Looking at some doc purported to be from a few years back. They describe ebola as “one of the most contagious diseases known to man”.
Given the number of dead health workers in Africa, many of whom consistently did use gowns, masks, goggles etc. I am not buying the ‘bodily fluids’ line. One of the main doctors involved stated just days back that if you “shake an infected person hand and then touch the corner of your eye - your dead”.
Still - as long as our responses evolve beyond the keystone cops routine recently seen in Dallas - the US should be ok. Extremely aggressive quarantine is the key.
Drug developer Chimerix Inc said its experimental ‘Ebola drug’ has been provided for potential use in patients. ‘
The CDC’s Frieden emphasized on Monday the importance of rehydration in treating Ebola patients, especially given the lack of available doses of the ‘experimental drug ZMapp’, produced by San Diego-based Mapp Biopharmaceutical...... Frieden has also said that a second experimental drug, made by Canada’s Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corp, can be difficult for patients to take.
Ebola is Bio-Safety Level IV according to the CDC.
In the Laboratory, that requires a postive pressure 'space suit'(head-to-toe),rubber boots,double layer nitrile gloves and a pigtail air supply (creating postive pressure),
and several anti-virial cleanses (UV , chemical,etc.).
Original CDC safety protocal was P-95 mask,PPE, gloves, booties, and apron .
Current CDC/MSF protocals are N-100 mask (air infiltration), full face mask with goggles,disposable PPE, disposable nitrile gloves,disposable booties.
Best known Ebola control: Quarantine , isolation, minimizing physical contact,minimizing open sores,
frequent hand washing, availability of anti-viral controls (bleach, betadine)for fomites , don't touch face or mucous membranes.