Ebola [OFFICIAL THREAD]

[hasanhh]

(salam)

 

31Oct14:  Genes

 

1] New York Times, 30Oct14, "Genes Influence How Mice React to Ebola, Study Says in 'Significant Advance'", by Gina Kolata

------ (the article posted with '2]' below affects our thinking) "Some people exposed to Ebola virus quickly sicken and die. Others become gravely ill but recover, while still others only react mildly or thought to be resistant to the virus." (This pattern is now found in mice -ed.'s summation) (see also post 169 #2)

----- the mice were bred to mimic people with Ebola

----"...mouse studies indicate...-(and) by implication humans- die because their immune systems overreact to the virus" (post 160, "shock")

--- the study published in the journal Science (below)***

--->> there is "...very little scientific literature on the virus...most...is opinion pieces, epidemiology, and clinical observations." quoting one of the University of Washington researchers.

-- 47 genetic varieties of mice were used.

*** "Host genetic diversity enables Ebola hemorrhagic fever pathogenesis and resistance", by Angela L. Rasmussen, et alia,

.      Science, 1259595, published online 30Oct14; DOI 10.1126/science1259595

---------- death from shock in abstract

 

2] Huffington Post, 18Oct14, "Rethinking the 21 Day Quarantine for Ebola Contacts", by Manoj Jain, MD, MPH

------ Citing the New England Journal of Medicine, a study of 4,507 "probable and confirmed cases" (what is "probable" or "confirmed" is defined by the WHO -ed.) 95% of cases had symptoms within 21 days, which means 5% (225 people) had symptoms after 21 days since exposure.

Edited October 31, 2014 by hasanhh

[hasanhh]

(salam)

 

02Nov14:  More Related to Quarantine:

 

Highly cited in popular media:

1] http://currents.plos.org/outbreaks/article/on-the-quarantine-period-for-ebola-virus/ ; "On the Quarantine Period for Ebola Virus", by Charles N. Haas, Drexel University, 14Oct14

{Note, Haas is described as "who has expertise in risk assessment for biological pathogens" --in Trinity Daily News, 17Oct14, "Study Suggests 21-Day Ebola Quarantine is Not Enough", by Renee Johnson }

---- 21 days may have come from 1976 Zaire outbreak or 2000 Uganda  (Note: see NCBI #3] below, intro, para3)

-- data from Congo studies suggest Quarantine Time of up to 31 days

 

2] New England Journal of Medicine, "Ebola and Quarantine", by the Editorial Board: Jeffery M. Dragen, et alia, DOI:  10:1056/NEJMe193139,

---- citing clinical observations: "...PCR test for Ebola is often negative on the day when fever or other symptoms begin and only becomes reliably positive 2 to 3 days after symptom onset." (italics and underline added --ed.)

---- "Ebola, as history shows, can only be stopped at the source"

--- editorial then goes on to talk-down quarantine

Comment: The Editorial Board in this highly cited opinion was used to criticize NY Gov. Cuomo and NJ Gov. Christie. What is wrong with this interpretation is that it is a consistent mantra that Ebola becomes contagious only when symptoms appear but the Editorial Board clearly states that the PCR test for Ebola is only reliable when symptoms appear -when bodily fluids are produced; yet then criticizes quarantines. Secondly, the history of disease "can only be stopped at the source" is accurate for John Snow's water pump, but was not true smallpox nor is it true for influenza and other pathogens. Ebola has many carriers so one case can produce many sources. :wacko: ?

 

3] http://www.ncbi.nlm.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3763195 ;  Frontiers in Microbiology  2013: 4:267, online 05Sep13, "Animal Models for Ebola and Marburg virus infections", by Nakayama, E and Saijo, M.

----- review of Ebola testing in Animals

---- the bat die-off in Spain (from the bibliography: "ebola like" LIouviu virus of genus Cuevavirus) (? Wasn't there a bat die-off in New England a few years ago?)

---- Lymphoid necrosis --Ebola attacking the spleen and lymph nodes in guinea pig models

--- Syrian Golden Hamsters --- studies indicate the target organs are spleen, liver and adrenal gland

-- in conclusion section: the liver is the main target of Filovirus infections

-Comment:   Intro para3: "2-21 days" , this 21-day statement, in NCBI library, maybe the origin for selecting 21 days as the recommended quarantine period.

