This is something I wrote when a relative asked me for my
thoughts on the ebolavirus outbreak. I sent it to my mom and she found it very
calming so I hope that it helps anyone overly concerned. I encourage all my
infectious disease/wildlife disease friends and colleagues to write about this
or other diseases you feel the media is portraying in a less than ideal way.
…secondly, after you asked me, I gave this a lot of thought
last night. I don't have a cable or satellite subscription so I feel like I am
somewhat buffered from poor reporting, sensationalism and pundits. Also, most
of my social media aside from facebook is all scientists, which I love, but
also doesn't give me a good day-to-day perspective. In many ways, this is a
conscious choice to avoid outlets that may interpret facts for me-- I prefer to
form my own opinions/think about things.
I think it's a shame that the media is not more responsible, especially
on volatile topics such as ebola or childhood vaccination. I think we all need
to demand more from the media.
Based on what we know (quite a bit!) about the biology of
the virus (it’s a filovirus), there is very little risk to the average person
in the United States (http://www.jvat.org/content/20/1/44).
Most of us do not come into contact with affected travelers from western
African countries. This does not excuse xenophobia, however. As we're seeing,
there is risk for healthcare workers (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6341a3.htm)
if the proper PPE (personal protective equipment) is not worn or there are
breaches in protocol (http://www.nature.com/news/ebola-by-the-numbers-the-size-spread-and-cost-of-an-outbreak-1.16144).
Hopefully, the situation in Dallas/the flight is a teachable moment and no more
deaths or infections occur. The lack of PPE and training and resources in
Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Libera is one of the major contributing causes to the
ongoing epidemic there.
A person is only infectious (shedding virus) when they begin
to show signs of infection (fever, malaise, etc) so if a person has a potential
exposure, they can be quarantined for the duration of the incubation period
(the time after a person is initially infected to when they are able to infect
others). For more on this: (http://www.virology.ws/2014/10/16/the-quarantine-period-for-ebola-virus/)
To become infected, the person would have to have contact
with the bodily fluids of an infectious person such as vomit, urine, feces,
male ejaculate, etc. The virus is not transmissible via aerosol like other
viruses.
Some researchers have
suggested that the virus may evolve to become transmissible in this manner, but
the main researcher who suggested this is also the same guy who led a crusade
against the research that helps us understand viral evolution (http://www.virology.ws/2014/09/18/what-we-are-not-afraid-to-say-about-ebola-virus/).
I think in the very least, this highlights that we need to invest more in scientific
research. I don’t want money fueled by fear-mongering, but sustainable and
long-term investment (http://www.virology.ws/2014/10/15/would-we-have-an-ebola-virus-vaccine-if-not-for-nih-cuts/). I’m in the field of wildlife diseases because
of my interest in zoonotic (animal to human) diseases. I find the biology,
ecology and epidemiology of parasites and viruses and fungi fascinating. And
that’s good (kids should be encouraged to have these interests!), but I have to
remember to always temper my interest with empathy. I support scientific
research with an understanding of One Health (http://www.onehealthinitiative.com/).
And, finally, while we should be knowledgable and understand
what’s going in the US concerning ebola (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6341a5.htm),
we should remember those who are affected in western African countries. What is
going on there is truly heartbreaking and difficult to comprehend. The video I
posted (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc6dt5p12QY&feature=youtu.be)
explains that ebola outbreaks were unexpected in this part of the
African continent. Fear and misinformation have helped no one, just like they
help no one in the US. The outbreak is also taking a toll on uninfected, but in
need of care, people as the healthcare system in these countries is severely
overburdened (http://www.nature.com/news/ebola-outbreak-shuts-down-malaria-control-efforts-1.16029).
I hope we’re able to help with equipment, diagnostics, and manpower. But most of all, we can help by education
of others and ourselves. Here are some charities I support: (http://www.redcross.org/ebolaoutbreak)
& (http://www.msf.org/)
