NationStates Jolt Archive

Fear and Violence Accompany a Deadly Virus Across Angola (http://http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/09/health/09angola.html?th=&adxnnl=1&emc=th&adxnnlx=1113058819-JDcrn3LlG+P4SkO8vizNlg)
By SHARON LaFRANIERE and DENISE GRADY

Published: April 9, 2005

UANDA, Angola, April 8 - The death toll in Angola from an epidemic caused by an Ebola-like virus rose to 174 Friday as aid workers in one northern provincial town reported that terrified people had attacked them and that a number of health workers had fled out of fear of catching the disease.

International health officials said the epidemic, already the largest outbreak of Marburg virus ever recorded, showed no signs of abating. Seven of Angola's 18 provinces have now reported suspected cases and several neighboring countries have announced health alerts.

NOTE: This article, which can be found at http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/09/health/09angola.html?th=&adxnnl=1&emc=th&adxnnlx=1113058819-JDcrn3LlG+P4SkO8vizNlg , goes on to indicate that the outbreak began in a pediatric ward, and that many people refuse to report cases involving relatives because health workers take them to isolation wards and then "bring them back dead."

This is especially sad for Angola, which has no health infrastructure because of their vicious civil war.
But I wonder if this may spread elsewhere. Angola, for example, exports most of its oil produced. Perhaps a few sailors could catch it, and bring it to a developed nation. The tragedy of that would be how easily it would spread. If one person walked in Heathrow or LAX with this virus, the whole world may be infected in less than a week.

This is especially sad for Angola, which has no health infrastructure because of their vicious civil war.
But I wonder if this may spread elsewhere. Angola, for example, exports most of its oil produced. Perhaps a few sailors could catch it, and bring it to a developed nation. The tragedy of that would be how easily it would spread. If one person walked in Heathrow or LAX with this virus, the whole world may be infected in less than a week.
It's spread by contact with the bodily fluids of those infected with the virus.

Marburg isn't that easy to spread. It's not airborne. It can only be passed by physical contact, and people who contract it have only a short time to travel before they become too sick to move around. It'll burn out within the Angolan border I think.

Info about Marburg virus
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/spb/mnpages/dispages/marburg/qa.htm

>> Yes. The case-fatality rate for Marburg hemorrhagic fever is between 23-25%.

SARS is still far more infectious, then we have bird-flu to watch ...

Info about Marburg virus
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/spb/mnpages/dispages/marburg/qa.htm

>> Yes. The case-fatality rate for Marburg hemorrhagic fever is between 23-25%.

SARS is still far more infectious, then we have bird-flu to watch ...
The moral of this story: keep your immune system in good shape!

The moral of this story: keep your immune system in good shape!

How would one do that? The data on vitamins are inconclusive, IIRC.

The moral of this story: keep your immune system in good shape!

That's fine but them poor Africans already have compromised immune systems due to starvation and endemic non-fatal diseases in the community, let alone lack of access to money and medication.

Fear and Violence Accompany a Deadly Virus Across Angola (http://http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/09/health/09angola.html?th=&adxnnl=1&emc=th&adxnnlx=1113058819-JDcrn3LlG+P4SkO8vizNlg)
By SHARON LaFRANIERE and DENISE GRADY

Published: April 9, 2005

UANDA, Angola, April 8 - The death toll in Angola from an epidemic caused by an Ebola-like virus rose to 174 Friday as aid workers in one northern provincial town reported that terrified people had attacked them and that a number of health workers had fled out of fear of catching the disease.

International health officials said the epidemic, already the largest outbreak of Marburg virus ever recorded, showed no signs of abating. Seven of Angola's 18 provinces have now reported suspected cases and several neighboring countries have announced health alerts.

NOTE: This article, which can be found at http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/09/health/09angola.html?th=&adxnnl=1&emc=th&adxnnlx=1113058819-JDcrn3LlG+P4SkO8vizNlg , goes on to indicate that the outbreak began in a pediatric ward, and that many people refuse to report cases involving relatives because health workers take them to isolation wards and then "bring them back dead."

Marburg...damn. That shit is deadly. The world population should be fine so long as they quarantine the infected.

You can call it inhumane, but there really is nothing that can be done for those infected, and you'll only create more victims.

Oh joy. Here goes journalistic exaggeration again. There is no way in hell that a virus with a 25% mortality rate is worse than a virus with the same mode of infection that has a mortality rate of 50% (Ivory Coast, IIRC), 70% (Gabon, IIRC), or 90% (Zaire). (Reston isn't included because it doesn't harm humans.)

Marburg...damn. That shit is deadly. The world population should be fine so long as they quarantine the infected.

Yep. It's bloody irritating when you can drop the mortality rate of a disease down to almost nil simply by quarantining the infected and giving them blood transfusions and yet they don't. This is why aid in Africa needs to be directed to funding hospitals, so stuff like this doesn't happen.

It's spread by contact with the bodily fluids of those infected with the virus.
Oh. So it really isn't worse than Ebola. Ebola was extremely infectious. Maybe you just meant that Marburg has a higher mortality rate.

Ebola was extremely infectious.

As far as I know, Ebola isn't airborne either.

As far as I know, Ebola isn't airborne either.
Reston is, but it doesn't affect people, so the point is moot.

That's fine but them poor Africans already have compromised immune systems due to starvation and endemic non-fatal diseases in the community, let alone lack of access to money and medication.
I know. :( Too bad we can't get the nations to focus on working together to help Africa, rather than incessantly squabbling among themselves. :(

Oh. So it really isn't worse than Ebola. Ebola was extremely infectious. Maybe you just meant that Marburg has a higher mortality rate.
Yes ... at least that's what the article said.

I know. :( Too bad we can't get the nations to focus on working together to help Africa, rather than incessantly squabbling among themselves. :(
Helping Africa is a tough thing to do. In many parts of Africa aid money tends to go into the pockets of corrupt government officials and their friends.

How would one do that? The data on vitamins are inconclusive, IIRC.
Eat right, exercise, get sufficient rest, try to lower your stress level, etc., particularly exercise.

Helping Africa is a tough thing to do. In many parts of Africa aid money tends to go into the pockets of corrupt government officials and their friends.
I know. If you can come up with a workable solution to this, they'll name a town after you and declare you a saint!

Yes ... at least that's what the article said.
The article is wrong then. I fail to see how 25% is larger than 50 to 90%, depending on strain.