 

This last article also discusses vaccines progress and possible routes to treatments/vaccinations.

Edited November 2, 2014 by hasanhh

[hasanhh]

(salam)

 

05Nov14:

 

1] CNN, 04Nov14 2030GMT, "Ebola outbreak: Get up to speed"

------- WHO "...decried the lack of investment in Ebola cures and vaccines..."

------ UNICEF will double its staff in West Africa to 600. 6000 orphans.

----- WHO: "transmission of Ebola is still 'widespread and intense'"

---- Krazy Kaci will not "go into town...or public places", she said.

 

2] The Globe and Mail, 05Nov14, 0902EST, "WHO asks Canada to justify visa ban for residents of Ebola affected countries"

------ "Canada's move contravenes the Int'l Health Regulations" taking actions "beyond what the WHO has recommended."

----- Public Health Agency of Canada said Tuesday night (the 4th, ed.) WHO was notified of the impending action

 

3] New York Times, 04Nov14, "Researchers Seek Crucial Tool: A Fast, Finger-[Edited Out] Ebola Test", by Andrew Pollack,

------ the FDA "is giving emergency authorization for use of qualified Ebola tests."

----- "companies are hoping to get their tests into the field in Africa in the next few months."

---- "testing capacity need(s) to more than double to about 12,000 tests a week."

--- "The standard testing technique for Ebola is known as reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, or RT-PCR, ... But PCR generally requires a tube of blood and is performed by trained personnel on a sophisticated machine. A test can take two to six hours or more and costs about $100." (italics and boldface added, ed.)

-- More than 300 hospitals already have one of BioFire's $39,000 machines.

 

4] WHO, 03Nov14, "Senegal boosts Ebola awareness through SMS campaign"***

----- WHO is crediting Senegal for using the SMS platform -in conjunction with other means- for limiting the spread of Ebola in Senegal after the Guinean student traveled there.

----- 4 million messages were sent to raise public awareness

 

--***Refer to posts 118 #3; 112 #4; 107 #3; and 100 #3 for more complete info

Edited November 5, 2014 by hasanhh

[Hameedeh]

http://healthmap.org/ebola/#timeline November 07 WEST AFRICA OUTBREAK *

Spain 1 caseGuinea 1760 cases1054 deathsSierra Leone 4862 cases1130 deathsSenegal 1 caseMali 1 case1 deathLiberia 6619 cases2766 deathsNigeria 20 cases8 deathsUnited States 4 cases1 death

[hasanhh]

(salam)

 

Mon,10Naov14;

 

Some Good News;

 

A friend of mine, who teaches cancer to doctors, was telling me Sunday that Ebola is a far simpler to study and develop a vaccine for than for  about any cancer treatments. He went on to say that Ebola has five proteins that can be targeted, so it only time that is the delay.

 

He also reiterated the "no money in it" theme --that has been posted above-- and also the lack of motivation among industrial countries because (until now -ed) they did not "feel threatened".

 

He is optimistic in tone.

[hasanhh]

(salam)

 

No Real News or Info:

 

CDC, 07Nov14 "Update":

 

Total in Case Count: 13,268

Lab Confirmed for Ebola: 8168

Deaths: 4960

 

As writ above, WHO is re-evaluating the case count because of inconsistent record keeping.

[hasanhh]

(salam)

 

10Nov14:

 

New York Times, 10Nov14, "'Epidemic of Confusion' Like AlDS Before It, EboIa lisn't Explained CIearly by OfficiaIs", by Lawrence K. Altman, MD

 

--the article rebuffs the political and medical leadership for not explaining Ebola factually enough to avoid negative responses to the infectious incidents.

 

--Opine: like the AlDS PR debacle where until it was explained why insects could not carry the disease, people didn't believe the "don't panic" mantra bandied around. lt has been nearly the same with Ebola, transmission, hazards, contaminants and cleanliness have not been reassuringly explained.

[hasanhh]

(salam)

 

11Nov14:

 

1] detroitnews.com, 11Nov14, "UM Health System, nurses union agree to Ebola contract",

------ "The UM contract focuses heavily on safety for nurses."

