Tuesday means SCIENCE TIMES: EPIDEMIC EDITION This week: E-BHOLY SHIT GUYS. The World Health Organization released an assessment on Friday warning that the Ebola virus is spreading with the potential for catastrophic consequences. The report cited various causes for the sudden outbreak, including a variation of the virus more deadly than any previously known, an unprecedented ability to spread via air travel, and an inadequate emergency response from local health workers. Several countries have taken up their own measures, such as Scotland quarantining athletes at the Commonwealth Games in Glasglow and the Philippines monitoring travelers from Africa for up to a month. So what exactly is ebola? Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) kills by attacking the immune system and liver and by inhibiting the bloods ability to clot, ultimately leading to internal hemorrhaging and fatally low blood pressure. There is no vaccine for the disease and treatment primarily involves rehydration therapy while waiting for the bodys natural defenses to fight the infection. Ebola spreads through contact with bodily fluids, which explains why poor practices in patient care have accelerated the spread of the disease. The current outbreak in West Africa is the largest ever and has to date killed over 900 people with 1600 confirmed infections. Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone are the affected countries, where superstition and skepticism about modern medicine are contributing to infection. It is believed that bats are the primary carrier of the disease, as is evidenced by this outbreaks source in a village where bat hunting is common. Suspected cases of infection in New York are largely exaggerated, with none yet confirmed. The patients in Atlanta who were flown in from West Africa have had positive responses to treatment and are expected to recover. The World Health Organization considers this report to be a turning point in the outbreak response, and is ratcheting up efforts to contain the virus. What should you do in response to this outbreak? First, dont come into contact with anyone that has the virus or looks like they have the virus, or smells like they have the virus, or smells funny in general, or walks funny, or is funny. Second, dont answer your phone and only respond to text messages with guys this isnt funny srsly stop it. Also, if you believe that youve come into contact with an infected individual, drink a bottle of Robitussin and trip balls until youre cured. Finally, you can donate to Doctors Without Borders here: [doctorswithoutborders.org/our-work/medical-issues/ebola] as well as educate yourself (if I havent done that enough already...) on the outbreak. Jokes aside, this is a serious issue that threatens thousands of lives and potentially whole national economies. Doctors Without Borders and the World Health Organizations are right to take this outbreak as seriously as they are, and let us hope that all efforts dedicated to fighting this virus, both scientific and humanitarian, are successful. ALSO from the Science Times this week: Comet Siding Spring takes its first trip to the inner solar system and comes within 100,000 miles of Mars, a pair of biologists continue Darwins studies of finches and contribute to our understanding of evolution, and a crucial drug in treating malaria sees increasing biological resistance in Southeast Asia. The International Astronomical Union has announced a plan to allow the public to vote on names for new exoplanets. This is the organization that previously downgraded Pluto to a dwarf planet, so I suggest we name every exoplanet Pluto until they agree to let our icy little friend back into the club. LEARN YOURSELF SOMETHING
Posted on: Tue, 05 Aug 2014 13:51:36 +0000
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