somesignifier

Thanks - this is interesting! What is confusing though is that this CDC link on prevention advises avoiding hospitals pwhere Ebola patients are being treated.

The Guardian article quotes a local:

"Mara, a resident of Moty N’Zérékoré, said she had heard the programme, which addressed widespread fears that going to the hospital – for any reason – was unsafe.“I thought what people were saying was true. But the explanations of the chief doctor of the clinic allowed me to understand hospitals are not the source of the risk,” Mara said."

Can anyone clarify the apparent contradiction?

Thanks for the reply! So CDC prevention advisory, besides travel, does also say if you are in an area affected by Ebola.

I understand the advice for a foreign traveller with no symptoms. Regardless of how the disease is transmitted, avoidance of Ebola treatment acts as a risk minimisation strategy both to prevent transmission to an individual and to avoid spread overseas.

But, in term of consistent health information about preventing virus transmission, what if you are a local?

In the Guardian article the lady quoted explained reassurance from a doctor that increased risk of infection from getting checked out at the hospital is a rumour and misinformation.

This seems especially relevant if the virus was in early stages and not obviously ebola - you wouldn't want to catch it at the hospital if you turned out to have the flu. I hope to understand more about how the virus is known to actually transmit, and the fears in these communities that you guys are on the ground working with. Emily was saying hospitals have been overwhelmed and the environment can make infection control difficult. Appreciate a domino effect is likely in place and you guys are working to change it.

Hello, I looked at the CDC link and have loads of questions :)

"Avoid contact with bats and nonhuman primates or blood, fluids, and raw meat prepared from these animals."

Is it possible to clarify what the link is here? Are bats and primates known to carry ebola? How would people be coming into contact with them? For instance "meat" is mentioned. "Meat" is something I think of as a food source, but I wouldn't have thought of or realised those animals as food sources. i hadn't known there was a non-human carrier. i will keep reading :)

I am interested to understand how this virus acts and transmits itself. i se a lot of useful links but am wondering if someone could help answer here.

I'm slightly confused, because, it seems the virus relues on body fluids for transmission, but can also ?permeate mucous membranes as well as broken skin.

Does this mean that mucous membranes do not need to be broken and would they have to come into contact with body fluid?

The website advised to avoid hospitals where Ebola patients are being treated. Why is this necessary if not coming into direct contact with the body fluids of a patient, if proper protocol was observed?

Are there things we know we don't know at this point?

If I had some symptoms and was worried I may have Ebola but the official advice from the CDC is to avoid hospitals treating Ebola, then might I not be discouraged from seeking treatment? Are people delaying or avoiding possible treatment because they fo not want to definitely risk infection?

Thanks for any possible answers.

This is very useful information, thanks so much! I had no idea about the bats and monkeys, even though I have seen several news items now about the spread of and efforts to contain the virus, because only human-to-human transmission had been mentioned.

I can see how infection could have potential to spread unchecked in holding areas where people go for treatment where there isn't enough medical staff and beds. This makes sense. I feel for the people affected, and thank you all for what you are doing to help efforts within these communities and enlighten people like myself.

Completely understand. Just trying to place myself in the position of a local in terms of information. Early intervention must be key. Thank you for your responses - I will continue to read more.