Ebola virus circulating in Guinea is new strain

[The Stig]

Original story HERE (http://www.breitbart.com/system/wire/a7605077-a258-4c85-8c64-df7b27792fe8) at Breitbart



Ebola virus circulating in Guinea is new strain


AFP 4/17/2014 7:22:29 PM
The virus that has caused a deadly Ebola epidemic in Guinea is a new strain that emerged locally, possibly transmitted by fruit bats, virologists have said.

The outbreak is the first to be recorded in west Africa, but researchers said the virus causing it did not come from other countries where Ebola already circulates.

An international team of scientists unravelled the genome of the virus and found it to be distinct from strains in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Gabon, though they share an ancestor.

The virus is of the EBOV type -- one of three species that have caused outbreaks in sub-Saharan Africa, said the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Wednesday.

"This study demonstrates the emergence of EBOV in Guinea," the authors wrote.

Data from the genetic analysis "suggest a single introduction of the virus into the human population," probably in early December 2013 "or even before", according to the study.

"It is suspected that the virus was transmitted for months before the outbreak became apparent," it added.

"This length of exposure appears to have allowed many transmission chains and thus increased the number of cases of Ebola virus disease."

Though it has not been confirmed, the study said fruit bats found throughout west Africa were "potential reservoirs" of the virus.

"It is possible that EBOV has circulated undetected in this region for some time," said the authors.

"The emergence of the virus in Guinea highlights the risk of EBOV outbreaks in the whole West African subregion."

Guinea has seen 197 cases of laboratory-confirmed or suspect Ebola since the beginning of the year.

The World Health Organization raised the death toll on Thursday to 122 since the start of the year, from a previous figure of 108. Liberia continues to report 13 deaths.

The fatality rate was between 71 and 86 percent in the cases they studied, the researchers wrote.

There is no vaccine or cure for Ebola.

People can contract the disease from handling the blood or other bodily fluids of sick or dead forest animals.

The virus can then easily spread among humans through contact with infected blood, body fluids and tissue.

An epidemic can only be stopped by isolating suspected cases in ultra-clean conditions and quarantining those who had been in contact with them.

Symptoms include muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in extreme cases, organ failure and unstoppable bleeding.

Past Ebola outbreaks in Africa have happened in DR Congo, Sudan, Gabon, Republic of Congo and Uganda.

[izzyscout21]

Stuff like this straight up gives me the creeps.

[Kodiak]

Scarey shit...

[Twitchy]

This is one virus that legitimately scares the crap out of me...

[bacpacker]

This time it doesnt seem to be slowing down and is spreading to several surroundng countries. If it hit Europe or Aisa it most likely will be here within the month. Not good at all.

[Twitchy]

This time it doesnt seem to be slowing down and is spreading to several surroundng countries. If it hit Europe or Aisa it most likely will be here within the month. Not good at all.

I highly doubt we will see it hit the US though... Ebola usually has a fast course and should be stopped before someone can get that far that is infected. Atleast, I hope so...

[helomech]

I highly doubt we will see it hit the US though... Ebola usually has a fast course and should be stopped before someone can get that far that is infected. Atleast, I hope so...

This one talks about a slow course. It went over a month before the outbreak was even noticed.

[bacpacker]

It also doesbt seem to be dying out as quickly as the others have in the past. Sure seems like bad diagnosis at the start didnt catch it very quickly.

[FL-Jeeper]

Wasn't there a news blurb last month about a confirmed case in Illinois? I recall reading it... something about an abroad funeral and a returning traveling family member.

I'll dig around and see if I can't locate it. Truly scary stuff right there.

[FL-Jeeper]

My mistake. It wasn't Illinois, it was Canada.

https://news.yahoo.com/video/canada-possible-ebola-case-health-121519594.html

Edited to add:

Aaaand they say it's not Ebola. Hope it isn't another case of "false positive".

