-
FluTrackers.com Inc. does not provide medical advice. Information on this web site is collected from various internet resources, and the FluTrackers board of directors makes no warranty to the safety, efficacy, correctness or completeness of the information posted on this site by any author or poster. The information collated here is for instructional and/or discussion purposes only and is NOT intended to diagnose or treat any disease, illness, or other medical condition. Every individual reader or poster should seek advice from their personal physician/healthcare practitioner before considering or using any interventions that are discussed on this website. By continuing to access this website you agree to consult your personal physican before using any interventions posted on this website, and you agree to hold harmless FluTrackers.com Inc., the board of directors, the members, and all authors and posters for any effects from use of any medication, supplement, vitamin or other substance, device, intervention, etc. mentioned in posts on this website, or other internet venues referenced in posts on this website.
-
We are not asking for any donations. Do not donate to any entity who says they are raising funds for us.
Anthony Banbury, chief of the UN's Ebola mission, says there is a chance the deadly virus could mutate to become infectious through the air
- Thread starter FrenchieGirl
- Start date
sharon sanders
Editor-in-Chief & President
Re: Anthony Banbury, chief of the UN's Ebola mission, says there is a chance the deadly virus could mutate to become infectious through the air
hat tip to GardenSpider for the link
http://www.nature.com/news/ebola-virus-mutating-rapidly-as-it-spreads-1.15777
snip
"..The virus amassed 50 mutations during its first month, the researchers found. They say there is no sign that any of these mutations have contributed to the unprecedented size of the outbreak by changing the characteristics of the Ebola virus ? for instance, its ability to spread from person to person or to kill infected patients. But others are eager to examine these questions.
And such risks rise as the virus continues to spread. ?The longer we allow the outbreak to continue, the greater the opportunity the virus has to mutate, and it?s possible that it will mutate into a form that would be an even greater threat than it is right now,? says Charles Chiu, an infectious-disease physician at the University of California, San Francisco..."
hat tip to GardenSpider for the link
http://www.nature.com/news/ebola-virus-mutating-rapidly-as-it-spreads-1.15777
snip
"..The virus amassed 50 mutations during its first month, the researchers found. They say there is no sign that any of these mutations have contributed to the unprecedented size of the outbreak by changing the characteristics of the Ebola virus ? for instance, its ability to spread from person to person or to kill infected patients. But others are eager to examine these questions.
And such risks rise as the virus continues to spread. ?The longer we allow the outbreak to continue, the greater the opportunity the virus has to mutate, and it?s possible that it will mutate into a form that would be an even greater threat than it is right now,? says Charles Chiu, an infectious-disease physician at the University of California, San Francisco..."
Re: Anthony Banbury, chief of the UN's Ebola mission, says there is a chance the deadly virus could mutate to become infectious through the air
True. However, it's also possible that it could mutate into a form that would be less of a threat than it is now.
Better to focus on the reality of the present threat than on the unpredictable, IMO.
True. However, it's also possible that it could mutate into a form that would be less of a threat than it is now.
Better to focus on the reality of the present threat than on the unpredictable, IMO.
Nika
Well-known member
Re: Anthony Banbury, chief of the UN's Ebola mission, says there is a chance the deadly virus could mutate to become infectious through the air
And, as has been stressed repeatedly here at FluTrackers and elsewhere, the dynamics of this outbreak (while scary) do not indicate that the virus has picked up an airborne phenotype. I think - for some - the more bothersome and more cryptic phenotype to be concerned with is increasing infectiousness during the later asymptomatic period.
And, as has been stressed repeatedly here at FluTrackers and elsewhere, the dynamics of this outbreak (while scary) do not indicate that the virus has picked up an airborne phenotype. I think - for some - the more bothersome and more cryptic phenotype to be concerned with is increasing infectiousness during the later asymptomatic period.
Re: Anthony Banbury, chief of the UN's Ebola mission, says there is a chance the deadly virus could mutate to become infectious through the air
I suspect there is some messaging to keep support onside in this statement, and its not untrue - there IS a risk, however small. As I have repeatedly said, the greater risk is a shortening of the incubation time and/or a period prior to symptom onset where individuals are infectious.
That said, perhaps this focus on the airborne risks is what is needed to keep goods, resources, staff and money flowing into the fight. Policy makers need to 'see' this as a risk to non-infected nation states, the global economy etc. Otherwise its just another problem in Africa.
I suspect there is some messaging to keep support onside in this statement, and its not untrue - there IS a risk, however small. As I have repeatedly said, the greater risk is a shortening of the incubation time and/or a period prior to symptom onset where individuals are infectious.
That said, perhaps this focus on the airborne risks is what is needed to keep goods, resources, staff and money flowing into the fight. Policy makers need to 'see' this as a risk to non-infected nation states, the global economy etc. Otherwise its just another problem in Africa.
Emily
Editor, Senior Moderator
Re: Anthony Banbury, chief of the UN's Ebola mission, says there is a chance the deadly virus could mutate to become infectious through the air
I have to respectfully disagree, Vibrant, that there is a known risk that ebola virus could become infectious per Banbury's scenario.
http://www.virology.ws/2014/09/18/what-we-are-not-afraid-to-say-about-ebola-virus/
So while we can't 100% rule the possibility out, we can't say with certainty that there is even a remote possibility this could happen. If it did, we could see the tradeoff Fouchier and Kawaoka saw in H5N1 where becoming more transmissible coincided with a loss in virulence.
