EBOLA: KEY POINTS

1. Ebola virus (EBOV, formerly designated Zaire ebolavirus) is the most dangerous of the five known viruses within the genus Ebolavirus.[1] ...Because of its high mortality rate, EBOV is also listed as a select agent, World Health Organization Risk Group 4 Pathogen (requiring Biosafety Level 4-equivalent containment), a U.S. National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Category A Priority Pathogen, U.S. CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Category A Bioterrorism Agent, and listed as a Biological Agent for Export Control by the Australia Group.... --Ebola virus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2. As you can see, Ebola is a textbook example of the most dangerous microorganisms, requiring the highest level of biosafety, that is, Biosafety Level 4-equivalent containment. Here's what CDC says about Level 4 containment - - -

There are a small number of BSL-4 [BioSafety Level 4] labs in the United States and around the world. The microbes in a BSL-4 lab are dangerous and exotic, posing a high risk of aerosol-transmitted infections. Infections caused by these microbes are frequently fatal and without treatment or vaccines. Two examples of microbes worked with in a BSL-4 laboratory include Ebola and Marburg viruses.... --CDC LC Quick Learn: Recognize the four Biosafety Levels

3. Here's what the Main Stream tells you:

They [those who've had contact with a suspected Ebola victim] are considered to be at low risk of infection. The virus is spread only through contact with the bodily fluids of patients who have developed symptoms, Chioro said.... --Brazil announces its first suspected Ebola case; death toll tops 4,000 - LA Times

Here's the truth FROM CDC WEBPAGE: "If a symptomatic patient with Ebola coughs or sneezes on someone, and saliva or mucus come into contact with that person's eyes, nose or mouth, these fluids may transmit the disease." --The CDC & The UN Are Forced to Admit That Ebola is Airborne

4. But how long can Ebola survive in a sneeze aerosol or on contaminated surfaces? This will give you an idea, and thanks to Whyte Otf Sapphire:

Our study has shown that Lake Victoria marburgvirus (MARV) and Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV) can survive for long periods in different liquid media and can also be recovered from plastic and glass surfaces at low temperatures [reportedly temperatures below ~75° F (24° C)] for over 3 weeks. The decay rates of ZEBOV and Reston ebolavirus (REBOV) plus MARV within a dynamic aerosol were calculated. ZEBOV and MARV had similar decay rates, whilst REBOV showed significantly better survival within an aerosol. --The survival of filoviruses in liquids, on solid substrates and in a dynamic aerosol - Piercy - 2010 - Journal of Applied Microbiology - Wiley Online Library

5. CNBC anchor Becky Quick says head of CDC told CNBC yesterday that it would be impossible to prevent Ebola from entering the U.S. --CNBC, October 7, 2014, 07:30:42

6. Besides Thomas Eric Duncan, the Dallas victim, another case of Ebola surfaced in Spain and another possible case in a missionary in Brazil.

7. A Texas health care worker who provided care for the Ebola patient who died there last week tested positive for the deadly virus, and sent health officials scrambling Sunday to determine how she became infected. ...Thomas Frieden, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Sunday his agency will investigate how a worker in full protective gear contracted the virus.   --'Breach in protocol' caused second U.S. Ebola infection

8. CDC says Ebola can spread quickly in health care contexts --(CNBC)

9. Connecticut declares Ebola a health emregency to make it easier to quarantine folks even though there have been no Ebola cases in Connecticut so far. --CNBC, October 8, 2014, 10:23:29

10. Here's what a full-blown response to an outbreak "looks" like:

A massive public health response to the [10 apparently weaponized] smallpox cases in Aral ensued once the disease was recognized. In less than 2 weeks, approximately 50,000 residents of Aral were vaccinated. Household quarantine of potentially exposed individuals was enacted, and hundreds were isolated in a makeshift facility at the edge of the city. All traffic in and out of the city was stopped, and approximately 5.000 sq. meter (54.000 sq. ft.) of living space and 18 metric tons of household goods were decontaminated by health officials.[15] --Aral smallpox incident - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sunday, October 12, 2014 1:28 PM

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