General Discussion

YarnAddict

(1,850 posts) Tue Sep 30, 2014, 06:05 PM Sep 2014

How much exposure to the Ebola virus [View all]

would be necessary to contract the disease?

This guy got here on the 20th, became symptomatic on the 24th, and was finally admitted on the 28th. If he had gone to a mall, maybe sneezed into a paper napkin, or wiped his mouth on it, and then a table bus-person with a hangnail picked his stuff up, would that be enough to transmit?

Really would like to know. We hear about healthcare workers, or people who handle the dead contracting the disease, but could even minimal exposure cause transmissionn?

167 replies

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Highlight:

How much exposure to the Ebola virus [View all] YarnAddict Sep 2014 OP

a lot hollysmom Sep 2014 #1

That's reassuring. In_The_Wind Sep 2014 #4

That claim is bogus. LisaL Sep 2014 #11

And you are an expert in communicable diseases, I assume? DeadLetterOffice Oct 2014 #151

It's not very easy to transmit unless you have really close contact with bodily fluids. Marrah_G Sep 2014 #2

Thanks for the info! YarnAddict Sep 2014 #5

It is very easily transmitted. LisaL Sep 2014 #13

Ebola Facts: Texasgal Sep 2014 #3

Thanks! n/t YarnAddict Sep 2014 #7

+1. nt seabeyond Sep 2014 #8

Is that way it's biosafety level 4 virus? LisaL Sep 2014 #15

Yes. I agree. They haven't studied Ebola long enough to know that for certain. misterhighwasted Sep 2014 #22

The reason it is in bio safety level 4 is because it is very deadly. longship Sep 2014 #23

Then explain mersa B2G Sep 2014 #42

I was under the impression Texasgal Sep 2014 #46

I'm referring to virus control in a hospital B2G Sep 2014 #49

Well, MRSA is not as easy to diganose Texasgal Sep 2014 #52

You mean MRSA? Laffy Kat Sep 2014 #50

The point was about hospital procedures. nt valerief Oct 2014 #128

The bacteria msra and the virus ebola are 2 entirely different things. uppityperson Oct 2014 #133

We all know they're two different things. Glad you know it, too! nt valerief Oct 2014 #136

You seemed to be confused as to proper care for them, and where they are found, etc. uppityperson Oct 2014 #138

Bringing up MRSA is a total non sequitur. longship Sep 2014 #54

The problem is that unless scrupulous infection control is maintained, it is very easy for someone hedgehog Oct 2014 #165

Because it has a high mortality rate and no vaccination. jeff47 Sep 2014 #81

Yes. I think you're right. 840high Sep 2014 #101

It is a level 4 because there is no cure or vaccine Marrah_G Oct 2014 #130

So on a scale of GummyBearz Sep 2014 #20

Zero! longship Sep 2014 #24

I agree... but Agschmid Sep 2014 #64

Well, I am sure that the CDC has plans intact. longship Sep 2014 #71

Yup. Agschmid Sep 2014 #72

We should fear the chances of Willard Romney winning the whitehouse in 2016 rustydog Sep 2014 #44

I'm gonna say Zero. Texasgal Sep 2014 #47

I think you spelled bears wrong snooper2 Oct 2014 #120

the answer to that, as I understand it, is it's possible cali Sep 2014 #6

There's a little conflicting info here . . . YarnAddict Sep 2014 #9

I wish that more people had that Texasgal Sep 2014 #10

True that! YarnAddict Sep 2014 #12

Flu doesn't have 70 % death rate. LisaL Sep 2014 #14

never said it did. Texasgal Sep 2014 #16

Well, a few die. Still a bad deal. nt Logical Sep 2014 #17

The other thing is-- YarnAddict Sep 2014 #18

That's the problem. Texasgal Sep 2014 #19

I am so pissed about this. WTF..Patient is not a US Citizen. Came here to visit family. WHY?? misterhighwasted Sep 2014 #21

The CDC dude YarnAddict Sep 2014 #27

Yes, and it's flat-out idiotic that we're still allowing travelers in from those countries at all. Warren DeMontague Oct 2014 #149

I agree. boston bean Oct 2014 #153

Since he arrived here on Sept 20 and showed no symptoms until Sept 24 Warpy Sep 2014 #28

