Ebola update: "Is it safe to travel to West Africa?"

22 September 2014, 23:39

Global_Rescue

As the Ebola outbreak continues, here is an update on this rapidly changing situation as well as advice for Global Rescue members regarding travel:

Outbreak Background

The current outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa began in Guinea in December of 2013; however it was not identified as Ebola until March 2014. This delay likely allowed the virus to gain significant traction within the locales where EVD is now present. By May, EVD spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone, likely aided by very porous regional borders. EVD was imported to Nigeria by a single sick traveler in July from Guinea, which is not geographically contiguous with any of the original affected countries. Senegal also reported an imported case in late August. A Senegalese student who had been studying in Guinea was infected, developed symptoms and returned home to Senegal. There have been no confirmed cases of EVD importation elsewhere in the continent, or world, since the Senegal case.

Current Situation

As of the most recent World Health Organization (WHO) Situation Report dated 18 September, the current total number of cases associated with the West Africa outbreak is 5,335. This figure includes 2,622 fatalities as of 14 September. Currently, the only countries affected by the West Africa outbreak are Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and Senegal. Widespread transmission exists in Guinea (942 total cases), Liberia (2,710 total cases), and Sierra Leone (1,673 total cases). In Sierra Leone, dozens of new Ebola cases and deaths were recorded as the country concluded its three-day nationwide lockdown on 21 September. Nigeria, and Senegal have fewer than 25 total combined cases, and thus far have not seen the intense transmission noted in other affected countries. This is likely due to aggressive isolation efforts within both countries once import-vectors were identified, as well as public-health campaigns and response posturing by international healthcare organizations.

Unrelated Outbreak – Democratic Republic of Congo

There is an additional outbreak of EVD in Equateur province in the Democratic Republic of Congo. While the strain identified in the DRC is the same as the strain affecting West Africa, it has been confirmed to be epidemiologically unrelated. The DRC outbreak is believed to have started in the village of Ikanmongo, where a pregnant woman died on 11 August. She was reported to have recently butchered a bush animal, and then fell ill with flu-like symptoms. As of 17 September, there have been 71 cases reported, and 40 fatalities.
The outbreak zone within the DRC is remote – approximately 1,200 kilometers from Kinshasa. There are no major transportation routes that connect the zone with other regions of the DRC, and risk of transmission/importation to other major population centers is considered unlikely. U.N. analysis suggests that the outbreak there is under control at this time

Prevention is primarily guided by awareness of how the disease is transmitted, and practicing safe hygiene. These preventative measures may include:

Avoid nonessential travel to Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone.

If you must travel, please make sure to do the following:

Practice safe hygiene. Avoid contact with blood and body fluids of people who are sick with Ebola. Regular hand-washing is essential and highly recommended.

Do not handle items that may have come in contact with an infected person’s blood or body fluids.

Avoid funeral or burial rituals that require handling the body of someone who has died from Ebola.

Avoid contact with wild animals and with raw or undercooked meat (bushmeat).

Avoid hospitals where Ebola patients are being treated. Global Rescue can provide advice on facilities that are suitable for your needs.

Is it safe to travel during an outbreak?

While travelers should always be vigilant with regard to their health and those around them, the risk of infection for travelers is very low since person-to-person transmission results from direct contact with the body fluids or secretions of an infected patient.

Is it safe to travel to West Africa

The risk of travelers becoming infected with Ebola virus during a visit to the affected areas and developing disease after returning is extremely low, even if the visit included travel to the local areas from which primary cases have been reported. Transmission requires direct contact with blood, secretions, organs or other body fluids of infected living or dead persons or animals, all of which are unlikely exposures for the average traveler. That being said, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued Level 3 (Avoid Nonessential Travel) notices for Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone. Should travel to one of these locations be necessary, be mindful of the prevention guidance noted above.

23 September 2014, 00:07

MARK H. YOUNG

Thanks so much for bringing some clarity to this issue.

23 September 2014, 06:08

butchloc

here's another great thank you for the post.it will take a load off many members minds. this is another great post you guys have made. keep them coming please

23 September 2014, 06:42

Cazador humilde

quote:
Originally posted by butchloc:
here's another great thank you for the post.it will take a load off many members minds. this is another great post you guys have made. keep them coming please

Ditto. 'Really appreciate y'all staying involved on AR.