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/26/health/ebola-like-symptoms-in-canada-may-be-a-false-alarm.html?_r=0

[FL-Jeeper]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/17/guinea-ebola-idUSL6N0N94AE20140417


Guinea's government had previously placed the death toll at 106. The health ministry said on Tuesday that the number of new cases had fallen rapidly and the outbreak was nearly under control.

A senior health ministry official told Reuters on Thursday the government planned to stop publicly releasing the death toll to avoid causing unnecessary panic.

That's just awesome.

[ladyhk13]

My mistake. It wasn't Illinois, it was Canada.

https://news.yahoo.com/video/canada-possible-ebola-case-health-121519594.html

Edited to add:

Aaaand they say it's not Ebola. Hope it isn't another case of "false positive".

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/26/health/ebola-like-symptoms-in-canada-may-be-a-false-alarm.html?_r=0

Just another reason to self quarantine and stay out of cities. They will never tell the truth in a mass panic situation.

[Twitchy]

Just another reason to self quarantine and stay out of cities. They will never tell the truth in a mass panic situation.

With Ebola you don't need the truth, its pretty self evident...

Though, this is seriously concerning... Fidel, what do you think the reasoning is that they wouldn't publish info? What is different from the other outbreaks?

[izzyscout21]

Soooo............ starting to keep a closer eye on this. Now that they've brought it back here, I'm starting to worry a tad more. With all the recent blunders as the CDC, I don't really trust them to not screw this up.

[Brownwater Riverrat 13]

I see "Walking Dead" happening all over again. Start a little outbreak in Atlanta......major hub for airlines, shit spreads like wildfire. Long incubation period. LadyHK and I were discussing that.....As for it only being a "fluid borne" pathogen. Try again, cough, cough, sneeze, spray, need we say more. I wonder why they were wearing full body suits? "Just an added precaution ma'am" like the fat bastard Johnnie rent a cop that was all over the ambulance when it got there, where was his "PPE"? But hey, he was in control of the situation, I saw him get his bullet out of his shirt pocket he was ready man! I was expecting full blown MOP gear......just another day at the office. "Two guys in poopy suits, package arrived, roger out"

Anyway what better town to start it.....Atlanta right? You've already seen how great they are with traffic "snow storm" it will be instant chaos, you think anyone in THAT town is going to listen to authority? Really? Rats on a sinking ship............so let's just keep it contained fellas, eh?

[bacpacker]

I can't believe how stupid they are to bring that shit here intentionally. And to not have full containment on top of that. What next just put them in a open ward with a bunch of other people and see how quick they can spread it.
If the CDC does like they have been recently, I give it 3 to 5 weeks before it takes off. Wont that make labor day travel nice?

[ladyhk13]

Am watching news right now. Did you know that there is a Dr. In Tn who has self quarantined himself because he has Ebola? Where in the heck did he get it and why is he being allowed to stay at home??? CDC should haul him in and try getting a vaccine using his body just like they are with this other doc and nurse. What happens if some family member shows up and he pukes or bleeds on them? Wtf? Gotta try to find out who this guy is.

[bacpacker]

I just read that on another forum. He lives in Morristown, tn. Apparently he was not/is not showing any symptoms and has completely isolated himself in his home. He said he contacted the CDC and gave them a full run down when he arrived there sometime in mid July.

[Possom]

I have a question. They say that Ebola can't be transmitted by coughing and such. Yet in its later stages it makes you bleed. So my question is this. At that couple of day stage of "flu like" symptoms when you are coughing will you not be coughing up small specks of blood into the air?

[izzyscout21]

I have a question. They say that Ebola can't be transmitted by coughing and such. Yet in its later stages it makes you bleed. So my question is this. At that couple of day stage of "flu like" symptoms when you are coughing will you not be coughing up small specks of blood into the air?

What they mean is that it is not an "airborne" virus. Coughing itself isnt able to spread it, but say you cough,and saliva, blood or other body fluid comes out. Coming into contact with the fluid is what runs the risk of infecting others.

