Ebola Test

I just read a post from Scottie that I think answers my question. So the virus doesn't show up in your blood until you are symptomatic.

There are many hospitals coming o nboard as Ebola centers this week. Eight in NY State alone.

Good question. There may be a Typhoid Mary out there somewhere.

On 10/30/2014 Love Roses said:

Good question. There may be a Typhoid Mary out there somewhere.

What???

It's not exactly something where you can walk around infecting people....you get too sick too soon for that.

On 10/30/2014 toodles11 said:

I was wondering if you had to have symptoms for the ebola test to show positive. Do they even know?

We have so few hospitals that are ready to deal with ebola right now, it just seems better to take precautions until they have training and know what they are doing. Doctors Without Borders does lots of training. Shouldn't we?

Fortunately I live in the city where 2 of the Ebola patients have come and gone. Were I to have any doubt? Spent time there having multiple double balloon enteroscopies for colon bleeding. That would be the ER that would be my first stop.

Toodles,

I think THIS article will answer your question(s) regarding testing.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/10/28/359567808/blood-test-for-ebola-doesnt-catch-infection-ear...

How do we take precautions? Do we panic and make poor decisions and choices based on ignorance and lack of scientific knowledge? Or, do we actually listen to experts in the field- such as virologists, infectious disease specialists and epidemiologists?

A number of politicians and people on these boards seem to prefer the panic option, making choices out of fear and ignorance., rather than relying on people who have literally studied these issues for years and know more about science and medicine, in general, and this virus, in particular, than most of us could ever hope to know.

On 10/30/2014 KYToby said:

How do we take precautions? Do we panic and make poor decisions and choices based on ignorance and lack of scientific knowledge? Or, do we actually listen to experts in the field- such as virologists, infectious disease specialists and epidemiologists?

A number of politicians and people on these boards seem to prefer the panic option, making choices out of fear and ignorance., rather than relying on people who have literally studied these issues for years and know more about science and medicine, in general, and this virus, in particular, than most of us could ever hope to know.

The problem is there is conflict between medical professionals and health departments. If they get themselves on the same page the public will be more agreeable.

I posted this in the other thread:

"Very bad news for researchers planning to attend the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Conference in Louisiana on Nov 2-6. Louisiana Health Officials will quarantine anyone attending the conference who has been in an Ebola affected country over the last three weeks to their hotel room.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals said that anyone who has been in Liberia, Sierra Leone or Guinea in the past 3 weeks should NOT travel to New Orleans to attend the Conference. The Society has been contacting attendees informing them of this development adding it is not the medical group's idea. This is a major conference for those studying malaria, dengue fever and ebola. The keynote speaker is Bill Gates.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/10/30/360179428/ebola-researchers-banned-from-medical-meeting-i...

On 10/30/2014 KYToby said:

How do we take precautions? Do we panic and make poor decisions and choices based on ignorance and lack of scientific knowledge? Or, do we actually listen to experts in the field- such as virologists, infectious disease specialists and epidemiologists?

A number of politicians and people on these boards seem to prefer the panic option, making choices out of fear and ignorance., rather than relying on people who have literally studied these issues for years and know more about science and medicine, in general, and this virus, in particular, than most of us could ever hope to know.

No we don't panic. We do the best we can to promote practices that have worked in other countries to slow the progress of the spread of this disease. That includes tracking all people who have come into contact with someone who is contagious with ebola.

If you have been exposed to ebola you can become actively contagious within 21 days (usually). If you become symptomatic while you are out in the public, then everyone you have contact with will have to be tracked and contacted.