On 1 Oct 2014 there were approximately 7000 known cases and an estimated 3300 deaths. As of 17 Nov 2014 there are 14000 cases and there have been over 5000 Ebola related deaths. It has more than doubled in the last 6 weeks. It is spreading and the rate is increasing. Initial contraction of the disease was from contact with animals who were sick through bites or ones that were found or killed for food. Bites from Fruit Bats are thought to have caused the current epidemic. Due to this even if they get this epidemic under control it can pop back up anywhere at any time from contact with an infected animal.
Ebola is an RNA virus. Viruses mutate with every new victim. It is currently transmitted via direct contact with bodily fluids, organs or surfaces and items contaminated with these fluids (including bed sheets and clothing). However, every new case is a chance for the Ebola virus to mutate into an airborne virus as well. The chance so far is very slim but it can happen - especially if it were to get into a densely populated area unnoticed and begin spreading. Between the three week incubation period and the flu like initial symptoms (sudden onset of fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache and sore throat) as well as the possibility of a false positive (see below USA Report). One carrier going to a crowded clinic and interacting in the waiting room for an hour or two could be all it takes to kick off a pandemic.
So far Ebola is contained to Africa with a few known cases of people traveling to other countries bringing it with them. Sierra Leon, one of the hardest hit countries, has 6 million plus people in it. The density (people per square mile) is much lower than say New York or Atlanta - two cities with international airports. One of the main reason we haven't seen more of it in the US is due to measures taken to track any who have come from West Africa as well as anyone they came in contact with. Also we have much better health care and resources for quarantining patients. It is just a matter of time however. Nobody wants to believe they can get Ebola and many don't want to cooperate with a voluntary 21 day quarantine. Even some health care workers returning refuse to take precautions citing no symptoms. While I doubt that the mortality rate and the transmission rate will be as bad here as in third world countries there has already been a nurse who contracted the disease on US soil while caring for a patient. We are not invulnerable and America needs to WAKE UP.
Why is our government not doing more to stamp this out before it gets here or turns airborne? We have the resources, the training, and the people to do it. We routinely go to other countries to kill to protect our way of life is it asking too much to go to help? Is it dangerous for the ones that go? Sure it is but it will be just as dangerous if they wait until it gets here. So why is the US government willing to go to other countries to kill and risk casualties but they balk at going to heal? Could it be because there is no oil or other resources we want there?
Believe Nothing; Question Everything; Trust No One
Sources Consulted for this article:
Sources Consulted for this article:
Other articles by other authors can be found here:
Carroll, R. (2014, November 16). What We Have to Fear About the Ebola Virus. Retrieved November 17, 2014, from ezinearticles.com
- USA TODAY: SURGEON DIES OF EBOLA AFTER NEGATIVE EBOLA TEST
- Yahoo! News: Doctor With Ebola Dies At Nebraska Hospital
- Omekara, O. (2014, October 14). Ebola Fast Facts. Retrieved November 17, 2014, from EzineArticles.com
- Comerford, D. J. (2014, October 15). Could Our Pets Infect Us With Ebola?. Retrieved November 17, 2014, from Ezinearticles.com
Carroll, R. (2014, November 16). What We Have to Fear About the Ebola Virus. Retrieved November 17, 2014, from ezinearticles.com
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