[izzyscout21]

Ok. Here you go. He's not positive for the disease yet, but has quarantined himself as a precaution.

http://wtkr.com/2014/08/02/doctor-quarantines-himself-at-home-in-tennessee-after-treating-ebola-patients-in-liberia/


(CNN) – A retired American doctor who was working with Ebola patients in West Africa returned to the United States this week – and put himself in quarantine.Dr. Alan Jamison volunteered in the Liberian capital of Monrovia this month as part of an international medical group.
Jamison, 69, said he’s had no symptoms of the deadly disease, but has been in seclusion since Monday, when he returned to his hometown of Morristown, Tennessee.
He plans to be in isolation for 21 days, which is the incubation period for the disease or the time between infection and onset of symptoms.
First Ebola patient on U.S. soil arrives at Atlanta hospital (http://wtkr.com/2014/08/02/first-ebola-patient-on-u-s-soil-arrives-at-atlanta-hospital/)
“My last encounter with a patient who had Ebola was on July 19,” he said. “I contacted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on my arrival … and informed them I had been in West Africa and my history.”
The father of three said his daughter picked him up from the airport and dropped him at home, where he’s quarantined himself and has had no contact with anyone since.
“I’m feeling normal and doing the typical things a person would do in their home,” he said. ” I have my family who can bring me food if I need anything, and they would not enter the house. They can leave items outside the home.”
Liberia is one of three nations battling an outbreak of Ebola, which the World Health Organization says is confirmed or suspected to have infected more than 1,300 people, with more than 700 deaths in West Africa in recent weeks.
So far, the disease has been confined to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. One man died in quarantine in Nigeria after leaving Liberia.
Ebola spreads through contact with organs and bodily fluids such as blood, saliva, urine and other secretions of infected people.
Patients are only contagious when they show symptoms, not during the incubation period, according to the World Health Organization.
“I was not concerned that I was contagious when I left Africa, and not concerned at this time because I have no symptoms of the disease,” Jamison said.
The retired pediatrician said he was volunteering with Medical Teams International. CNN contacted the aid group, which said it’s compiling information on his case and will provide details later. However, the group noted on its website that its U.S. volunteer doctor is back home.
“It was very stressful and emotional to see these things in Liberia,” Jamison said.
There’s no treatment for Ebola. The most common approach is to support organ functions and keep up bodily fluids such as blood and water long enough for the body to fight off the infection.
Despite the risks, Jamison said he’d return to West Africa to help combat Ebola.

[izzyscout21]

Here's another one:

http://www.wate.com/story/26176230/fear-over-ebola-virus-continues-to-grow-cdc-reaches-out-to-tennessee-officials


By SHELBY MILLER (http://www.wate.com/story/25980755/shelby-miller)
6 News Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) - Fear over the Ebola virus continues to grow, as two American doctors diagnosed with the deadly disease are scheduled to return to the United States to be treated.
The CDC is now in direct contact with the Tennessee Department of Health, as concerns continue to grow in the U.S. about what's being done to make sure the disease doesn't spread.
The CDC sent guidelines Thursday to the Tennessee Health Department about what health care providers should be looking for when dealing with patients who have symptoms that could be related to Ebola.
Related story: Morristown doctor home in quarantine after treating Ebola in Africa (http://www.wate.com/story/26165683/morristown-doctor-home-in-quarantine-after-treating-ebola-in-africa)
The CDC recommends health care providers obtain travel exposure history on any patient who has a temperature of 100.4 degrees or warmer. They ask that additional exposure history be collected to determine if patients have had any high-risk exposures, including contact with Ebola patients, healthcare settings, funerals, or consumption of bush meat. .
Health agencies say they're doing all they can to reduce transmission, but even with those efforts, they're still seeing new cases. The CDC says this is the largest Ebola outbreak they've ever seen.
"I think everyone is doing what they can to reduce the risk of cases going to other countries or coming to the United States, but it's growing," said Knox County Health Department Director Dr. Martha Buchanan.
Although the CDC says the risk of contracting Ebola in the U.S. is very low, officials confirm the disease killed an American and sickened two other people who were working in Liberia. They'll fly to the U.S. for treatment.
Related story: 2 Ebola victims to be treated at Atlanta hospital (http://6.wate.com/1kbx7hr)
"I'm certain the transportation of those two individuals to the United States will be very, very closely regulated and they'll be taken quickly into isolation," Buchanan said.
The CDC makes sure travelers heading to America from the affected countries don't have Ebola symptoms. "The first symptom would be fever and then after that they'll develop body aches, vomiting, diarrhea," Buchanan said.
People who don't have symptoms aren't contagious, and those who are can only transfer the infection through bodily fluids.
Buchanan says the disease hasn't been reported in the U.S., but if Ebola reaches East Tennessee, their staff is well trained.
"The folks who might have Ebola would be in contact and droplet isolation and all of our hospitals have the capability of doing that. Their staff know how to do it and they know how to limit access. They deal with contagious diseases on a daily basis, so they're comfortable doing that," Buchanan said.
The Tennessee Health Department asks people report any suspected Ebola cases immediately by calling (615) 741-7247.