Yup. Agschmid Sep 2014 #67

Hmm this seems like a response which lacks any empathy... Agschmid Sep 2014 #66

i have little empathy for the person who failed to inform the 1st ER misterhighwasted Oct 2014 #126

So... He did tell them though. Agschmid Oct 2014 #144

I would bet serious money he knew he was exposed and withheld that info kestrel91316 Sep 2014 #92

Yes. And some people who were exposed to him will lie to avoid isolation apples and oranges Sep 2014 #96

Be careful not to spread misinformation. Contacts are not put into isolation. kestrel91316 Sep 2014 #104

True. Perhaps he also was in denial. misterhighwasted Oct 2014 #131

Turns out HE did the right thing and said he was from Liberia. The screening ER nurse totally kestrel91316 Oct 2014 #147

He did know he was exposed. He carried his landlords daughter misterhighwasted Oct 2014 #146

I thought I read he transferred in Atlanta. valerief Oct 2014 #129

Oh yes. Not much happening at the Busiest Airport in the Country! misterhighwasted Oct 2014 #132

Atlanta can relax. Apparently it was Dulles in Washington DC misterhighwasted Oct 2014 #162

Apparently, it doesn't transmit in sneezes or coughs Warpy Sep 2014 #25

Didn't CDC dude YarnAddict Sep 2014 #29

Yes, he was let go. LisaL Sep 2014 #32

On the bright side-- YarnAddict Sep 2014 #34

Sick with ebola for 4 days means critical care level sick. Warpy Sep 2014 #33

But what about his first visit? YarnAddict Sep 2014 #35

Then he wasn't sick enough to be contagious either. morningfog Sep 2014 #94

What in the world are you talking about? LisaL Sep 2014 #99

They are contagious when they are speading their bodily fluids. morningfog Sep 2014 #105

Do you understand what body fluids are? LisaL Sep 2014 #111

How often do you ingest random people's sweat? morningfog Sep 2014 #113

You don't have to "ingest" it YarnAddict Oct 2014 #118

Play a game with yourself BlindTiresias Oct 2014 #122

You mean my mouth and you mean after I have stuck my finger in an infected person's anus? morningfog Oct 2014 #123

Any mucous membrane BlindTiresias Oct 2014 #125

That is simply not true. morningfog Oct 2014 #127

Yes, it is BlindTiresias Oct 2014 #139

Worry yourself all you want. morningfog Oct 2014 #140

What? BlindTiresias Oct 2014 #142

You are mistaken. morningfog Oct 2014 #143

Just going by the CDC and WHO documents. BlindTiresias Oct 2014 #145

They don't say what you claim. Let's do it this way: morningfog Oct 2014 #150

Uh, kind of a tall order there considering the situation BlindTiresias Oct 2014 #154

Unmitigated bullshit! morningfog Oct 2014 #155

If they have sweat on their hand yes it will! BlindTiresias Oct 2014 #156

Good lord. Lost cause. You are hyping ignorant fear. morningfog Oct 2014 #157

Sorry you have a hard time parsing language. BlindTiresias Oct 2014 #159

Oh btw BlindTiresias Oct 2014 #160

Thanks for the information n/t deutsey Oct 2014 #164

That is not what that says. BlindTiresias Sep 2014 #112

I didn't see CDC dude. Warpy Sep 2014 #57

Not quite. BlindTiresias Sep 2014 #48

Touching only with broken skin Warpy Sep 2014 #55

Yeah? BlindTiresias Sep 2014 #77

No, wrong. BlindTiresias Sep 2014 #78

It is spread through SWEAT, for god's sake. How people kestrel91316 Sep 2014 #93

Right, like blood soaked bedding. Warpy Oct 2014 #115

A fevered body in distress can release puddles Lars39 Oct 2014 #119

This paper is more informative Warpy Oct 2014 #116

The paper says that the virus is detected in all tissues BlindTiresias Oct 2014 #121

Detected in doesn't mean transmitted by Warpy Oct 2014 #134

Detected in BlindTiresias Oct 2014 #137

Message auto-removed Name removed Sep 2014 #26

That's-- YarnAddict Sep 2014 #30

Message auto-removed Name removed Sep 2014 #37

Yup. YarnAddict Sep 2014 #39

got a link for that info? dixiegrrrrl Sep 2014 #31

Message auto-removed Name removed Sep 2014 #36

Caring for a sick family member, cleaning up their blood and vomit would do it Hekate Sep 2014 #38