23 September 2014, 06:50

Fjold

I'm glad to see that that Ghana isn't on the list since my company just bought interest in a power plant in Ghana with the type of engines that I'm the expert in. It could get interesting

23 September 2014, 18:59

impala#03

Thank you for the excellent up to date information.

23 September 2014, 20:25

JTEX

quote:
Originally posted by Cazador humilde:
quote:
Originally posted by butchloc:
here's another great thank you for the post.it will take a load off many members minds. this is another great post you guys have made. keep them coming please

Ditto. 'Really appreciate y'all staying involved on AR.

Please keep up the good work and thanks.

.

25 September 2014, 05:11

bwanamrm

Great value in good intel. Thanks guys!

25 September 2014, 22:35

Global_Rescue

Glad to hear that the information provided has proven useful and informative. We will do our best to continue to keep you up to date on the changing situation.

If you have any additional questions or areas of interest that we may be able to weigh in on, please do not hesitate to ask.

25 September 2014, 23:07

Opus1

Much to the contrary of many hyped reports of Ebola going airborne, it is just as difficult to become infected as it is with AIDS. You need "intimate" contact with contaminated blood or body fluids to become infected. So it is little wonder why the current outbreak is so large with the promiscuous lifestyle of the native and why this outbreak is far from over. Many more thousand will die this year.

The hysteria surrounding this outbreak reminds me of the 1980's and AIDS. But, your chances are becoming infected sitting next to someone is remote.

25 September 2014, 23:12

shakari

quote:
Originally posted by Opus1:
Much to the contrary of many hyped reports of Ebola going airborne, it is just as difficult to become infected as it is with AIDS. You need "intimate" contact with contaminated blood or body fluids to become infected. So it is little wonder why the current outbreak is so large with the promiscuous lifestyle of the native and why this outbreak is far from over. Many more thousand will die this year.

The hysteria surrounding this outbreak reminds me of the 1980's and AIDS. But, your chances are becoming infected sitting next to someone is remote.

I'm no expert but find that very hard to believe....... if that were the case, the medicos etc wouldn't be wearing all that protective gear and spraying anything and everything they see at every opportunity.

25 September 2014, 23:19

Opus1

When someone is in the final stages of death, they are bleeding out of every orifice, coughing, and vomiting. This aerosolizes sufficient virons capable of infecting. Those workers who are in close contact become covered with virons and if proper cross-contamination procedures are not observed they can (and do) become infected.

Just to make a point, we have over 120,000 people dying due to nosocomial infections each year in US hospitals. And that's with hospital workers who are supposed to know how to deal with crosscontamination.

Comparatively speaking, only a few workers have contracted Ebola. Even the best infection control protocols are not human proof - trust me, I've tried.

25 September 2014, 23:27

shakari

I just did a quick Google on 'how can ebola be transmitted between humans' and there's no end of links there including from WHO & CDC that suggest it's considerably easier to contract than AIDS and those plastic suits and masks etc that one sees the aid workers wearing when dealing with anyone even suspected of having ebola would suggest the same.

Perhaps we might have a medical doctor here that could advise?

Better to know exactly how can and cannot be contracted.

25 September 2014, 23:38

Opus1

The difference is, AIDS patients do not cough up blood and basically melt during the final stages of death. If they did, trust me, healthcare workers would be covered head to toe.

Again, those heathcare workers who are becoming infected, did so either before they knew they were dealing with an infected individual or they became infected due to poor cross contamination procedures.

YOUR chances of becoming infected are beyond remote, unless you are busy having sex with lots of savages in equatorial Africa. And then, you have bigger problems than contracting Ebola.

25 September 2014, 23:46

shakari

quote:
Originally posted by Opus1:
The difference is, AIDS patients do not cough up blood and basically melt during the final stages of death. If they did, trust me, healthcare workers would be covered head to toe.

Again, those heathcare workers who are becoming infected, did so either before they knew they were dealing with an infected individual or they became infected due to poor cross contamination procedures.

