[Mother Abigail]

Because Marburg virus is so dangerous and so contagious, spread by contact with almost any bodily fluid, from blood to sweat, the workers are encapsulated in air-filled white suits, white aprons, green gloves, face masks and face guards. On their backs they wear battery packs to keep the suits inflated. Some carry canisters of bleach or chlorine on their backs and hose sprays so they can disinfect the homes of the sick. A few have sprayed so much bleach that the buckles on their shoes are rusting.

[Cboldt]

* bump *

Wow. BTW, been following your posts on this subject, and appreciate your ability to communicate complex viral analysis in layman's terms.

[Mother Abigail]

The closing of three hospitals in Uige would truly be remarkable, and may force more to flee the area, spreading the Marburg virus even further.  Although said to be transmitted by bodily fluids, there are now 15 dead nurses and 2 dead physicians, suggesting viral spread is quite efficient.  The deaths of the 17 health care workers have all been within the last month.

The situation in Angola is clearly deteriorating.  Closing the hospital in Uige may create similar new outbreaks elsewhere.  The closing of three hospitals in Uige that are 60 miles apart demonstrates the rapid spread of the virus, and will almost certainly ring alarm bells in Luanda, where transmission has been reported.

This will almost certainly result in some leaving Luanda, increasing the likelihood of Marburg being seeded internationally.

[Judith Anne]

On Saturday, medical workers seeking to build cooperation in one neighborhood here faced angry residents, even though they were accompanied by government officials and police officers. Officials have ruled out surveillance efforts in that neighborhood, saying it has become too dangerous.

I read elsewhere that the medical workers were stoned.

Have you heard anything about the status of the 9 under quarantine in Italy?

[lainie]

That possibility raises the prospect of a second health care crisis, one in which hundreds of thousands of people already facing a disease that is almost always fatal may suddenly have no access to hospital care.

The almost-always fatal disease can't be treated with hospital care. What a horrible situation.

[armymarinemom]

This is sounding a lot like trying to pick up mercury by mashing it.

[NY Attitude]

Shades of the movie "Outbreak" that had Dustin Hoffman and Morgan Freeman in it.

[StuLongIsland]

When are the liberals with so much sympathy for the poor people, going to start demanding we let them into New York City so they can get treatment here. It isn't fair the disease isn't here yet (they will rationalize).

Not trying to be unsympathetic about people who have this, but illustrating the mentality of the libs. Liberalism is a Mental Disease.

[jec41]

You might be surprised at what they have to do to stop it!!!

[KoRn]

Where have I heard about this before?!?

[Boundless]

> That possibility raises the prospect of a second health
> care crisis, one in which hundreds of thousands of people
> already facing a disease that is almost always fatal may
> suddenly have no access to hospital care.

Some logical dissonance here. If death is the almost-
certain outcome, what the heck do you need a hospital for?

Is health care a contributory factor with 10% who survive?

Obviously, people with OTHER problems will be affected by
the closings. But given the state of healthcare there, it
might also be a blessing, as they are now at reduced risk
of catching HIV from re-used hypodermic needles.

[EBH]

When is this going to hit the MSM? Hospitals shutting down are not helping. People need to be quarantined. I thought these things usually 'burned out.' Why hasn't this followed the usual pattern?

Dumb question...Angola has been in a civil war for a while...what's the terrorist situation in Angola?

[muawiyah]

I'm envisioning this International Medical Team in the capital city telling some government bureaucrats "You go close that hospital".

Right!

[diamond6]

This is the stuff that nightmares come from.

[Boundless]

"Medical workers warn visitors not to shake hands with anyone and not to stand directly in front of residents when talking to them, for fear that a cough could release an infectious spray of spittle."

This is new.
Most of the reports, such as this one, take this posture:
"Yokouibd ... stressed that it was "not an airborne
disease".

So which is it, world?
Do we have an airborne threat here?

[Covenantor]

The latest reports this afternoon indicated that the two dead in Luanda were an Italian male and a teenage boy, with six other cases suspected. Neither of whom had traveled from Uige or had contact there. That's leap of more than 120 so miles over the mountains to Luanda. It seems there's a strong possibility that the Italian may have contacted people outbound from Angola already.

[eyespysomething]

Angola is in the southeast area of Africa.

[Tribune7]

This is terrifying.

Silo Margarita is one of the few nurses still working

A truely great woman. May God be with her.

[Straight Vermonter]

On their backs they wear battery packs to keep the suits inflated.

Why do journalists get so lost when the attempt any to write about anything technical?

The battery pack powers the coolant system. Imagine wearing an airtight plastic suit under the African sun.

Self-Contained Toxic Environment Protective Outfit (STEPO)

The Self-Contained Toxic Environment Protective Outfit (STEPO) program developed a totally encapsulating protective ensemble for protection against chemical/biological agents, missile/rocket fuels, petroleum, oils and lubricants (POL), and industrial chemicals. The ensemble incorporates a NIOSH approved self-contained breathing apparatus (with a tether/emergency breathing apparatus option), a battery powered cooling system and a hands-free communications system. STEPO will be used in extremely hazardous areas where contact with chemical agents, POLs, missile fuels, and/or toxic industrial chemicals can occur. The system will be worn by Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), Technical Escort Units, Ammunition handlers, and Chemical Surety Activity personnel engaged in special operations in Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH) environments. The system will be used during peacetime and wartime conditions.

Key Requirements:

• Provide 4 hours of percutaneous and respiratory protection against chemical/biological agents, toxic industrial chemicals, unknown chemicals, rocket fuels and POLs.

• Capable of being decontaminated for reuse after five vapor exposures; decontaminated and disposed after liquid contamination.

• Provide 4 hours of self-contained breathing and cooling.

• Compatible with radios in chemical activity and explosive ordnance disposal supply system.

For safety reasons, STEPO will replace the M3 Toxicological Agents Protective (TAP) ensemble in highly toxic areas. It will provide the wearer with clean, closed circuit breathing air rather than the filtered air provided in the TAP ensemble. Although the STEPO system will be more costly, it will provide greater protection and cooling capabilities than the TAP system. Interim STEPO has been fielded for Army depot use.

The STEPO was Type Classified in November 1997. A multifunctional team, to include the production contractor, has developed a scope of work for production and initial fielding of the STEPO system, January 1998. The award date for the STEPO production contract was 3QFY98.

[Richard-SIA]

But have public and private flights in and out been suspended?

I thought not.

Coming soon to a city here, courtesy of PC sensibility and the need of tourist, and doctors to share their experiences and contaminants.

Of course it might just be a pilot or attendant who transmits the disease back home.

At times like this I wish the airlines did not exist.

[pangaea6]

How long will it take Al Queda to send over some folks to catch it then disperse them all over, coughing & sweating on everything. Sounds like the perfect bio-terror weapon. Time to buy stock in Campbell's and go get some extra cases of chicken noodle soup.