Medical Research Org CIDRAP: Ebola Transmittable by Air

Breitbart ^ | 10/14/14 | Chriss W. Street

[Nachum]

The highly respected Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota just advised the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) that “there is scientific and epidemiologic evidence that Ebola virus has the potential to be transmitted via infectious aerosol particles,” including exhaled breath.

CIDRAP is warning that surgical facemasks do not prevent transmission of Ebola, and healthcare professionals (HCP) must immediately be outfitted with full-hooded protective gear and powered air-purifying respirators.

CIDRAP since 2001 has been a global leader in addressing public health preparedness regarding emerging infectious diseases and bio-security responses. CIDRAP’s opinion on Ebola virus is there are “No proven pre- or post-exposure treatment modalities;” “A high case-fatality rate;” and “Unclear modes of transmission.”

In April of 2014, CIDRAP published a commentary on Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) that confirmed the disease “could be an aerosol-transmissible disease, especially in healthcare settings,” similar to the known aerosol transmission capability of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Although CIDRAP acknowledges that they were “first skeptical that Ebola virus could be an aerosol-transmissible disease,” they are “now persuaded by a review of experimental and epidemiologic data that this might be an important feature of disease transmission, particularly in healthcare settings.”

[~Vor~]

"It's ironic that AIDS, with is 100% lethality is treated so casually but Ebola with its 70% to 90% lethality has folks running for the hills. The only difference is the speed at which it kills."

A lot of folks don't practice the life style of those getting AIDS either...that's not to say that only homosexuals get AIDS, but I believe the rate of transmission among that group would be far greater...people not practicing that life style therefore would assume that though the "lethality" rate is 100%, their chances of getting AIDS would be far less than ebola...ebola doesn't appear to discriminate...IMHO

[Hot Tabasco]

However, what happens in a place of business with a bad return air system

Legionaires disease comes to mind......

[jacknhoo]

It amazes me how stupidly this Ebola virus is compared to HIV/AIDS, such freaking untruth in a statement like that....experience...pffft.

[exDemMom]

For Pete’s sake. CIDRAP publishes an article that is basically an advertisement for PAPRs, and that gets picked up and spread around as scientific “evidence” that Ebola is an airborne disease.

It is not.

Why is this think-tank regarded as more of an expert on Ebola than the people who actually do the research on Ebola, or those who actually travel to Africa to deal with outbreaks?

I know that people are fixated on this idea that Ebola MUST be airborne. But it is not. There has NEVER been a case of Ebola that could be traced to aerosol transmission.

A virus is a physical structure, subject to the same rules of physics that control visible objects. Ebola cannot tolerate drying out—airborne viruses like influenza can. Ebola cannot tolerate exposure to UV, which aerosols are particularly exposed to when they float in the air. Ebola does not infect respiratory system cells, so isn’t even present in the fluids that naturally aerosolize from humans. And Ebola is many times larger than viruses that can aerosolize.

[bert]

Please cite the studies that positively with certainty exclude Ebola from entering the lung cells via breathing

[appalachian_dweller]

>> Ebola virus isn’t very robust and a few minutes away from a host kills it. <<

Source?

I’ve heard the virus can live up to 6 days outside the body.

[palmer]

Wrong. Ebola Reston is indeed airborne.

In between cages that were 20cm apart: http://www.nature.com/srep/2012/121115/srep00811/full/srep00811.html?message-global=remove&goback=.gde_4429892_member_187356406

There is no doubt droplets will get around the current protection, a face shield that is not sealed. That is essentially what the editorial says.

[palmer]

basically it spreads like a cold or flu. If someone with a cold or flu sneezes on you or near you,

Sort of. But since influenza attacks the upper resp tract, the sneeze has many more viruses and the victim is much more likely to sneeze. But you are correct that the Ebola is in saliva. Also you are correct that dried Ebola is basically dead.

[palmer]

Up to 6 days on surfaces, but hours on damp surfaces is more likely. OTOH the non-enveloped viruses like noro can easily survive for weeks on surfaces.

[NELSON111]

Thanks. I knew it had come into the population centers but didn't know why it hadn't before. It makes sense that it would just wipe out a remote village and burn itself out.

I guess part of the reality we live in is that people can move around easier....ease of travel or diseases as well.

[NELSON111]

>>>Just wait till it hits the slums of New Delhi or Mexico City or Beijing or LA.

I'm still awaiting the effects of the Hajj. Thankfully Saudi clamped down on travel from infected countries...but not sure they got everyone. If they hadn't...that would have been an unmitigated disaster...and still may be.

I think the next 30-45 days will be very telling on the future of this outbreak...and I wonder how long it will be until it shows up in those slums?

[mad_as_he$$]

30+ plus years experience with a very strong virus only teaches us what it did in the past. Something is VERY wrong with the protocols being used in ebola exposure situations. Airborne transmission could be one answer.

[Jedidah]

I’ve been aware and concerned about that, too.

And, in addition to malicious natural organisms and transmission, there is significant opportunity for creative terrorism.

[mazz44]

Legionnaires can also be contracted through contaminated ice machines.

[unixfox]

Think about this...

Somebody who has Ebola sneezes into their hands. Reaches into pocket for money, hands money to cashier at McDonalds. The chain of transfer could be a long ways down the road.

But not to worry, Obola has everything under control.

[lonevoice]

I’m not...yet. But I do plan to get a flu shot soon so that I don’t have to be around healthcare workers or medical facilities in the near future.

[Secret Agent Man]

yup.