I have not recently added to this thread because of the regular developments and frequent updates available elsewhere ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-28754546 ;

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/ebola/en/ ).



• The disease does highlight global disparities in healthcare resources. The chance that the virus will establish a foothold in high resource countries like the UK or United States remains very small. The UK has " tried and tested systems " in place for dealing with severe infectious diseases.


• The cost to the poor countries of West Africa affected by the epidemic is not only in terms of numbers affected and deaths ( 4000 of the latter, including 200 health workers, probably an underestimate ) but also economic ( see the BBC link ).



• It’s hard to keep vigilant, and mount an appropriate, measured, response without panic.


• Screening of airline passengers as they arrive from West Africa – directly or via some other country - is being implemented in the USA and seems likely to follow in the UK . This alone DOESN'T solve the problem :-


1. Immigration officers are not trained health professionals.


2. There are many causes of fever apart from ebola ( such as malaria, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis, dengue, and other viral haemorrhagic fevers ).



3. As the incubation period for ebola varies between 2 – 21 days, potential victims might not even have a fever on attempted entry - by whatever route - to a country such as the U K.


4. Definitive laboratory diagnosis takes time, apart from the expense ( a variety of blood tests for the virus, antibodies to it, looking for the virus by electron microscopy, or culture of the virus ).



• The Philippines has many ( possibly 3,500 ) OFWs, living and working in the areas of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. There has been a travel ban to those affected areas in West Africa for over three months. The few OFWs who have returned are being " monitored " by the Department of Health ( DOH ). Rightly, the Philippines government has rejected WHO’s call to send health workers to West Africa. There is an “ Ebola summit “ today ( 9 September ) which intends to update and inform Filipinos and of course keep the country free of the virus
( http://www.philstar.com/headlines/20...ummit-thursday ).


• In addition to the huge amount of information available on ebola, it may be worthwhile reminding Forum members :-


1. It’s ONLY transmitted among humans by close and direct physical contact with infected bodily fluids – especially blood, faeces and vomit.


2. It can be transmitted " indirectly " – by contact with previously contaminated surfaces and objects. Appropriate cleaning and disinfection procedures reduce this already low chance.



3. It is NOT an airborne virus. ‘Flu, common colds, measles, and TB are more easily spread because they ARE airborne. We’ve known this by studying the virus over the four decades since its discovery. There is NO evidence that the ebola virus could mutate into a form that could be easily spread among humans through the air.


• This epidemic IS out of control in West Africa – but is still very unlikely to become a pandemic, even if isolated cases are almost inevitable in other continents.


• At last the international community has recognised ebola as a " public health emergency of international concern " . Sadly many more seem likely to be infected and die in West Africa before this epidemic is controlled. Effective vaccines and drugs are on the horizon to prevent and treat future outbreaks.


• There is – unsurprisingly - a good deal in the medical press on this topic. More recent ones include :-


http://download.thelancet.com/flatco...3614617918.pdf



http://www.thelancet.com/journals/la...697-4/fulltext