Maybe it is easy to rattle people in charge of budgets, but I'd rather they have realistic information to base decisions upon. The U.S. is not a 'rich' country when it comes to universal access to healthcare.
I have to respectfully disagree, Vibrant, that there is a known risk that ebola virus could become infectious per Banbury's scenario.
http://www.virology.ws/2014/09/18/what-we-are-not-afraid-to-say-about-ebola-virus/
So while we can't 100% rule the possibility out, we can't say with certainty that there is even a remote possibility this could happen. If it did, we could see the tradeoff Fouchier and Kawaoka saw in H5N1 where becoming more transmissible coincided with a loss in virulence.
Maybe it is easy to rattle people in charge of budgets, but I'd rather they have realistic information to base decisions upon. The U.S. is not a 'rich' country when it comes to universal access to healthcare.
Re: Anthony Banbury, chief of the UN's Ebola mission, says there is a chance the deadly virus could mutate to become infectious through the air
Emily: Trying to see where we disagree?
I think that the risk of a change to make this an airborne virus is extremely small, but cannot be non-existent. We agree on that?
What I believe to be a greater risk is a move to increased transmissibility, which is seen in all viruses that are adapting from a zoonosis to a human virus over time. Its part of the adaptation process. In the case of flu, increased transmissibility is traded for virulence, and one would hope that would be what we see with ebola. However virulence has a very long way to fall indeed, so its not a change anyone wishes to see.
I was then raising the question that perhaps this issue keeps coming up because this is what is mobilising budgetary and other support, internationally. That is just a rhetorical question really, as I dont know that it can be answered..
Emily: Trying to see where we disagree?
I think that the risk of a change to make this an airborne virus is extremely small, but cannot be non-existent. We agree on that?
What I believe to be a greater risk is a move to increased transmissibility, which is seen in all viruses that are adapting from a zoonosis to a human virus over time. Its part of the adaptation process. In the case of flu, increased transmissibility is traded for virulence, and one would hope that would be what we see with ebola. However virulence has a very long way to fall indeed, so its not a change anyone wishes to see.
I was then raising the question that perhaps this issue keeps coming up because this is what is mobilising budgetary and other support, internationally. That is just a rhetorical question really, as I dont know that it can be answered..
Emily
Editor, Senior Moderator
Re: Anthony Banbury, chief of the UN's Ebola mission, says there is a chance the deadly virus could mutate to become infectious through the air
We only disagree on this one point:
I think we can't rule out that the risk is non-existent since we have never seen a virus change in this way, per Dr. Racaniello.
But we agree that it could happen.
We only disagree on this one point:
I think we can't rule out that the risk is non-existent since we have never seen a virus change in this way, per Dr. Racaniello.
But we agree that it could happen.
Ronan Kelly
Retired 2020
Re: Anthony Banbury, chief of the UN's Ebola mission, says there is a chance the deadly virus could mutate to become infectious through the air
h/t @MackayIM
UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response statement for clarification: No
threat that Ebola is airborne
ACCRA, GHANA, 3 October 2014
Following recent media reports, the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER)
seeks to clarify that Ebola is not an airborne disease. At this point in time we have no
evidence and do not anticipate that the Ebola virus is mutating to become airborne.
However, there are real risks and concerns with this outbreak: every day more people are
becoming infected and more are dying because they cannot get the care they need. Energy
needs to be focused on swiftly addressing the real needs and gaps in communities affected
by this disease.
The Ebola virus only spreads through contact with bodily fluids. The World Health
Organization (WHO) monitors the virus closely. Viruses do mutate but it is a complex
process that takes time. Right now, as advised by WHO, the safest thing anyone can do is
avoid direct contact with bodily fluids of people who have Ebola, and with surfaces and
materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with fluids.
Media contacts:
Currently with the UNMEER delegation in Sierra Leone
Christy Feig, feigc@who.int, +41.79.251.7055
Jon Greenway, greenway@un.org, +1.917.209.3956
Margaret Harris, mharrisenator@gmail.com, harrism@who.int, (use both emails when sending a request), +232 78 335 660
More information:
www.un.org/ebolaresponse On Twitter: @Ebola_Response @UNMEER
http://www.un.org/ebolaresponse/pdf/UNMEER-virus-press-release.pdf
h/t @MackayIM
UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response statement for clarification: No
threat that Ebola is airborne
ACCRA, GHANA, 3 October 2014
Following recent media reports, the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER)
seeks to clarify that Ebola is not an airborne disease. At this point in time we have no
evidence and do not anticipate that the Ebola virus is mutating to become airborne.
However, there are real risks and concerns with this outbreak: every day more people are
becoming infected and more are dying because they cannot get the care they need. Energy
needs to be focused on swiftly addressing the real needs and gaps in communities affected
by this disease.
The Ebola virus only spreads through contact with bodily fluids. The World Health
Organization (WHO) monitors the virus closely. Viruses do mutate but it is a complex
process that takes time. Right now, as advised by WHO, the safest thing anyone can do is
avoid direct contact with bodily fluids of people who have Ebola, and with surfaces and
materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with fluids.
Media contacts:
Currently with the UNMEER delegation in Sierra Leone
Christy Feig, feigc@who.int, +41.79.251.7055
Jon Greenway, greenway@un.org, +1.917.209.3956
Margaret Harris, mharrisenator@gmail.com, harrism@who.int, (use both emails when sending a request), +232 78 335 660
More information:
www.un.org/ebolaresponse On Twitter: @Ebola_Response @UNMEER
http://www.un.org/ebolaresponse/pdf/UNMEER-virus-press-release.pdf