---- nurses will have a 'say' about training and equipment

 

12Nov14:

 

2] WHO SITREP  12NOVl4 compiled with: BBC News, " Ebola Outbreak deaths pass 5,OOO"

------ 5,l60 deaths  to 11Nov

----- "200 more" from 07Nov SITREP (post 177 via CDC)

------ 14,098 "confirmed, probable and suspected cases"

----- Mali: 4 deaths and 4 cases

 

3] New York Times, "Mali Reports Second, Larger Ebola Outbreak", by Donald C. McNeil, 12Nov14

------ a Grand Imam from Guinea traveled to the Pasteur Clinic (in Bamako ?) for better medical treatment and died 27Oct;

----- he was (mistakenly -ed)treated for kidney failure

---- Imam's family in Guinea "were dying"

--- clinic closed and quarantined 28 staff plus 50 "who had contact with the nurse" that has died.

[hasanhh]

(salam)

 

A theme that grinds: Controversy

 

12Nov14 #2

 

1] Associated Press, 12Nov14, "Ebola drug testing sparks ethics debate", by Matthew Perrons

------ the traditional drug testing with a control group that does not receive the drugs being tested, BUT

----- ...many medical authorities in Africa and Medicins sans Frontieres say this is "unethical' since Ebola kills 50%-80% of its victims

---- "aggressive medical care" in the US has machines, support therapies and supplemental antibacterials not available in Africa

--- this giving every victim a drug was done in the early 1980s with HIV

 

2] ABC News, 27Oct14, 1501EDT, "Why There's So Much Controversy Surrounding Ebola Quarantine Orders", by Sydney Rupkin

---- this is one of several articles dealing with argument about how to protect public health

 

3] Inside Higher ED, 10Nov14, "Nursing Student in Ebola Controversy Leaves Program"  (opine: guess who? )

------ Ted Wilbur, boyfriend of Kaci Hickox withdrew from the accelerated nursing program at the University of Maine at Fort Kent because, he said, he was "under duress" and did not have the (adequate) support from the University he felt entitled to.

---- Spokesman for UM said Wilbur "feels we weren't accommodating  enough".

 

4] Washington Post, 27Oct14, "No Unity over Ebola Monitoring of Travelers"

------ (quote) "The Ebola Quarantine controversy has become a chaotic brawl involving politics, science and the law." (emphasis added -ed.)

 

5] New York Times, 10Nov14, "Epidemic of Confusion" subtitled "Like AIDS before It, Ebola Isn't Explained Clearly by Officials", by Lawrence K. Altman, MD

----- basically, officials induced near panic by only repeating the "don't panic" mantra

---Note: In the early 80s, officials kept saying "there is nothing to worry about" and refused to answer questions about HIV being spread by insects, or in swimming pools and so forth, until officials realized they about had a revolt on their hands. The average person had gotten to the point where their thinking was: "they (gov't) are hiding something". After the AMA began explaining details and factoids, then people quickly calmed down. Locally, at Wright-Patterson, AFB, the paper described an on-base meeting about admission of HIV students into the schools, which the paper described as "vigorously opposed" by parents. Throwing chairs occurred and threats made was what attendees were saying later.

 

6] :wacko: to kinda morbid:

KTLA 5, ktla.com, 26Oct14, "Ebola Themed Halloween Costumes, Home Cause Controversy"

----- Brands-on-Sale, a California company, was selling hazmat suit costumes

---- James Faulk decorated his "Texas home like an Ebola hazmat scene"

[hasanhh]

(salam)

 

Sun, 16Nov14:

 

Note: ORS, Oral Rehydration Salts, is Ringer's Solution.

 

1] Bloomburg, Sun, 16Nov14 2109EST, "Beating Ebola Hinged on Sipping a Gallon of Liquid a Day", by Jason Gale

------- "...public health experts are learning from Ebola survivors what simple steps helped them beat the infection. Turns out drinking 4 litres...or more of rehydration solution a day...is crucial."

------ " Aggressive fluid replacement was deemed critical...according to...the New England Journal of Medicine (05Nov -ed.) last week."

----- ref to post 80, Cf post 160; "... shock from dehydration is the number one cause of death."

