Ebola outbreak declared after three die in Democratic Republic of Congo

Ebola is back. Something to watch for if it spreads like it did a few years ago and begins to jump borders. God forbid if this ever becomes a mass epidemic.

Hopefully not ground zero for another worldwide panic.

news.sky.com...

An Ebola outbreak has been declared in the northeast region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The World Health Organisation says three deaths are being linked to the virus, and it is taking the situation "very seriously".

The WHO has warned that the virus could resurface at any time, as it can linger in the eyes, central nervous system and bodily fluids of some survivors.

The virus is fatal in up to 90% of cases, and the WHO recently developed an experimental vaccine for use in emergencies.

In a statement, the DRC's health ministry said: "Our country must confront an outbreak of the Ebola virus that constitutes a public health crisis of international significance."

Health minister Oly Illunga has urged

I thought the outbreak had been totally eradicated?

a reply to: infolurker

Thank you for this thread. Definitely something to watch out for.

I'd flag but I don't have enough posts for that, I gave you a star though!

Not this Ebola nonsense again

As if they do not have enough problems in that part of the world... thanks for the heads up.

a reply to: infolurker


Digest this article from 7 months ago.....


US Accepts More Refugees From DRC than Syria amid warning of militants!

Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't ISIS talking about sending people here infected with Ebola?

Nevermind, they DID!

ISIS Could Turn Ebola Into Bioweapon, Security Expert Warns

Buckle up folks!

a reply to: infolurker

I question whether "3" qualifies as an "outbreak". 3 instances with the potential of more...but still....3 "cases".

* c/o WHO | Disease outbreaks
www.who.int › Health topics

"A disease outbreak is the occurrence of cases of disease in excess of what would normally be expected in a defined community, geographical area or season."

Ok. Im wrong...Since none is the norm...more than one constitutes an "outbreak". Pfft.


MS
EMT

Ooh! Doom porn!



This is exactly what we need to break up the monotony of all the political BS.

originally posted by: wlasikiewicz
I thought the outbreak had been totally eradicated?

Not to worry...when more people start to question it, they'll simply announce that it "mutated", or "became resistant". I'm actually kind of surprised that they didn't trot either of those out already. Must be testing the reaction first. Gotta maximize that fear any way they can.

a reply to: watchitburn

The book Marge reads to Bart before bed, titled “Curious George and the Ebola Virus,” was introduced to fans in a 1997 episode. 1997.

At the time, I was three and the Ebola outbreak was still about sixteen years away.

Studybreaks.com - The Simpsons Have Been Predicting the Future Since 1989.

Speaking of The Simpsons...

D'oh!

Hopefully it doesn't spread. God knows the 9th circuit and liberals would block Trump out of spite if he discriminated against bringing in outbreak patients

originally posted by: mysterioustranger
a reply to: infolurker

I question whether "3" qualifies as an "outbreak". 3 instances with the potential of more...but still....3 "cases".

* c/o WHO | Disease outbreaks
www.who.int › Health topics

"A disease outbreak is the occurrence of cases of disease in excess of what would normally be expected in a defined community, geographical area or season."

Ok. Im wrong...Since none is the norm...more than one constitutes an "outbreak". Pfft.


MS
EMT

You're NOT wrong in questioning why they are calling it an outbreak. Zero is NOT the norm. Ebola "outbreaks" occur several times a year.
www.cdc.gov...

originally posted by: TEOTWAWKIAIFF
a reply to: watchitburn

The book Marge reads to Bart before bed, titled “Curious George and the Ebola Virus,” was introduced to fans in a 1997 episode. 1997.

At the time, I was three and the Ebola outbreak was still about sixteen years away.

Studybreaks.com - The Simpsons Have Been Predicting the Future Since 1989.

Speaking of The Simpsons...

D'oh!

However, the episode was written just after the release of the highly successful 1995 film "Outbreak", about a disease (based on Ebola though given a new name so they could tweak the effects) that spread from Zaire to the US. In one of those odd twists of fate, Zaire was actually battling a real Ebola outbreak at the time of the film's release.

The Simpsons - predicting the future, or just drawing on current events and popular films at the time it was written?

Edited to add: wrist-communicators have been "a thing" since Dick Tracey in 1946, video phones were used in 2001 A Space Odyssey back in 1968. Apart from the Trump reference, the Simpsons have just drawn on things that were already well known to comic book geeks and film nerds (which probably covers 90% of the scriptwriters and animators involved), they were just not as well known to many viewers.

a reply to: EvillerBob

The film focuses on an outbreak of a fictional Ebola-like virus, Motaba.

Wikipedia

But you're right. The timing works out: film, 1995; The Simpsons, 1997.

Let's face it, the writers come from Harvard so they are probably well read! The Hot Zone, probably on the list.

Still makes me laugh! Curious George lying in bed on the cover!

a reply to: mysterioustranger

The reason it could be a disease outbreak in that part of the world is because of the general lack of facilities that can handle the virus, the suspicion of modern medical practices (like those needed to control the virus), and the funeral practices of the local people which creates exacerbated disease exposure conditions even after victims have died.

Three victims have plenty of opportunity to move all over and infect many others both during their sickness and after their death.

Last time TPTB missed the timeframe to combinate refugee crisis and ebola. Round two.

originally posted by: verschickter
Last time TPTB missed the timeframe to combinate refugee crisis and ebola. Round two.

Interesting point.

Last time, I speculated that the only way ebola could seriously threaten a first world system would be if it managed to overwhelm a first world health and sanitation system somewhere.

*eyeballs refugee camps in places like France*

Hello ... Get the wrong person in the wrong place with the hostility of those populations to the proper authorities and the refusal of the proper authorities to go into certain communities and you could have an issue ...

originally posted by: infolurker

and the WHO recently developed an experimental vaccine for use in emergencies.

The T-virus. I see.

a reply to: Iamonlyhuman

Oh, I know. Im an EMT and a 1st Responder. We cant put on many more pairs of sterile gloves than the 2-3 pairs I do now! And we've taken to wearing face masks way more often than we used to....

a reply to: ketsuko

Yes. As Ive stated...I work in emergency medicine and hazmat and bio-chem disaster response.

All we both stated is true.

MS
EMT/ERT
Advanced Disaster Life Support

**PS Thanks Ketsuko for your reply!