[helomech]

The idiot exposed everyone on the plane, and his own daughter. He should be locked up.

[bacpacker]

He should have been quarrentined in Africa before he got on the plane. As should everyone coming back here.

[izzyscout21]

Latest intel dump:

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/york-city-hospital-treating-potential-ebola-patient/story?id=24838232


Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City is treating a possible Ebola patient who recently traveled toWest Africa (http://abcnews.go.com/topics/news/africa.htm), hospital officials said.The patient arrived at the hospital’s emergency room early Monday morning with “a high fever and gastrointestinal symptoms,” according to a statement from the hospital. The patient has been isolated and is undergoing diagnostic testing.
“All necessary steps are being taken to ensure the safety of all patients, visitors and staff,” the hospital said in a statement. “We will continue to work closely with federal, state and city health officials to address and monitor this case, keep the community informed and provide the best quality care to all of our patients."
ABC News chief health and medical editor Dr. Richard Besser said the patient’s symptoms don’t necessarily point to Ebola, but Mount Sinai was following precautionary recommendations sent out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (http://abcnews.go.com/topics/lifestyle/health/center-for-disease-control.htm) last week.
“Many things cause fever and gastrointestinal symptoms,” Besser said. “The steps they are taking are wise given the travel history, but nothing about the symptoms is specific to Ebola.”
The death toll of the Ebola outbreak in Guinea, Liberia (http://abcnews.go.com/topics/news/liberia.htm), Nigeria (http://abcnews.go.com/topics/news/nigeria.htm) and Sierra Leone (http://abcnews.go.com/topics/news/sierra-leone.htm) climbed to 887, according to the World Health Organization (http://abcnews.go.com/topics/lifestyle/health/world-health-organization.htm). 1,603 people have been infected in all.
It will take one or two days for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to test the patient’s blood, which will have been treated to kill live virus, a CDC spokesman said. So far, the CDC has tested blood samples from six patients with potential Ebola symptoms who recently traveled to West Africa.

[izzyscout21]

Though I don't have an article to back it up yet, just watched the NBC nightly news. Brian Williams reported that there are about 2 dozen possible cases already here.

There are also reported "suspected" cases in MOrocco, Great Britain, and the Phillipines.
Keep in mind, I said suspected, not confirmed.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/11003779/Ebola-outbreak-suspected-case-at-British-immigration-centre.html
http://therealsingapore.com/content/seven-suspected-cases-ebola-philippines

[Twitchy]

Well, the two doctors that were transported to Atlanta were released this week from the hospital...

[Caveman Survival]

Twitchy... The thing that gets me is they say this 'experimental' drug has cured them. Should be fine then right? Why does the w.h.o. Say that the virus can lay dormant for up to 3 months, meaning that there is no sure way to tell if it's truly cured. You would think that the powers that be would err on the side of caution, no?

[bacpacker]

Caveman, you are exactly on track in my mind. It just amazes me thar anyone would take the chance.

With as many countries have been getting scares nearly everyday, iMO it's just a matter of time.