Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

To: Smokin' Joe

It remains to be seen if dogs can transmit the virus to humans or not. If they can we have big problems.


150 posted on 10/27/2014 9:27:06 AM PDT by Mom MD
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 149 | View Replies ]


To: Mom MD
It remains to be seen if dogs can transmit the virus to humans or not. If they can we have big problems.

Correct on both counts.

One of the problems with Ebola is that while we know some definite ways to become infected, we don't know all ways to become infected. (We know how much it takes (in terms of exposure) to become infected, but we do not know how little it takes to become infected.)

In the outbreaks so far, it is relatively easy to attribute infection to known means, which might be standing in the way of discovering other, less obvious, means of infection.

The unknowns have the potential to wreak havoc.

In one study, some 2% of the cases had uncertain incubation periods, possibly because the means of infection was not clear.

Whether those cases were infected by fomites, droplets carried on the wind, or an unknown human or animal carrier is just not known.

Pigs may present a similar problem, not just because they are a food animal, but because of increasing feral populations.

154 posted on 10/27/2014 11:33:14 PM PDT by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 150 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson