Quote:
Originally Posted by sunnyatlast
NY Times -
What We’re Afraid to Say About Ebola
By MICHAEL T. OSTERHOLM
SEPTEMBER 11, 2014
...... "The second possibility is one that virologists are loath to discuss openly but are definitely considering in private: that an Ebola virus could mutate to become transmissible through the air. You can now get Ebola only through direct contact with bodily fluids. But viruses like Ebola are notoriously sloppy in replicating, meaning the virus entering one person may be genetically different from the virus entering the next. The current Ebola virus’s hyper-evolution is unprecedented; there has been more human-to-human transmission in the past four months than most likely occurred in the last 500 to 1,000 years. Each new infection represents trillions of throws of the genetic dice.
If certain mutations occurred, it would mean that just breathing would put one at risk of contracting Ebola. Infections could spread quickly to every part of the globe, as the H1N1 influenza virus did in 2009, after its birth in Mexico.
Why are public officials afraid to discuss this? They don’t want to be accused of screaming “Fire!” in a crowded theater — as I’m sure some will accuse me of doing. But the risk is real, and until we consider it, the world will not be prepared to do what is necessary to end the epidemic......"
Michael T. Osterholm is the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/12/op...out-ebola.html |
So let us assume the risks are real. Future actions and plans are based on developing realistic expectations of what COULD happen or COULD go wrong.
Then developing a preventative action plan BEFORE things begin to ramp up and move quickly.
Waiting until it does become airborne......no not even airborn.....WAITING to see what the current strain does before executing a plan (executing assumes there is a plan).
Do not wait and see what the government will do (or more importantly not do)....educate oneself now and take appropriate steps to the best of one's ability/capability to protect yourself and your family.
Just remember in the event of an outbreak the usual medical treatment availability will not exist. The system will very quickly become overwhelmed.
Plan ahead as mucgh as is practical.