decreasing in Liberia

The U.S. troops fighting to contain the Ebola outbreak in Liberia have seen a "significant decrease" in new cases, the top Army general on the ground

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2014 5:07 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 17:07:10 -0500

MSG,
I think our soldiers are doing a great job because they are making small clinics for these sick people and then going back to be quarantined themselves so we don't bring it home to their families.
V/r
1SG Haro

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 29 at 2015 5:40 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 17:40:07 -0500

There are multiple methods that have helped reduce the spread of Ebola. Some of them are related to better education, some of them related to identified causes, some of them due to cultural shifts, and some due to the military.

First, looking at the identified causes. Some areas in these regions would eat bats as a meat. This is where the cause is believed to have stemmed from, and has also been linked to some of the first outbreaks in the 1970s. The specific type/region/habits of the infected bat were unknown until recently. As doing such, some of the local populations have been making changes with regards to eating bat meat, especially from these regions.

Second, let's look at cultural shifts. Part of the reason for the scale of this outbreak is a combination of multiple local beliefs. Many African nations harbor a deep mistrust of "western"/modern medicine, and locally it is believed that sickness is caused by a hot/cold imbalance (not necessarily temperature, but certain foods are consumed on the opposite end of the spectrum to restore balance). These imbalances are moderated by tribal medicine men that determine the causes of the illness. They will often only seek medical management in the western sense in the later stages of the illness. These late stages are when the virus is shedding, and thus able to be spread. Combining profuse bleeding/diarrhea/vomiting with a lack of sanitation system leads multiple opportunities to expose people (the virus can live an estimated 5-10 days while contained within body fluids, dies in several hours to 1-2 days if the fluid dries up...depending on your source). Furthermore, the disposal of the body and the kissing of the deceased by the family leads to another avenue of exposure, as the recently deceased phase of the infection is when the virus is most transmittable. All this is a perfect storm in an undeveloped nation.

Third, due to the education in the transmission of the virus, some changes have resulted in cultural practices. Additional education that may have a benefit would be use of alcohol based soaps or cleaning agents by some individuals. Ebola is scary unless you look into how to manage it. Simply utilizing a 10% bleach solution or many alcohol based hand scrubs can kill the virus. Furthermore, the virus does not begin spreading until the symptoms appear. No symptoms, not contagious. The degree of infectivity is directly proportional to the severity of symptoms. This makes it easy to spot, and therefore potentially easy to provide early intervention before it is possible to infect additional family members or healthcare workers.

Fourth is the military. Some of these roles are direct, such as the building of facilities. These buildings can isolate people, provide "advanced" (by local standards) sanitation to reduce the spread, and also can provide readily accessible containment zones. The indirect benefits come from some of the things that come along with the Soldiers. Things that are taken for granted here, like alcohol hand scrubs, isolation equipment, and additional medical resources can potentially benefit. Also, the military presence generates some additional public interest which can stir "care packages" to humanitarian workers that can provide additional resources.

Yes, the military does have a beneficial role, but some of this is also coming from a better grasp on the situation as well.
V/R,
CPT Butler

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 29 at 2015 6:10 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 18:10:23 -0500

I just saw a news article that said Ebola had made it to California.