---- ref to post 148 #4c ; "Patients in Liberia lost 5 litres of fluid a day from diarrhea alone..." (plus, add vomiting, sweating, salivating... -ed.)

--- the "right painkillers"...Paracetanol, ...Panadol, is the preferred medication for pain and fever ... others such as aspirin and ibuprofen can worsen bleeding..."

-- ref to posts 62, 75, 123; "Nigeria's success in stopping Ebola showed how the virus can be stamped out and is a blueprint for other developing countries at risk of the disease, the VVHO said ..."

Recommendations

---- "Over eight to 10 days of illness  you will need possibly 40 litres of fluid."

--- "A fluid deficit and 'profound electrolytic derangement' appears to increase the risk of death ... the VVHO said in a Nov 6 statement."

-- drinking or gulping ORS makes you sick, only by sipping can you keep it down

- "flavoring the liquid also helps"

to get the potassium, calcium, magnesium needed, also use a "weak" ORS solution

 

2] ref to posts 102 #2 and 179 #2, headline only: NBC News, "US to Begin Screening Travelers from Mali for Ebola", 16Nov14, 1757 EST

----post 102 has reference to the road traffic in Africa and the spread of Ebola

 

3] New York Post, 16Nov14, 1619EST; "Schumer to Obama: Reimburse NYC for $20m Ebola treatment",

------ for Dr. Craig Spencer

----- ref to post 124 #4(for the UK); because Ebola is an "infectious disease that is a threat to the nation"

---- comparison of Ebola incident with natural disasters

--- see post 110;  "Around 100 healthcare workers were involved in treating Spencer..."

-- approx. 500 staffers kept track of about 300 people coming from "Ebola hotspots"

-post 108 #2 Obama said Ebola was "national security"

-

Edited November 17, 2014 by hasanhh

[hasanhh]

(salam)

 

17Nov14:

 

This Monday, the American-Sierran (Leone) Dr. Martin Salia, died at the Ebola hospital in Omaha, Nebraska.

 

Preface:  In post 172 #1 about the dearth of 'solid' publications on Ebola and that "clinical observations" is one of the few sources of information;

.             - ln post 168, fever is not always a reliable indication of Ebola infection

.             - In post 169, et alia, Ebola hides in the liver

.             - ln post 173 #1 where the questioning of the 21-day incubation period for Ebola is recounted;

 

1] NBC News, 17Nov14, 1434EST, "Dr. Martin Salia's Death Shows Early Treatment is Vital", by Maggie Fox

----- "Salia ... first felt ill during the first week of November. But he hadn't been treating Ebola patients and he'd already came through a 21 day incubation period after a close call with an Ebola patient. And his first blood test for Ebola came back negative on November 7." (underlines added -ed.)

---- As such, Dr. Salia treated himself for malaria (Op. Ques.: he wasn't taking quinine ?)

--- Salia's second Ebola test was positive on 10 November

-- ( Dr. Phil Smith who treated E-patients Sacra and Mukpo) "Smith said people usually develop fever about a week after infection. 'If you check right then after you get a false negative,' Smith told a news conference, 'Usually you have fever for three to four days, then you start getting other symptoms like diarrhea, nausea and vomiting,' he added.  "That's when patients then almost always test positive. If there's enough virus in the blood to set off a positive test, it's also enough to cause more advanced symptoms." (underlines and italics added -ed.)

 

 

2] Gallup.com, "Ebola ranks among Americans' Top Three Healthcare Concerns", 17Nov14, by Lydia Saad

 

-Healthcare costs                   19%

-Access to Healthcare            18%

-Ebola                                     17%

-Obesity                                  10%

-Cancer                                   10%

-Finding Cures                          3%

-Diabetes                                  2%

-AIDS                                        1%

-Flu                                            1%

[hasanhh]

(salam)

 

WHO Road Map -SITREP as of 16Nov14

 

5420 deaths

 

15,145 cases

 

WHO reports deaths and cases are "under reported"

 

MALI now has 5 deaths, most unrelated to the Imam that sought kidney treatment.

 

 

2] New York Times, online: 19Nov14, print 20Nov page A-1; "Ebola Response in Liberia is Hampered by Infighting", by Donald G. McNeil

 

---- arguing even over where tents are located.

