[Shaved Monkey]

More people are dying from bee stings at the moment

[KaiserJeep]

Flu season starts in a month or so, and then we'll see some serious casualties from a really dangerous virus.

[AgentR11]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('KaiserJeep', 'F')lu season starts in a month or so, and then we'll see some serious casualties from a really dangerous virus.

[KaiserJeep]

Really. In 1918-1919 the "Spanish Influenza" killed six times as many people as did WWI. More than did all the plagues of the Middle Ages. In fact, more people died from the Spanish Influenza than existed on the planet in the Middle Ages.

In spite of the name, the virus is believed to have originated in China. There where people live in close proximity to pigs and chickens, both of which are reservoirs of viruses that frequently jump back and forth from one species to another.

The most frightened I have ever been was when my 14 month old baby girl was hospitalized with her first influenza, and ended up laying on a rubber sheet with ice water cooling her extreme fever, and getting fluids through an IV tube because she could not drink. Had it been the 19th century instead of the late 20th, I believe that she would have died.

I get my flu shot every year. I am old enough to be in the second group of people at risk after young children.

[dohboi]

Listen up, @$$fVcks.

THERE IS NO OTHER DISEASE OR CONDITION ON EARTH RIGHT NOW THAT HAS A 60-90% MORTALITY RATE AND IS GROWING AT AN EXPONENTIAL (at least) RATE, THAT HAS BEEN LOOSED UPON THE EARTH AT THIS TIME.

(If I am wrong, please do inform me. If you don't have a flying f'n clue what exponential growth rate implies...oh, I give up )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fP62NM50zVY

[AgentR11]

Well, you're welcome to get excited about ebola specifically, but the precautions and preps you might make are identical. Only they're alot more effective against ebola, than they are against influenza. And I, personally, am quite vulnerable to influenza as has been demonstrated to me over the years.

Now, that doesn't mean ebola isn't a problem, or could even become huge; comparing the two, its got a lot of ground to cover before it even comes close to Influenza. Though admittedly, dieing of ebola is messier than dieing of influenza; but its also faster, sorta a consolation prize of mercy I guess.

Now, as to stocking up... I try to keep a 3 month pantry; with the basic idea that me and family could stay on our little spot for three months without outside food or water and not have anything to horrible happen. Shelter in place, and don't be curious. Best odds.

[dohboi]

Good points, A. Sorry for the all-caps.

It's my birthday, and I'll cap if I want to!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsYJyVEUaC4

[vox_mundi]

d - sounds like it was a good party

odds and ends from the ether

CIDRAP – Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy suggest respirators for all Ebola healthcare workers – aerosol transmissibility of virus in question
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspect ... tion-ebola
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '.')..We believe there is scientific and epidemiologic evidence that Ebola virus has the potential to be transmitted via infectious aerosol particles both near and at a distance from infected patients, which means that healthcare workers should be wearing respirators, not facemasks. The minimum level of protection in high-risk settings should be a respirator with an assigned protection factor greater than 10. A powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) with a hood or helmet offers many advantages over an N95 filtering face-piece or similar respirator, being more protective, comfortable, and cost-effective in the long run.

[dohboi]

"respirators for all Ebola healthcare workers – aerosol transmissibility of virus in question"

That ought to help make the healthcare workers look even more scary!

[vox_mundi]

Wonder how long Ebola virus hangs around?

Survival of Influenza Virus on Banknotes
http://oaister.worldcat.org/title/survi ... ef_results

Successful control of a viral disease requires knowledge of the different vectors that could promote its transmission among hosts. We assessed the survival of human influenza viruses on banknotes given that billions of these notes are exchanged daily worldwide. Banknotes were experimentally contaminated with representative influenza virus subtypes at various concentrations, and survival was tested after different time periods. Influenza A viruses tested by cell culture survived up to 3 days when they were inoculated at high concentrations. The same inoculum in the presence of respiratory mucus showed a striking increase in survival time (up to 17 days). Similarly, B/Hong Kong/335/2001 virus was still infectious after 1 day when it was mixed with respiratory mucus. When nasopharyngeal secretions of naturally infected children were used, influenza virus survived for at least 48 h in one-third of the cases. The unexpected stability of influenza virus in this nonbiological environment suggests that unusual environmental contamination should be considered in the setting of pandemic preparedness.

[Withnail]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vox_mundi', 'T')he Ebola virus seems to me stepping outside the R-naught boundary for the virus [R0 = 1-4] and approaching the R-naught of airborne viruses [R0 = 6-12+]

[vox_mundi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'Y')ou are not going to die from Ebola you big baby

[Withnail]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vox_mundi', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'Y')ou are not going to die from Ebola you big baby

[vox_mundi]

We each have our part to play in this great adventure. Make the most of the time you have.

Maybe we'll get it right next time.

[vox_mundi]

D- I'm partial to those medieval respirators

http://www.quirkytravel.com/miscellaneo ... sk-venice/

[dohboi]

Yeah, those are pretty scary looking. But they obviously were on to something.

[JuanP]

I like Ibon's vision of a depopulated world reclaimed by apex predators, but it is a pipe dream. Humans will destroy and eat everything as we freeze and starve for decades. A couple of years after collapse all wildlife will be gone, even rats will be scarce.
In Florida, the gators, crocs, bears, sharks, and panthers wouldn't last a year after protection stopped being enforced, if people were hungry. And I think that is many of the apex predators East of the Great Plains.
All forests will be burned for heating, cooking, and industrial purposes.

[dohboi]

Sadly, I think you're right, Juan.

[Newfie]

Agreed.

[vtsnowedin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('JuanP', 'I') like Ibon's vision of a depopulated world reclaimed by apex predators, but it is a pipe dream. Humans will destroy and eat everything as we freeze and starve for decades. A couple of years after collapse all wildlife will be gone, even rats will be scarce.
In Florida, the gators, crocs, bears, sharks, and panthers wouldn't last a year after protection stopped being enforced, if people were hungry. And I think that is many of the apex predators East of the Great Plains.
All forests will be burned for heating, cooking, and industrial purposes.