What would happen if Ebola came to the United States?

Davey Jones

Davey Jones

Well-known Member
Location
Florida
Beat the heck out of me what would happen...I dont think anybody knows either.

The world is currently experiencing the worst Ebola outbreak in history — it's in West Africa and has killed about 672 people as of July 23.

But what would happen if the disease came to America?


The scenario isn't as far-fetched as it might sound. With air travel as common as it is, borders don't mean all that much when it comes to disease. It's entirely possible — though by no means certain — that at some point, someone infected with Ebola could get on a plane and land in the United States. And then what?
As it turns out, experts say, we'd probably be able to contain an Ebola outbreak here pretty quickly. But it's worth exploring why that is. The outbreak in West Africa is so severe for a number of key reasons, including a lack of resources, inadequate infection control measures, and mistrust of health workers. The United States, by contrast, has far better public-health infrastructure. And that makes all the difference.

http://www.vox.com/2014/7/30/5948995/why-ebola-would-never-get-this-bad-in-america
 

It won't be pretty. Anything from quarantines curfews. Increased health code enforcement. A rush on prescription medications.

Not to down play it because Ebola is very dangerous but a lot of diseases that wreaked havoc with people centuries ago or in poor conditions sometimes can be like a severe case of the flu which is a danger in a modern present day setting. With modern sanitation and knowledge simple things like keeping a patient hydrated can help. Tylenol can help keep fever down. It still would be a nasty experience and there are risks with any disease.

In others try to stay as healthy as you can. Keep up hydration and nutrition. Get plenty of rest and watch your sanitary habits.
 
One of 2 Americans infected with Ebola set to arrive in Atlanta amid fears
By Faith Karimi and Greg Botelho, CNN
updated 7:25 AM EDT, Sat August 2, 2014


CDC: Ebola is not a huge risk for U.S.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Both Americans infected with Ebola will be treated at Emory University in Atlanta
The plane is only outfitted to carry one patient at a time
It will drop off one patient, then head back to Liberia for the second one
WHO: Ebola has killed over 700 people in West Africa in recent weeks

Atlanta (CNN) -- A medical plane bringing home one of two Americans battling the highly infectious disease Ebola is expected to arrive in Georgia on Saturday.
The arrival marks the first time an Ebola patient will be knowingly treated in the U.S.
It lands at Dobbins Air Reserve Base near Atlanta on Saturday under strict safety protocols -- before taking off again for West Africa to get the second American infected with Ebola, U.S. officials said.

Ebola patients to be treated in the U.S. Sick doc. gives Ebola serum to friend Why no cure or prevention for Ebola?
The plane is equipped to carry only one patient at a time.
Both humanitarian workers -- Nancy Writebol and Dr. Kent Brantly -- will be evacuated from Liberia. It's unclear who will come first.

Dr. Bruce Ribner, who oversees the special isolation unit where they will be treated, said they are stable and "safe to transport."
He emphasized that precautions are in place to prevent the deadly virus from spreading, as the two undergo treatment at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.
Everything that comes in and out of the unit will be controlled, he said, and it will have windows and an intercom for staff to interact with patients without being in the room.
The Emory unit was created in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is based down the road. It aims to optimize care for those with highly infectious diseases and is one of four U.S. institutions capable of providing such treatment.

Though confident, Emory has not had any experience dealing with Ebola, which the World Health Organization reports has infected more than 1,300 people and killed over 700 in recent weeks in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

Ebola is not airborne or waterborne, and spreads through contact with organs and bodily fluids such as blood , saliva, urine and other secretions of infected people. No U.S. medical facility has had a known patient with the virus.

"This particular pathogen is new to the United States," Ribner said.
 

Amid what fears? I live here, and the local news has been all over this story. There are four local channels on TV, and they've all interviewed "the man on the street" for the past two days...lots of them, and not one person has expressed any concern whatsoever. No one I know is concerned. There are no protests or tin foil hats clamoring that this is a NIMBY situation.

Aside from the situation in the Middle East, this is the big story. It must be a slow spell for the hysterical media.
 
Misty said:
... Ebola is not airborne or waterborne ...
Click to expand...

... in its natural state - that's what scares me ...

The biggest risk, the way I see it, is having crowds of people being exposed at one time. Malls, sporting events, churches - they all serve as epicenters for the distribution of the disease. No, it isn't thought to be airborne, but with something like this, with the lack of knowledge about it, that's a huge risk to take. It's a virus - they can mutate quite quickly.

If it gets bad enough I could envision a ban on interstate travel and the shutting-down of many public venues.
 
GeorgiaXplant said:
Amid what fears? I live here, and the local news has been all over this story. There are four local channels on TV, and they've all interviewed "the man on the street" for the past two days...lots of them, and not one person has expressed any concern whatsoever. No one I know is concerned. There are no protests or tin foil hats clamoring that this is a NIMBY situation.

Aside from the situation in the Middle East, this is the big story. It must be a slow spell for the hysterical media.
Click to expand...

Give the American public some time to fully understand what this Ebola is all about,once someone sick walks into a hospital and is diagnosed with this virus then all hell will break loose,simply cause there is NO cure for it.
 
From what I've read since the US has much better sanitation and medical care treatment(not cure) goes much better. The biggest thing I heard was keep the patients hydrated because of their high fever. The US also has Tylenol or acetaminophen to help lower the fever.

Also read the major form of transmission is fluids. Something about the way they handle the dead in the affected countries as well.

Have to remember in a lot of the countries where diseases like this breakout they are dirt poor, with poor sanitation, nutrition and normal medical care which increases the odds of them not surviving an outbreak. Doesn't mean it couldn't wreak havoc here but not on the scale it is in other countries.

Also head about an executive order giving the feds the right to detain anyone with a respiratory disease which is a bit over reaching.
 
Davey Jones said:
Could never understand that word "UPTICK":D
Click to expand...

It means an upwards movement, as on a sales graph.


dot-info-graph.jpg



http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uptick
 
re original question............ he would get an apartment , free medical care , free bus pass and a job ahead of anyone else............. just the same as if he came to the UK.
 
romfty said:
re original question............ he would get an apartment , free medical care , free bus pass and a job ahead of anyone else............. just the same as if he came to the UK.
Click to expand...

Though I assume you were just being facetious, it still should be noted that none of that really happens here in the US.

Only the children of the poorest of the poor get free medical care & possibly their mothers, but even that is limited to maternity care, & it also applies to natives who were born here.

In most states, you could be homeless & sleeping behind a dumpster, but if you're single with no kids, you don't qualify for Medicaid.
 

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