[hasanhh]

(salam)

 

WHO Roadmap SITREP of 21Nov14:

 

As of, and inclusive of, 18Nov14

5459 Ebola deaths

15,351 cases -all classes

[hasanhh]

(salam)

 

23/24Nov14:

 

Here are headlines indicating current events:

 

1] PBS.org, 23Nov14 1251EST, "US looking past Ebola to prepare for next outbreak", by Lauran Neergaard, AP

------ the next: SARS, MERS, next HIV type spread

---- "...less than 20% of countries have reporting World Health Organization requirements..." for infectious control

 

2] Reuters, 24Nov14, 1421EST, "UN to miss Dec 1 Ebola target due to rising Sierra Leone cases"

---- a containment goal of 70% under treatment and 70% "safely buried"

 

3] National Journal, 24Nov14, "Who will pay Ebola Patients' Medical Bills in the US?", by Marina Koren

----- can be more than $1million

--- $50,000 per day

 

4] Wired, 24Nov14, 0630EST, "The US is Stockpiling Ebola Survivors' Plasma to Treat Future Patients", by Katie Palmer

------ at Emory

 

5] Awareness Times, a summary of 24Nov News:

------ "23rd November EBOLA STATISTIS" --Total Laboratory Confirmed: 5,402 cases

---- "Sierra Rutile...." --has donated $400,000+ to Ebola Response

--"Marie Stopes on Ebola Outreach Activities in Port Loko" --part of the Ebola Response Project

 

6] Wall Street Journal, 25Nov14, "US Buys Up Ebola Gear, Leaving Little for Africa"

Edited November 25, 2014 by hasanhh

[hasanhh]

(salam)

 

25/26Nov14:

 

1a] NPR (blog)  "As Ebola PingPongs in Liberia, Cases Disappear into the Jungle", 25Nov14

----- people who sought treatment n the cities are now going into the bush, so E cases are appearing in many places

 

1b] NPR (blog) "Ebola is Changing Course in Liberia, Will US Military Adapt?", 25Nov14, by Kelly McEvers

----- how Ebola is spreading is changing -pingponging as it is called

--- so US military constructed ETUs (Ebola Treatment Units) in/near major population centers no longer "makes sense"

 

2] Aljazeera, 26Nov14, "Ebola Workers in Sierra Leone Dump Bodies"

----- ~15 Ebola infected bodies

---- in front of public buildings

-- Ebola Burial Teams are not being paid their Ebola bonuses :mad:

[hasanhh]

(salam)

 

WHO Roadmap SITREP -26Nov14

 

as of 23Nov14:

 

--- 15,935 reported cases

 

-- 5,689  reported deaths

 

--current CFR:  approx. 60%

 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone

[hasanhh]

(salam)

 

1] ref post 192, ABC News is carrying an article saying there are "over 6000" E deaths. This is unsupported statements. WHO latest is above.

 

2] NBC News (and DeutscheWelle ), 27Nov14 1400EST: Germany unveils Evacuation Aircraft for Ebola Patients"

------ a converted Airbus A34--300

----- DW said Lufthanse converted it at the company's expense an will be staffed by Lufthanse employees.

 

3a] Washington Post, 28Nov14, 1832EST, "US Hospitals Wary of Caring for Ebola Patients because of costs and stigma", by Lena H. Sun and Brady Dennis;

------ US officials "running into reluctance" by hospitals to do Ebola-care

----- afraid of other patients "canceling left and right" said Michael Bell, Director of Laboratory Safety at CDC&P

---- yet, of the 5,000 hospitals in the US, "dozens have volunteered"

--- The gov't wants at least 1 Ebola hospital in every state

-- hospitals see no "incentive"

- it cost Emory U. Hospital $1million for 1 patient

 

3b] CNN 28Nov14, 1456EST, "Ebola out of the headlines, but on the horizon", by Irwin Reider

------- in testimony before the Senate Homeland Security Committee this past week, it was said that despite current assessments on the "Ebola Emergency", the threat remains

----- hospital "stigma" is again mentioned

 

 

Opine: Personally, I do not understand this hype about "stigma" towards hospitals or medical personnel. Doctors going into infectious areas and trying to deal with disease is what made doctors admired and even  "heroes" to most people. The same with nurses. And Quarantine is part of the job. Historically, the first astronauts returning from the Moon were put in quarantine.