YOUR chances of becoming infected are beyond remote, unless you are busy having sex with lots of savages in equatorial Africa. And then, you have bigger problems than contracting Ebola.

Mate, that isn't what the WHO & CDC say in their transmission section.

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/

http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/transmission/

But hopefully a trained MD or similar might be able to advise us further.

25 September 2014, 23:48

Opus1

Steve, it is exactly what they say. See my PM...

26 September 2014, 00:01

shakari

As I read those links and as the aid workers suits and masks etc would suggest, I'd say it's probably considerably easier to catch than AIDS.

Africa and the rest of the world has had AIDS for decades but we don't see the same suits etc when people are dealing with AIDS patients anywhere in the world and nor do we see the western world flying specialist missions to AIDS infected countries like we're currently seeing with the ebola infected countries.

Either way, I for one would want considerably more protection when dealing with a possible ebola sufferer than when dealing with an AIDS patient.

What others might want to do is entirely up to them.

26 September 2014, 01:02

Frostbit

quote:
Originally posted by shakari:
I'm no expert but find that very hard to believe........

Nuff said!

28 September 2014, 07:35

TGDjr

Ebola transmits with saliva and sweat. AIDS does not.

Ebola is easier to get by accident.

30 September 2014, 06:43

lavaca

I still won't cancel a hunt based on ebola.

30 September 2014, 07:45

Michael Robinson

quote:
Originally posted by Frostbit:
quote:
Originally posted by shakari:
I'm no expert but find that very hard to believe........

Nuff said!

Precisely.

Thanks, Global Rescue, but as you can see, employing reason and logic only gets you so far with some people . . . .

30 September 2014, 07:58

jdollar

last i heard, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia are the only countries with a significant out break. Senegal, Nigeria, DRC have a few isolated cases. and the first 3 listed have no significant safari industry. i doubt hunters will be working in a hospital, burying dead bodies, French kissing locals, or cleaning bed pans in those 3 countries( or anywhere else for that matter).

30 September 2014, 08:35

Steve Ahrenberg

quote:
Originally posted by jdollar:
last i heard, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia are the only countries with a significant out break. Senegal, Nigeria, DRC have a few isolated cases. and the first 3 listed have no significant safari industry. i doubt hunters will be working in a hospital, burying dead bodies, French kissing locals, or cleaning bed pans in those 3 countries( or anywhere else for that matter).

Well then, you simply don't know how to enjoy yourself.

30 September 2014, 08:56

Frostbit

quote:
Originally posted by Steve Ahrenberg:
quote:
Originally posted by jdollar:
last i heard, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia are the only countries with a significant out break. Senegal, Nigeria, DRC have a few isolated cases. and the first 3 listed have no significant safari industry. i doubt hunters will be working in a hospital, burying dead bodies, French kissing locals, or cleaning bed pans in those 3 countries( or anywhere else for that matter).

Well then, you simply don't know how to enjoy yourself.

You say this to a man that gets paid to pass gas?

30 September 2014, 09:06

jdollar

hey, Jim, but i do it in a professional manner! and when was the last time you got paid to pass gass??

thank God i avoid necrophilia so a trip to central Africa should be OK

01 October 2014, 03:56

Jefffive

Maybe folks should avoid Dallas.

01 October 2014, 04:12

jdollar

yep. those scared to travel to west Africa now also better avoid Dallas and north Texas
http://forums.accuratereloadin...3811043/m/3781006402

01 October 2014, 04:29

DCS Member

Yep, now we need information on whether it's safe for y'all to come to Dallas for DSC.

01 October 2014, 04:40

Frostbit

quote:
Originally posted by DCS Member:
Yep, now we need information on whether it's safe for y'all to come to Dallas for DSC.

I'm sure this is SCI's fault somehow.

01 October 2014, 04:43

bwanamrm

quote:
I'm sure this is SCI's fault somehow.

01 October 2014, 04:46

TrophyShotPrints

quote:
Originally posted by bwanamrm:
quote:
I'm sure this is SCI's fault somehow.

01 October 2014, 04:49

Steve Ahrenberg

I think this just emphasizes how the disease can be spread. Just one guy flies across the Atlantic and the potential for Ebola comes to a state near you.

