Let's talk about ebola

Lately in west Africa (mainly Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and one case in Nigeria), there's been the largest outbreak of the disease in recent history with 600+ deaths and 1000+ infected. The disease has a low survival rate (this particular case appears to be around 25%), and kills relatively quickly.

Frightening disease. Difficult to contain too, depending on who you talk to.

I remember hearing stories of the Spanish Flu outbreak of 1918 where someone hopped aboard a train, got infected and by the time the train reached its destination (it took a few hours), the person dropped dead.

A pandemic is one of the most frightening threats in the modern world, with the highly connected modern world spread could be really fast, and it only takes a mutation into a strain that can be transmitted via the air to cause a major impact. If it will seriously threaten the western world then much more resources will be put in finding a cure and vaccine, as long as it only kills people in Africa the resources dedicated to it will be more limited, sad to say it like this but I'm afraid it's the truth. And look at how long it is taking to find really effective and affordable drugs for AIDS...

^ Indeed

Luna wrote: For those not acquainted. Lately in west Africa (mainly Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and one case in Nigeria), there's been the largest outbreak of the disease in recent history with 600+ deaths and 1000+ infected. The disease has a low survival rate (this particular case appears to be around 25%), and kills relatively quickly. Very recently, an infected man died in a Nigerian airport, in a city with 20,000,000+ inhabitants. Hopefully, his body is properly quarantined, but at this point we can only wait until symptoms appear in other Nigerians. We also have our first case of an American doctor infected with the disease. Did I mention there's no actual cure? My heart goes out to Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria.

I should invite you to my next party. You're a load of laughs.

I try to avoid reading up on epidemics or diseases on the internet or I'll suddenly find myself coming down with symptoms.

Reacting to catastrophic events carrying minute possibilities while ignoring all but certain disasters is a general human trend. 

Equality 7-2521 wrote: Reacting to catastrophic events carrying minute possibilities while ignoring all but certain disasters is a general human trend.

Eh, good bit of it has to do with the factors influencing anxiety. Bridge that people cross every day but will inevitably fall down? Eh, no biggie. Counterexamples are rampant, can avoid it if I really want. Disease with 50% mortality that could show up and spread through the population? Oh sh*t, can't run, can't hide, no control -- TERROR. Especially the way ebola is trumped up with the body horror and whatnot.


Edited by Gamemako - July 29 2014 at 18:03

Moderately curious why our government isn't limiting entry from certain countries, especially in the wake of a BC man getting infected (and self-quarantining himself, I might add)

Let's talk about hanta