Makes me wonder YarnAddict Sep 2014 #40

Our military is actually very good at humanitarian missions, when called on to undertake them. nt Hekate Sep 2014 #51

Setting up isolation areas, properly disposing of contaminated materials and bodies (nt) jeff47 Sep 2014 #79

Before people panic here, read what the CDC has on ebola, it takes a bit to transmit it rustydog Sep 2014 #41

But panic is apparently much more fun... DeadLetterOffice Oct 2014 #152

So long as there is not some unknown mutation, it takes a lot to catch Ebola. MohRokTah Sep 2014 #43

It doesn't take a lot even without mutation. LisaL Sep 2014 #45

You're kind of all over this thread. WillowTree Sep 2014 #58

Don't Panic: The Virus Doesn't Spread Very Efficiently... rustydog Sep 2014 #53

Good link. Texasgal Sep 2014 #56

He wasn't put in isolation for days after developing symptoms. LisaL Sep 2014 #59

Okay, so we should just put the flu Texasgal Sep 2014 #61

Me and my family are less than 50 miles from the hospital MrTriumph Sep 2014 #60

I don't think there is any plane-related danger YarnAddict Sep 2014 #62

Message auto-removed Name removed Sep 2014 #63

How about safety of all other people? LisaL Sep 2014 #65

I'd imagine they are working on it... Agschmid Sep 2014 #68

Message auto-removed Name removed Sep 2014 #69

Message auto-removed Name removed Sep 2014 #70

They would not be contagious until they are symptomatic. jeff47 Sep 2014 #83

This guy was symptomatic for at least four days before finally being put in isolation. LisaL Sep 2014 #88

Because when a stranger vomits in front of me jeff47 Sep 2014 #89

It's not unlikely at all. LisaL Sep 2014 #98

How symptomatic was he? If is has just a fever, he wasn't contagious. morningfog Sep 2014 #95

Where exactly did you get this idea? LisaL Sep 2014 #97

It is widely undrestood and reported: morningfog Sep 2014 #102

Being most infectious and infectious are two completely different things. LisaL Sep 2014 #103

And until they are spewing their bodily fluids, there is nothing being transmitted to be infected by morningfog Sep 2014 #107

No BlindTiresias Sep 2014 #109

Oh for crying out loud. LisaL Sep 2014 #110

Let's pretend they released that. Now what? jeff47 Sep 2014 #80

I agree. There may be people with Ebola staggering their way around you RIGHT NOW! hedgehog Oct 2014 #166

k&r for the replies with facts vs fear mongering uppityperson Sep 2014 #73

Indeed. n/t Adsos Letter Sep 2014 #74

All this blather assuming we know every detail.. sendero Sep 2014 #75

I have a feeling YarnAddict Sep 2014 #76

To answer your question seriously BlindTiresias Sep 2014 #82

Probably not. jeff47 Sep 2014 #84

Viruses have different levels of infectivity BlindTiresias Sep 2014 #85

Point is, a realistic floor is way above one. jeff47 Sep 2014 #86

No, incorrect BlindTiresias Sep 2014 #87

Pssst.....read the last two words. They're kinda important. (nt) jeff47 Sep 2014 #90

Uh BlindTiresias Sep 2014 #100

Any contact whatsoever with bodily fluids of a person kestrel91316 Sep 2014 #91

More info 840high Sep 2014 #108

I can't find any information on ebola virus survival time outside the body. kestrel91316 Oct 2014 #114

it depends in part on the state of your immune system magical thyme Sep 2014 #106

Unfortunately, it's got a lot of medicalese in it Warpy Oct 2014 #117

Thank you for posting. Great information there. morningfog Oct 2014 #124

Some people would rather terrify themselves over nothing Warpy Oct 2014 #135

as well as the anti vaxxers who are causing those once eradicated misterhighwasted Oct 2014 #148

Transmission WovenGems Oct 2014 #141

Very close contact Warpy Oct 2014 #158

This guy hopscotched through BRUSSELS and DULLES (DC) before landing in TX. MADem Oct 2014 #161

Don't know how thorough the screening would have been YarnAddict Oct 2014 #163

Four million people live in Liberia. According to the CDC, there have been hedgehog Oct 2014 #167