.       Secondly, these are hospitals, not downtown offices or golf courses.

[hasanhh]

(salam)

 

ref to post 190, #2 by Reuters:

The WHO does not have its website up to date, yet several media are reporting as the following:

 

1] Al-Jazeera, 30Nov14, 0540update, "WHO reports sharp rise in Ebola deaths"; subtitled: "New toll of 6,928 shows a leap of about 1200 since Wednesday and appears to include previously unreported deaths"

----- ref to post #182

---- 16,000+ cases diagnosed since March

--- Sierra Leone - reporting 400-500 news cases per week, mostly around Freetown

-- "Only about 350 of some 1,200 promised treatment beds are up and running, according to WHO figures."

 

WHO "containment" goals

2] BBC News GMT, broadcast 0700EST

----- The WHO had set itself the goal starting 01Oct  of 70% containment by 01Ded. This means 70% of E-case under treatment, 70% safe burials in 60 days --70-70-60

---- this has been accomplish in the Republic of Guinea

--- in Liberia, it is 40%

-- in Sierra Leone, 23%

Edited December 1, 2014 by hasanhh

[hasanhh]

(salam)

 

ref posts 193 #1 and 194 #1 Cf   WHO:

 

Wed, 03Dec14 SITREP WHO website:

 

Total cases:  17,145

 

Deaths:   6,070

 

CFR:  "with a recorded definitive outcome is 72%" 

 

CFR in hospitalization: 60%

[hasanhh]

(salam)

 

Fri, 05Dec14:

 

WHO data

 

17,517 cases

 

6,187 deaths

 

Liberian deaths still not tallied accurately

 

Mali: cases centered in Bamako, unrelated to initial cases from Imam above.

[hasanhh]

(salam)

 

News Notes:

 

NBC News, 07Dec14 1115EST, "Ebola Czar Ron Klain to Return to Private Sector", by Elisha Fieldstadt

------ after lass than 6 months

----- Klain had agreed "to serve the country as Ebola coordinator for 130 days"

---- Klain is "president of Case Holdings and serves as general counsel for Revolution, a venture capital firm".

 

 

The Economist, 04Dec14 1558hrs, "The toll of a tragedy", by The Data Team

----a summarizing graphic of Ebola

[hasanhh]

(salam)

 

08Dec14:     WHO SITREP

 

the numbers as of 08Dec14;

 

17,800 cases

 

6,331 deaths

 

No change in availability of accurate reports from Liberia

[hasanhh]

(salam)

 

The WHO released SITREPs on the 11th and 12th of Dec2014

 

12Dec14:

 

Cases:  18,188

 

Deaths:  6,583;  50 more than the day before

 

 

NPR News: Mali has no new cases and the last one left the hospital.

[hasanhh]

(salam)

 

15Dec14 SITREP:

 

18,464 cases

 

6,841 deaths

 

No change in Liberia's reporting status.

[hasanhh]

(salam)

 

17Dec14 SITREP:

 

18,569 cases

 

6,900 deaths

 

No other reported changes.

 

1] Daily Mail, 11Dec14, "Ebola vaccine trial suspended after patients report suffering joint pain"

------ in hands and feet

 

2] News-Medical, 17Dec14 2117EST, "Researchers identify 53 existing drugs that may block Ebola virus from entering human cells"

----- published in Emerging Microbes and Infections

---- ZMapp is still unconfirmed in clinical trials

 

3] Medical News Today, 11Dec14, 0300PST, by Catharine Paddock, MD, "Ebola's ability to survive in the environment poorly understood"

------from a paper published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology

----{quote} " WHO guidelines say it is safe for hospitals and clinics to flush liquid waste from Ebola patients down the toilet or dispose of them in a latrine. But in research labs ... (it) must be disinfected before it can enter the sewage system..."

-- the researchers "...could not find any evidence to back up WHO assertions." :cry:

 

Opine from noted articles above:

Is WHO "crazy" on this? See post 126 #s 3,6, and especially 7. You want sewer rats infected with Ebola?

