Ebola

So, been loosely following this but this thing may be getting some legs under it.

Anyone think it could become a large scale outbreak? A second nurse has been identified, thats two and one of them traveled the day before she showed symptoms.

Both nurses have had a lot of contact with people. I always new it was a matter of time before that thing got here. Hope they contain it.

 

Yeah...as far as contagions go, it's not that big of a threat here in the US. It's definitely a scary bug though, in terms of the mortality rate and the quickness/traumatic nature of death. Contact with body fluid is the only way to get it (aside from eating certain wild animals in Africa), so it should be pretty easy to contain here in the states.

 

That's the past that concerns me: its jumping into our livestock.

The fact that the CDC supposedly told the second nurse to go ahead and fly after she reported early symptoms is troubling. We can isolate and stave off any serious outbreak here. But we have to be smart. That wasn't very smart.

 

The spread to livestock here seems like a really low probability. The meat issue in Africa stems from eating bats and mainly other primates- chimps, gorillas, etc- and not cooking them properly.

 

Yeah, that won't be pretty.

Thats whats bothering me. It's not easy to contract and these are people in the health field and yet they still got it and then the nurse got on a plane. That just seems very careless and stupid to me by all that were involved.

Should turn out ok but I wouldn't have thought even two people would have gotten it.

 

True. But I tend to think in worst terms possible.

New animal most likely? Pigs.

And then no more bacon.

 

Depends on the type of meat and even the cut. Most cuts of beef, you can get away with pretty much almost raw. (Unless it's scrap meat or bought ground, then there's a risk for E. Coli O157:H7 and should be cooked all the way through to at least 160 degrees) Some people advise even whole cuts be cooked to a minimum of 145 degrees internal temperature. But, IMO, that's playing it way safe. And I'm usually paranoid about any kind of food poisoning. Most beef doesn't worry me. I'll eat it raw before I'll eat shoe leather.

Used to be pork had to be cooked all the way through to at least 180 degrees internal temperature (to kill any possible trichinosis). Lately, they claim that trichinosis has been eradicated from domestic pigs and many chefs are now cooking some pork medium rare. But you'll never get me to try it.

Chicken/turkey obviously needs to be thoroughly cooked as salmonella is a major concern. 165 degrees for white meat, 180 for dark.

But that's all what we call "normal" meat. MONKEY? Bat? I have no idea. Burn it? And if you know it can hold ebola, just don't eat any period???

 

Your guess is as good as mine...I've never eaten bat, monkey or gorilla. I read somewhere that part of the reason the disease has spread so rampantly is because "bushmeat" is seldom cooked hot enough to kill pathogens. It's either smoked or barely cooked.

 

Now they are saying she may have had symptoms while in contact with 12 people. Anyone ever read The Stand?

 

MOON...that spells Tom.

 

At first I was like, "huh?", but then I realized I knew what that was. :-D

 

For you!

But The Stand's Captain Trips was a superflu. Flu is about elventybillion times easier to catch than ebola.

If Ebola was that contagious, MOST of Africa would be dying by now. Let's keep it in perspective. (And also hope the virus doesn't mutate)

 

Key words there.

That's if they don't get it under control and it hits higher density populations. Not even half that many have died to date. And the outbreak started in April.

Yes, there's a ton of cause for concern. Action must be taken above and beyond what is normally done. But it's not time to panic either.

 

I haven't played it yet. No spoilers.