Richard Preston wrote THE HOT ZONE back in 1994.
In it, he mentions the then-little-known viruses known as Ebola and Marburg. Ebola got all the press; Marburg didn’t.
Marburg is now back “in the news,” in a way you didn’t wish. From YahooNews:
Man dies from Ebola-like Marburg virus in Uganda
Kampala (AFP) – A hospital technician has died of the Ebola-like Marburg virus in Kampala, the Ugandan government announced on Sunday
The man, aged 30, died in the Mengo hospital where he worked in the capital of the east African country on September 28, 11 days after falling ill, the authorities said.
Tests confirmed the presence of the disease two days later.
The Marburg virus is one of the most deadly known pathogens. Like Ebola, it causes severe bleeding, fever, vomiting and diarrhoea.
The victim’s brother and one other person he was in contact with have so far “developed signs” of the disease, the ministry of health said in a statement.
But here is the paragraph of note:
“So far, a total of 80 people who got into contact with the initial confirmed case have been identified and isolated” for the 21-day incubation period, it added.
R2 indeed? Now, R=80?
“These include 38 health workers from Mengo hospital and 22 health workers from Mpigi Health Center IV.”
Like Ebola, the Marburg virus is transmitted via contact with bodily fluids and fatality rates range from 25 percent to 80 percent.
From apparently only one Index Case?
Ebola vs Marburg?
The Mayo Clinic delineates the symptoms of both Marburg and Ebola here.
Ebola and Marburg disease manual here.
Marburg virus described here.
As if we needed any more complications.
Heads up.
I don’t write this for my own comfort.
Clearly.
BZ
Oh yea, just what we need… Thanks for the heads up!
I notice that according to the disease manual both E and M are transmitted, not only by contact with the blood, vomit, stool, or urine of the patient BUT also by: touching infected patients AND also via droplets emitted by the patient while talking, coughing, or vomiting. Which seems to make these potentially much easier to acquire than we are being told.
And one of the ways to protect yourself given is: Put on a mask or use a dry towel to protect the nose and mouth from droplets emitted by the
patient. All well and good if you know who is contagious but if you don’t…
it’s kind of hard to protect oneself. And with long incubation periods when does a simple sneeze mean danger?
And THAT is why I believe that many people have become infected. Ebola can manifest itself through the air. A simple sneeze can mean danger after two days. . .indications are that Ebola incubates from 2 to 20 days. The CDC has been publicly stating 20 days, but you want to trust the CDC and take that chance?
BZ
You didn’t writer this for my comfort either! I agree with Abigail that Ebola can be more easily contracted than we are being told. My take: Be a germ freak and stay away from sick people.
And, of course, you may have an infected person in Hawaii.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ebola-virus-investigation-finds-hawaii-patient-doesnt-meet-criteria/
BZ
And this just in:
The Obama administration announced today they are “PLANNING” to increase screenings for incoming passengers, coming from Countries known to have cases.
Q.1: What about the passengers that first went to France, Japan, or some other country that doesn’t have “cases”?
Q.2: What about the passengers coming across the border illegally?
Q.3: What about the infected folks who are already here?
Why are liberal democrats ALWAYS reactionary? Why do they wait till the building catches fire and burns down before installing sprinklers? Why do they have to reinvent the damned wheel?!
Because according to their Leftist Mantra, to do otherwise would be harsh and judgmental and, hey, who are you to judge me or those poor people trying to come to America for their free healthcare and free Grumman Gulfstreams?
BZ
And now we are starting to see health care workers contracting E. outside of Africa: a Spanish auxiliary nurse who was caring for a repatriated Ebola patient in a Madrid hospital has tested positive. ..AFTER she had gone on holiday and started having fever symptoms.