Now, consider the irresponsible health practices and lack of hygiene in West Africa, the potential for millions of deaths becomes a reality. One infected villager flies from Nigeria to...well, you pick.

You guys are welcome to hunt West Africa. I have, I won't return until it becomes safe politically and health wise.

CAR completely disintegrated politically about 5 days after I got out. LRA (Joseph Kony) kidnapped and later killed three aid workers 60K from where I was hunting.

I like adventure as much as anyone, but in reality, I know that I am merely a "Tourist Hunter" on vacation. Not willing to orphan my child or widow my wife over it.

The tough talk is easy.

Steve

01 October 2014, 05:08

jdollar

so i take it that the DSC Convention is a non-starter?? political instability is 1 thing, medical issues are another.....

01 October 2014, 05:12

jdollar

quote:
Originally posted by Frostbit:
quote:
Originally posted by DCS Member:
Yep, now we need information on whether it's safe for y'all to come to Dallas for DSC.

I'm sure this is SCI's fault somehow.

of course it is. rumor has it that the infected individual worked for SCI and was returning to Phoenix via Dallas with a load of smuggled award plaques, bronze statues, porcelain statues and signet rings.

01 October 2014, 05:26

Opus1

can

01 October 2014, 05:30

jdollar

like a visit to a hospital near you!

01 October 2014, 05:59

Opus1

01 October 2014, 06:47

Steve Ahrenberg

Opus,

I think your numbers don't relate. The flu, how many get the flu annually? 25-30 million perhaps?

With a death rate of 36K, I'll take that bet any time. Ebola, 25 million get it, 10-15 million will parrish. The flu doesn't usually kill healthy Americans.

Your likelihood of dying in a plane crash is also very low, but the likelihood of
surviving one is almost zero.

Jerry,
You, a man of huge international hunting experience, not many here on AR can compare to. Why do you feel the constant need to carry on and continually look for arguments and fights?

I refuse to engage you in this, I simply gave my opinion. You feel the need to push it to the rediculous extreme.

You must be a very insecure man. You need constant approval from your peers. This is meant to be entertainment, you fuck it all up. You seem to love the angst and the division. Civility is gone.

You will wait for a subject, bound to divide, you then rush to the downwind side to pile on, assuring yourself the winning side of whatever.

Take ISS for example, you and Ted have bludgeoned him to death. I have gone back and read some old stuff, all the way back to the "Elk" thread, Rich never made those claims. Give it a rest. This isn't for points and it isn't a popularity contest. Rich says and does some outlandish things. But you, you just wait...set a trap...wait for your bench to show up and pounch. You sir are a Hayena, a coward on your own.

AR doesn't allow posting of PM's yet you do it with impunity. Why?

AR has changed and not for the better. I realize many here won't understand much of this, but you do.

Good evening,

Steve

01 October 2014, 07:07

Opus1

01 October 2014, 07:19

Steve Ahrenberg

quote:
Originally posted by Opus1:

Steve you seem all amped up about Ebola and I suppose that's not too surprising. Folks were all hysterical over AIDS before the facts sunk in and lay people became educated about the real exposure risks - don't share needles with an infected individual and avoid sexual contact with them. Today that's like a big "well duhhh".

If you're really so concerned about "catching" Ebola, I would avoid going on a sex holiday to equatorial Africa any time soon and avoid eating any dead monkeys or bats that you might run across in the African bush.

In regards to your suggestion that we will see infection numbers in the millions, that's simply not rooted in any current projections and is the stuff of myth and misinformation. Furthermore, new treatment protocols are showing great results and I would image by the first of the year, we will have the key to killing the virus. So all the scary talk is pretty ridiculous.

No, not really amped up about Ebola, I can take care of myself. It's really a long pissing match between JD and I. I have nothing against you at all. Ebola, the facts are the facts, I cannot change them.

Just seems odd that the Doctors that caught it, were taking absolutely every precaution and still got it.

You also seem to saying this guy in Texas was eating monkeys on a sex holiday? I would be interested to see how he got it.

No harm no foul, I can just not go to West Africa. Africa is a big damn place to hunt.

Steve