Also see posts 153 #4, 157 #2, 164 #2

 

Also above is the study on Rats having a pantheon of diseases in the sewers.

Edited December 18, 2014 by hasanhh

[hasanhh]

(salam)

 

Fri, 19Dec14 SlTREP

 

19,031 cases

 

7,373 deaths

 

Cumulative totals from Liberia still not available.

[hasanhh]

(salam)

 

Tues,23Dec14:  WHO SITREP

 

19,431 cases

 

7565 deaths

[hasanhh]

:!!!:

 

one example:

USA Today, 24Dec14, 1856EST, by Natalie DiBlasio, et alia; "Lab error at CDC may have caused Ebola expose"

---- "...a mix-up of color coding of samples of Ebola...were transferred from a biosafety level 4 lab...to  a biosafety level 2 lab."

 

one employee is under mandatory 21 day quarantine

[hasanhh]

(salam)

 

Wed, 24Dec14 SITREP

 

19,492 cases

 

7,588 deaths

 

CFR - 70%

[Hameedeh]

Families urged to hold 'safe' burials as funerals fuel outbreak

Quote

The radio announcement is chilling and blunt: "If I die, I want the deaths to stop with me."

Dr. Desmond Williams continues: "I want to give my family the permission to request a safe and dignified, medical burial for me."

The announcement is part of a campaign to urge Sierra Leoneans to abandon traditional burial practices, such as relatives touching or washing the dead bodies, that are fuelling the spread of Ebola in the West African country.

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/Families+urged+hold+safe+burials+funerals+fuel+outbreak/10684002/story.html

Infectious diseases such as Ebola have brought up new questions, at least in my mind. Can a Muslim be buried without being washed and touched by others? Can a Muslim ask to be cremated to make sure that nobody is exposed to his/her illness? I think our scholars need to take another look at these issues, due to the circumstances of modern time.

[hasanhh]

(salam)

 

Mon,29Dec14 SITREP

 

20,081 cases

 

7,842 deaths

 

Reporting status of Liberia unchanged.

 

BBC News, 30Dec14, 0156EST "Ebola Healthcare Worker Transferred to London Unit"

 

A woman working for Save-the-Children flew from Sierra Leone, to Casablanca, to Heathrow, and on to Glascow, Scotland.

 

She is at time of the report, being transferred by military air to the Royal Free Hospital.

 

BBC 1730braodcast of 29Dec said the Royal Free has 2 Ebola beds, and from the way it was reported, they portrayed these as the only ones in the UK.

[Hameedeh]

Ebola: Children playing near free-tailed bat nest caused worst outbreak in history

 

A group of children playing near a tree nesting site for infected bats is to blame for the worst Ebola outbreak in history, a study has suggested.

Published in EMBO Molecular Medicine, experts have said the most likely culprit for the Ebola outbreak, which has currently led to 7,842 deaths, are free-tailed bats – not fruit bats as had previously been believed. Transmission occurs from bites and scratches, and contact with bodily fluids, tissue, and excrement.
 
On 26 December 2013, Ebola was identified in Emile Ouamouno, a toddler from the remote Guinean village of Meliandou. At the time, they mystery illness was characterised by fever, vomiting, and black stools. He died two days later and retrospective testing by the World Health Organisation identified the disease as Ebola.
 
Officials believed the virus was transmitted to humans from hunting and eating bats – this practice can lead to infection of 'zoonotic' pathogens, with bats known for hosting more viruses than any other mammal.
 
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/ebola-children-playing-near-free-tailed-bat-nest-caused-worst-outbreak-history-1481312

[hasanhh]

(salam)

 

Fri,02Jan15 SITREP:

 

20,381 cases

 

7,989 deaths

 

No other changes.

[hasanhh]

(salam)

 

Mon,05Jan15:  WHO SITREP

 

20,656 cases

 

8,153 deaths

 

Inadequate reporting from Liberia continues. Tallies are the "low ball' numbers.

[hasanhh]

(salam)

 

Wed, 07Jan15: WHO SITREP

 

20,712 cases

 

8,220 deaths

 

BBC News quoted the WHO as saying that Sierra Leone is "stabilizing".