Obviously, at the present time, that is not a true statement for these places where the current ebola outbreak has overwhelmed the medical system.
Given the continued travel in and out of the these areas with little restriction, Ebola has the odds on actually being transmitted beyond the current outbreak areas. Unless there is some H5N1 outbreak somewhere that I am not aware of.
Furthermore, the statement that H5N1 is more dangerous than Ebola is actually just an interesting side issue, since the preparation is going to be similar for either one.
So why not add to the discussion by enlightening everyone on what they should get to prepare for each, compare and contrast the supplies, etc. Afterall the prices will be cheaper now than if either becomes an epedimic here.
Arguing which is worse is a total waste of time. Giving advice on how to recognise it, and how to respond to it just helps everyone to have some knowledge that might be useful some day. JMHO.
To the people of Guangdong Province and other areas, however, it was a threat, one which millions of domestic fowl were culled to stop, and which the US government sponsored programs to check migratory waterfowl for in the Northwest, the most likely entrance to the US along migratory bird flyways.
Here and now, Ebola is a more serious threat, not because it is next door, but because it could be by morning if it catches the red-eye.
It is more contagious than the current H5N1 unless you are a bird.
If we wait until the total number of dead eclipse the Spanish Flu or the Black Death, it will be too late to do anything about it.
Protections, aside from distance and isolation from infected populations:
N-95 is sufficient as filtration for H5N1. P-100 for Ebola. H5N1 needs to be inhaled or conveyed by droplets contaminated dust, into the lungs or mucosa, or the direct contact with the corpse, feces, blood, etc. of an infected bird, especially through an open wound or consuming undercooked flesh.
Ebola, all of that, only the virus seems more likely to hitchhike in droplets rather than be airborne by itself. Add to that that Ebola virus tends to survive relatively well on surfaces contaminated with the bodily fluids of victims, and fomite transmission becomes a significant hazard. Corpses remain infectious, and dogs can get the disease and remain asymptomatic.
The most effective defense against either is to be where the virus is not. Failing that, isolating your body from Ebola in your surroundings is the next best thing: full suit, full face respirator, hood, gloves, booties, an apron to catch the worst of what could ail you and keep it off your suit, and a 'buddy' to decontaminate you in the event you are out and about, and to check on your PPE beforehand to make sure it is on correctly.
At no time have I really made light of the capabilities of the virus, nor its threat. My concern has been self-evident in this forum.
Preparation for Ebola is nothing like preparation for Influenza or many other infectious diseases.
CDC estimates that from the 1976 to 2007 flu seasons in America, flu-associated deaths each year ranged from a low of about 3,000 to a high of about 49,000 people.
The H1N1 swine flu pandemic killed more than 284,000 people worldwide in 2009 and 2010.
CDC data - “Each year in the United States, at least 2 million people become infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics and at least 23,000 people die each year as a direct result of these infections. Many more people die from other conditions that were complicated by an antibiotic-resistant infection.”
“In 2012, 90 percent of the world’s malaria deaths occurred in Africa and about 460,000 African children died before their fifth birthdays,” the WHO 2013 malaria report said.”
“Diarrhea — a preventable and treatable condition — kills about 1.5 million children each year — more than malaria, AIDS and measles combined, according to global health organizations.”
So, just because it is a media darling right now, and sounds so *scary*, tell me why we should really give a hoot about Ebola? The bottom line is that it is a “media celebrity” disease, which right now is realistically less of a threat to Americans than are polar bear attacks, which have killed far more Americans.