If no checks, more Ebola cases might leave Africa

LONDON (AP) — A new study underscores the potential danger of airplane passengers infected with Ebola leaving West Africa: If there were no exit screening in place, researchers estimate that three people with the disease might fly out of the region each month.

The hardest-hit West African nations have been checking passengers since summer, but the new work is a reminder of how much easier it could be for the virus to travel outside the outbreak region if those measures weren't in place — and that screening can't catch every case.

Since the Ebola outbreak was first identified in March, there have been only two known exported cases involving flights, one before and one after screening began in Liberia.

A Liberian-American flew to Nigeria in July and sparked a small outbreak there, which has since been contained. The second man, Liberian Thomas Eric Duncan, passed a screening when he left for the U.S. last month; he didn't have a fever or symptoms until days after arriving in Dallas.

For the study, researchers used international flight data and Ebola case tallies to calculate that — without screening — three infected people a month could fly out of the region. They noted that screening isn't foolproof: It can take up to three weeks for people exposed to Ebola to develop symptoms, so it is likely some cases will slip through.

Bring Out Your Dead

Post to me or FReep mail to be on/off the Bring Out Your Dead ping list.

The purpose of the “Bring Out Your Dead” ping list (formerly the “Ebola” ping list) is very early warning of emerging pandemics, as such it has a high false positive rate.

So far the false positive rate is 100%.

At some point we may well have a high mortality pandemic, and likely as not the “Bring Out Your Dead” threads will miss the beginning entirely.

*sigh* Such is life, and death...

BREAKING: Top GOP Senator to Introduce Ebola Bill That Has the White House in Panic Mode
http://conservativetribune.com/sen-to-introduce-ebola-bill/

Republican Senator Marco Rubio is gaining support for plans to introduce legislation that would place temporary bans on visa issuance to people from Ebola-ravaged nations (H/T: Breitbart). This bill would run counter to the White House’s current strategy to prevent more infected people from entering the U.S. from West Africa – which is essentially non-existent.

Sung to the tune of Ob La Di Ob La Da (Beatles)

Barry has a problem travelling every place
Michelle is the singer in his band
Barry says to Michelle “girl I like your face”
And Michelle says this when she will not touch his hand

Ob-a-ma E-bo-la where you been, O?
La-la, I want my life to go on
Ob-a-ma E-bo-la where you been, O?
La-la, I want my life to go on

Barry says don’t worry, we can travel more
Hopes his party parrots everything
Tries to sell his BS when he speaks some more
And as he spreads the bull we all begin to sing

Ob-a-ma, E-bo-la, why no ban, O?
La-la, I want my life to go on
Ob-a-ma, E-bo-la, why no ban, O?
La-la, I want my life to go on

In a couple of years it could spread
to home sweet home
With a couple of kids buried in our yard
Thanks to Barry and Michelle O
(Ah ha ha ha ha ha)

Bans the travel after it spread every place
Now it’s passed from children by our hand (Arm! Leg!)
Michelle stays at home and does her pretty face
And in the evening she still sings it with the band

YES, Ob-a-ma E-bo-la where you been, O?
La-la, I want my life to go on
Ob-a-ma E-bo-la where you been, O?
La-la, I want my life to go on

YES, Ob-a-ma E-bo-la where you been, O?
La-la, I want my life to go on (ha ha ha)
Ob-a-ma E-bo-la where you been, O?
La-la, I want my life to go on

In a couple of years it could spread
to home sweet home
With a couple of kids buried in our yard
Thanks to Barry and Michelle O
(Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha)

Bans the travel after it spread every place
Now it’s passed from children by our hand (Foot!)
Michelle stays at home and does her pretty face
And in the evening she still sings it with the band

Yeah, Ob-a-ma E-bo-la where you been, O?
La-la, I want my life to go on (ha ha ha)
Yeah, Ob-a-ma E-bo-la where you been, O?
La-la, I want my life to go on

And if your life is done
Blame Ob-a-ma E-bo-la
[Thank you, uh, ha ha ha!]

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