HAZMAT suit added to the shopping list

[GMT]

So, till about a week ago, Ebola was something I read about on the internet and felt happy to be living in a quiet corner, away from so much of the world.

Then the UK sent a "hospital" ship to Sierra Leone ... filled with 30+ trucks and 600 military personnel, from nurses, doctors and helicopter pilots who live close to my house.
I started researching both the "toned down" information from here in the UK and the "colourful" information from the US :willynilly:

Now 2 ships from Freetown, Sierra Leone are on their way for "a new paint job" in the next few days, and there will only be a "low risk" of Ebola infection .... they'll be docked not far from where I live! .... did I miss something? ... low risk of infection from a supposed deadly disease that has a 20% chance of recovery from?? oh, ok.

I looked in horror at the ship tracking website last night, showing one of the ships left Freetown yesterday .... it's on its way.

I've called EVERYONE and their dog where I live, and am being treated as if I'm completely over-reacting.

The local hospital can't cope with more than a splinter, and they've just been given the HAZMAT gear ... not sure whether to laugh, cry or just have a cup of tea and not think about it

Obviously I'm considering leaving town .....

Anyone got some thoughts on this?

[sanantone]

Ebola has a low survival rate, but it is not a highly contagious disease. People are only contagious when they display symptoms, and you have to come in contact with their bodily fluids in order to contract it. The virus makes its way into your body through broken skin and mucous membranes.

[GMT]

Ebola has a low survival rate, but it is not a highly contagious disease. People are only contagious when they display symptoms, and you have to come in contact with their bodily fluids in order to contract it. The virus makes its way into your body through broken skin and mucous membranes.

I've read all of that, I'm just confused that no-one seems at all bothered by the change of ZERO risk, to LOW risk because of these 2 ships coming here for a new lick of paint.
I was happy in my world of zero risk

Where I am is a highly sociable place, lots of coffee bars and walking. Very little car usage. Lots of public transport and close proximity sneezing and coughing.

Ironically, if the town had a case of Ebola, it would go into meltdown ... being proactive is not a British strong point, let alone the Cornish bumpkins

[Johann]

Ebola has a low survival rate, but it is not a highly contagious disease. People are only contagious when they display symptoms, and you have to come in contact with their bodily fluids in order to contract it. The virus makes its way into your body through broken skin and mucous membranes.

Newsflash! CDC has just quietly admitted Ebola can be spread by sneezes - here's the latest:

CDC admits Ebola can be passed to others by sneezing - Washington Times

Johann

[sanantone]

Newsflash! CDC has just quietly admitted Ebola can be spread by sneezes - here's the latest:

CDC admits Ebola can be passed to others by sneezing - Washington Times

Johann

That's not much of a newsflash. One emits body fluids when sneezing.

[Johann]

That's not much of a newsflash. One emits body fluids when sneezing.

Can't argue. BUT - but the CDC had previously said the virus doesn't spread at all by air - so now we have conflicting statements - as I see them, anyway.

I said "newsflash" (maybe a wee bit sarcastically) because the turnaround by CDC seemed quite sudden. High drama on my part, I guess. Not unusual - sorry.

Quoting Meryl Nass, (Institute for Public Accuracy) from the cited article: "The CDC said it doesn’t spread at all by air — then Friday they came out with this poster. They admit that these particles or droplets may land on objects such as doorknobs and that Ebola can be transmitted that way.”

Johann

[LaterBloomer]

Folks, we all survived (avoided?) AIDS, the swine flu, etc., etc., etc. For Pet's sake, where's the stiff upper lip, GMT? Have a tea and a scone, close your eyes, and think of England.

[Johann]

I've called EVERYONE and their dog where I live, and am being treated as if I'm completely over-reacting.

Well, if everybody treats you that way -- maybe there might be just a smidgen of truth to it. If the dogs do - there's bound to be! Dogs generally have far more "emotional intelligence" than humans. I'm not criticizing -- just sayin'

... not sure whether to laugh, cry or just have a cup of tea and not think about it

You might try doing all three. No harm in it. You might feel better and I think that's exactly what you need. Again, that's not a criticism. You've had a bad time of it, with all the hoopla out there. I'm sure LaterBloomer would approve all three actions:

Have a tea and a scone, close your eyes, and think of England.

For a third time - I'm not calling you out in any way for referring to the locals as "Cornish bumpkins," while you were very upset. Not at all. I'm sure on a good day, you like the locals just fine. Even when you were most upset, you wrote that you had "felt happy to be living in a quiet corner, away from so much of the world." I think on a normal day, you get along fine with the people there -- and I know how beautiful Cornwall is. And I'm also convinced things will return to normal - and that if there was ANY measurable chance something might be going awry, the local hospital would suddenly be swarming with the best disease-control specialists in Britain.

"Nyns yw unn tavas nevra lowr." That's Cornish for "one language is never enough." And no, I'm not Cornish. I'm from London, 60-odd years ago. I had to look it up

Johann

[smf6824]

You can die of so many things..... dont worry about death. Focus on life.

[rebel100]

Your more likely to contract and die from the common flu or a c diph infection than Ebola.

Wash your hands

Get your flu shot

Stay away from sick people as much as possible

Seriously, ebola is way overblown especially considering all the things that actually are near you that may actually kill you.