Ebola

Jess Yes I think you are right, about contact with body fluids rather than exchange, as I fucking love science(sic) indicates
https://scontent-b-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10517566_899119033442442_2568634819121051542_n.jpg?oh=3841d7809fc72e15858fe1d34deb5e4c&oe=547B88A5

Sky News had a live feed to a World Health Organisation press conference about 20 minutes ago . They have declared Ebola a 'Public Health Emergency of International Concern'

The BBC didn't show the press conference and Sky cut off the link to go back to the studio for us to listen to 3 people with not much of a clue. . That really annoyed me.

The hand rub/gel is antibacterial not anti viral.

Interesting statement Freda13 and prompted me to do a little light googling before breakfast. WHO have done a comprehensive investigation of all the available research bit.ly/1nBEYA9 - into all aspects of hand hygiene.
Quick skim seems to indicate that alcohol gels tend to reduce both bacteria and viruses on the skin, but some viruses are more susceptible than others.

One thing that had not struck me was the fact that the water available for hand washing may not be of good quality in the first place and could be contaminated - difficult in 3rd world.
And an interesting nugget - hot water for hand washing no better than cold - but hot water does lead to more skin irritation. So if you are mopping up after and ailing grandchild, wash your hands thoroughly with cold water.

If anyone has tried washing their already cold hands in cold water in Scotland in winter, they will probably agree with me that a happy medium of warm water is what you want. Cold water causes skin irritations too, the ones called chapping.

Just saying.

Hand-cleaning gels give me skin irritations too.

And nose irritations too.

Love it Janeainsworth.

Oh dear janeainsworth that's me put in my place isn't it? Does that mean ypu're not allowed to have an opinion or ask a question about anything without direct first hand experience? Narrows the conversation a bit.

The flow chart was supposed to be funny TF .

But being serious, you asked if we should be concerned about Ebola - yes of course we should, it is a tragedy for the affected people and countries of West Africa.

You then asked if there was a real risk of it reaching Europe and the UK. Yes there's a risk of an infected person arriving here, but it's very unlikely we would suffer an epidemic because of the systems we have in place regarding quarantine and cross-infection control.

I don't understand what you mean about not being allowed not being allowed to ask a question without direct first-hand experience. You asked the question, I and several others answered it - how is it narrowing the conversation?

I just felt the flowchart (while yes, funny!) was telling me or whoever to shut up about Ebola as were comments by others dismissing it as "media hype" while as you said, my initial question was that with increased ease of travel between e.g. Sierra Leone/Nigeria/even Monrovia and Europe or the USA , should we be sitting up and taking notice and not merely treating it as an African problem.

I think it was just a joke.

Our systems for dealing with possible Ebola should be sufficient - let us hope so. Not so the poor souls in those parts of Africa where infection control and education are inadequate.

I interpreted it as a criticism of the media hype and misinformation and certainly didn't intend it as a personal criticism of you or anyone else TF

OK

Terrafirma1

HollyDaze - of course, why should you worry about " the world snd his wife"? Or indeed his children being bombed in Gaza, or dying in Syria or starving in any other humanitarian tragedy or anything - leave it to the politicians ( who votes them into office? Oh yes, we do) and the charities( who funds them? Oh yes, people who do care). I agree that merely shaking one's head in despair doesn't do much, but there are ways to help or show you care. And a head shaken in despair is still better thsn one stuck firmly in the sand.

All your post has highlighted is exactly what I have said: it is people who are in a position to do something about it and that doesn't include the average person in the street other than donating money - then we would have to look at how much they have donated to see the extent of their concern. How many, for example, would sell their cars and donate the entire proceeds to fight this disease or help those affected by it? Remortgage the house? Cancel a holiday or two? I think there will be very few who would go to those extremes.

Don't assume that my head is stuck in the sand either - you know nothing about me or what I do, what I have done or what I will do. Just because I do not feel the need to exchange misery on a forum doesn't mean that I haven't helped those who need it. I just don't take on the world's worries; if that's your thing though, feel free to continue.

Oh lay off hollydaze I asked a legitimate question about the effect of intercontinental travel on a disease which up till now most of us had only ever heatd of thousands of miles away in a Third World country.Far from being "media hype" the events of the last few days have shown that there is a terrifying epidemic but at least in the UK, Europe and the US strategies are in force for quaranting suspected cadrs and money is being poured into finding a possible cure. This is not "spreading misery" but if you would prefer me to restrict my comments to fluffy kittens or cutesy anecdotes then good luck to you. Just lay off getting the wrong end of the stick and then proceeding to beat ME over the head with it.

No-one is beating you over the head with anything Terrafirma - you may not like my answers but they are the ones I am giving whether you like it or not.

Your thread title doesn't state that it can only be contributed to by those who agree with you - if you had made that clear, then I wouldn't have posted; as you didn't, I did post.

I didn't get hold of the wrong end of the stick either.

This is not "spreading misery" but you said:

Should we be worried about Ebola? When I first heard about it , it seemed a long way away but now there is a case of someone who was able to travel across 3 countries by international airlines before dying in Nigeria. As a disease it is 90% fatal and has a long incubation period - up to 21 days. With the increased ease of international and intercontinental travel - is there a real risk of it reaching Europe and the UK?

Sounds to me like you're trying to whip up a fair bit of concern in that OP and no matter how many times other FMs have stated facts, you still want to worry about it and blame ME because of my posts!

I suggest you do what others do and cease responding to my posts - I think it makes us all a lot happier that way.

Of course there's a risk of this disease spreading. Early symptoms include a fever, sore throat, muscle pains, and headaches. I've had these symptoms myself in the past. And therein lies the problem.

Why in the name of the wee man should I be required to stop posting? And exactly who would be happier (us all)? Do I get the feeling of a majority decision ? I quoted medical facts regarding the disease it does have a long ( 31 day) incubation period, at the time of writing it is 90% fatal. I am not whipping up any sort of unwarranted concern. I certainly have imposed no restrictions on who may post ( as you seem to be doing!) I still say I asked a legitimate question and if your answer is "No" fair enough. So why all this antagonism?

Keep posting Terra. Whether I agree or disagree I'm happy to read all posts. Actually though I laughed at the flow chart too I see what you mean and it was very over simplified simply to raise a laugh.

Too many simples, sorry!

Hollydaze if you don't like discussing miserable subjects WTF re you doing on a thread like this?
If you are not wanting to worry about people it does seem odd to be hanging around here just picking at other posters.
Specially if you don't want people responding to your posts - unless you happen to like the way they respond.

Quite so Jess. What is the point of a forum if members are advised not to post? Ridiculous.

We're not here to make one particular poster or any one else happy!

If anyone decides to post on a forum they need to accept that:

Some may disagree
Some may irritate
Some may post rubbish
And some may post excellent information or ideas that may make you change your mind.

If you're willing to listen, that is.

HollyDaze, I don't think people are deliberately not responding to your posts - GN just isn't that busy at the moment. I always appreciate reading your views.