Posted on 09/11/2014 6:50:54 AM PDT by null and void
As the current Ebola outbreak's death toll continues to skyrocket, with almost half of all 2,288 deaths occurring within the last 21 days, the lack of sufficient medical personnel to treat all those affected threatens to spread the disease even further, as even the equipment used to keep safe from Ebola can carry the disease.
As Discovery News reports, the HAZMAT suits used by medical personnel to protect themselves while treating Ebola victims can carry the virus; it does not die upon leaving the body and landing on the protective gear. This means that, while doctors and nurses using protective gear can shield themselves from the virus while wearing it, the removal procedures and process of destroying used HAZMAT gear could result in someone inadvertently coming into contact with the virus.
As of August, the World Health Organization warned that 170 health care workers had contracted Ebola. Discovery notes that over 120 health care workers have died of Ebola since the outbreak began in January. In Nigeria, only one patient who has died of Ebola-- the first patient, Patrick Sawyer-- was not a health care worker.
All four Americans diagnosed with Ebola have been medical workers. Two-- Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol-- have already been cured after being treated at Atlanta's Emory University Hospital. A third, Dr. Rick Sacra, is currently being treated in a hospital in Nebraska, and a fourth patient who has not been identified is currently receiving treatment at Emory University Hospital after being airlifted out of Sierra Leone. The World Health Organization has called the outbreak "unprecedented" and warned that the affected countries-- Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Nigeria, and Senegal-- do not have adequate medical infrastructure to properly contain the spread of the virus.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Thanks for the ping!
You’re Welcome, Alamo-Girl!
What you need to know
The risk of Ebola transmission is low. Becoming infected requires direct, physical contact with the bodily fluids (vomit, faeces, urine, blood, semen, etc.) of people who have been infected with or died from Ebola virus disease (EVD).
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/ebola/protective-measures-staff/en/
HOST RANGE: Humans, various monkey species, chimpanzees, gorillas, baboons, and duikers (1-3, 15, 16, 18, 21-23). The Ebola virus genome was recently discovered in two species of rodents and one species of shrew living in forest border areas, raising the possibility that these animals may be intermediary hosts (24). Other studies of the virus have been done using guinea pig models (25). A survey of small vertebrates captured during the 2001 and 2003 outbreaks in Gabon found evidence of asymptomatic infection in three species of fruit bat (Hypsignathus monstrosus, Epomops franqueti, and Myonycteris torquata) (26).
INFECTIOUS DOSE: 1 – 10 aerosolized organisms are sufficient to cause infection in humans (21).
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: In an outbreak, it is hypothesized that the first patient becomes infected as a result of contact with an infected animal (15). Person-to-person transmission occurs via close personal contact with an infected individual or their body fluids during the late stages of infection or after death (1, 2, 15, 27). Nosocomial infections can occur through contact with infected body fluids due to the reuse of unsterilized syringes, needles, or other medical equipment contaminated with these fluids (1, 2). Humans may be infected by handling sick or dead non-human primates and are also at risk when handling the bodies of deceased humans in preparation for funerals, suggesting possible transmission through aerosol droplets (2, 6, 28). In the laboratory, infection through small-particle aerosols has been demonstrated in primates, and airborne spread among humans is strongly suspected, although it has not yet been conclusively demonstrated (1, 6, 13). The importance of this route of transmission is not clear. Poor hygienic conditions can aid the spread of the virus (6).
INCUBATION PERIOD: Two to 21 days, more often 4 – 9 days (1, 13, 14).
COMMUNICABILITY: Communicable as long as blood, secretions, organs, or semen contain the virus. Ebola virus has been isolated from semen 61 days after the onset of illness, and transmission through semen has occurred 7 weeks after clinical recovery (1, 2).
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Ebola virus is susceptible to sodium hypochlorite, lipid solvents, phenolic disinfectants, peracetic acid, methyl alcohol, ether, sodium deoxycholate, 2% glutaraldehyde, 0.25% Triton X-100, β-propiolactone, 3% acetic acid (pH 2.5), formaldehyde and paraformaldehyde, and detergents such as SDS (20, 21, 31-34).
PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Ebola are moderately thermolabile and can be inactivated by heating for 30 minutes to 60 minutes at 60ºC, boiling for 5 minutes, gamma irradiation (1.2 x106 rads to 1.27 x106 rads), and/or UV radiation (3, 6, 20, 32, 33).
SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: The virus can survive in liquid or dried material for a number of days (23). Infectivity is found to be stable at room temperature or at 4°C for several days, and indefinitely stable at -70°C (6, 20). Infectivity can be preserved by lyophilisation.
http://www.msdsonline.com/resources/msds-resources/free-safety-data-sheet-index/ebola-virus.aspx/
and airborne spread among humans is strongly suspected, although it has not yet been conclusively demonstrated
Interesting in light of Writebol's infection ... no mask ... but gown/gloves ...
She should have been wearing a mask at all times during decon, since sprayed water, for example, can launch germs airborne. I did not see the whole process, but it seems like most anything else, people get lax, the system breaks down, and away we go.
Agreed.
That is exactly what’s wrong in Africa and why it is spreading. The bleach solution is degrading the suits! Idiots! You cannot be sure the suit has not degraded.
I’m sure there is. But I wouldn’t want to bet my life on getting it perfect every time when I was hot and tired. I think it makes sense to decontaminate the suits before removal then incinerate after
I think it is a matter of doing the best you can, with what you have, or can afford.
No suits and gloves at all, or worn out suits and gear that usually works.
I know, but that doesn’t make the PPE any stronger.
That white tyvek suit won’t stop a biohazard and is for only incidental spills. If that woman barfs all over that care provider...they are contaminated.
Guess this thread tells you how we can help...send PPE.
Why? 14 to 20 hour days surrounded by death in 100 degree 99 percent humidity with no ac.
Why? 14 to 20 hour days surrounded by death in 100 degree 99 percent humidity with no ac.
” I think it makes sense to decontaminate the suits before removal then incinerate after”
I agree
did u know that there are 32 bodily fluids - Wikipedia
Incinerate before removal just to be sure.
That's why it is SOP to decontaminate the suits with bleach or another disinfectant before removing the suits.
Wait, I heard Authorities in America say the Ebola Virus is not airborne so therefore there is nothing to worry about.
So they really don't need these hazmat suits at all then...
Right?
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