Thailand stepping up preparation for possible Ebola outbreak

[webfact]

Special Report:
Thailand stepping up preparation for possible Ebola outbreak

BANGKOK: -- Thai officials are stepping up measures on the prevention and control of Ebola virus. Thailand remains on high alert against this disease, although there have been no report of Ebola cases in the country.

The Cabinet during its meeting acknowledged the Ebola situation and preparations for coping with infections by the Ministry of Public Health.

It also approved the use of the central fund to send Thai medical and health personnel to help West Africa. At the same time, Thailand will offer both financial assistance and necessary equipment to the affected countries. Donations will be sought through the Government, the Thai Red Cross Society, and the private sector.

According to a report from the Ministry of Public Health, the 2014 Ebola outbreak is one of the largest Ebola outbreaks in history. It is affecting five countries in West Africa: Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Senegal. There are cases in Spain and the United States, as well. The World Health Organization reported that there were 8,399 Ebola patients as of October 8. Out of this number, 4,033 have so far died from the disease. The outbreak is most severe in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.

As part of its measures against the virus, Thailand has screened travelers at nine areas, such as Suvarnabhumi Airport, sea ports, and border checkpoints. From June 8 to September 25, a total of 1,689 travelers were screened. Education campaigns have been launched to provide the public with proper knowledge and information about the Ebola virus. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has suggested that, unless necessary, Thai people should avoid traveling to West Africa for the time being.

Public Health Minister Professor Dr. Rajata Rajatanavin said that although Ebola poses a small risk to Thailand, the country should not be complacent. The Ministry of Public Health is joining hands with relevant agencies in closely monitoring the outbreak situation. It has declared Ebola infection a dangerous disease. Thai medical and health personnel have also been trained to deal effectively with the infections.

The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and it spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission. The infection is transmitted by direct contact with body fluids: blood, perspiration, and tissues of infected animals or people. It causes an acute, serious illness which is often fatal if untreated. Early symptoms include sudden onset of fever, weakness, muscle pain, headaches and a sore throat. These symptoms can appear between 2 to 21 days after infection.


-- NNT 2014-10-16

[ldiablo]

What are they concerned about. Wasn't it not more than a little over a week ago that they were claiming to have a cure for Ebola. Haven't heard much more on this ridiculous claim as of late.

[JOC]

Nice to see Thailand being pro-active for once!!

And before the haters get started, in the UK the screening is voluntary and France has just started to consider starting screening!

[JOC]

What are they concerned about. Wasn't it not more than a little over a week ago that they were claiming to have a cure for Ebola. Haven't heard much more on this ridiculous claim as of late.

Being tested by the WHO and the Americans as we speak!!

After that they are going to start trying to find a cure for Thaivisa-antithai-everything-venom all too common around here!

[NCC1701A]

The West can't manage Ebola properly, how is Thailand going to do it?

With so many people living in close quarters in Thailand, they will never be able to get ahead of it.

Wait until no one can go to work or deliver food and restock grocery stores.

I don't think many people have really thought about what this truly means here in Thailand or in the west. You should be prepared to stay at home for at least three weeks without going out for anything. Good luck.

Edited October 16, 2014 by NCC1701A

[Fred Flinstone]

I doubt they would inform the world

[shirtless]

I hope this is not a report to soften the blow , we are preparing for an outbreak of Ebola, next report will be Ebola has arrived but is under control , then we will get the Ebola is running rampant run for your lives report.Lets just hope that Ebola does not come to Thailand as the effects would be devastating to tourism and the good people of this country.

[scavenger]

First, they had the cure for ebola...what's next ?...be its hub?

[thailiketoo]

The West can't manage Ebola properly, how is Thailand going to do it?

With so many people living in close quarters in Thailand, they will never be able to get ahead of it.

Wait until no one can go to work or deliver food and restock grocery stores.

I don't think many people have really thought about what this truly means here in Thailand or in the west. You should be prepared to stay at home for at least three weeks without going out for anything. Good luck.

Thailand has an advantage in not having a leader with an African heritage. Thailand can cut off the flow of air traffic without upsetting any relatives.

[Class C]

"Experimental work has shown that Marburg and Ebola viruses can be isolated from sera and tissue culture medium at room temperature for up to 46 days, but at room temperature no virus was recovered from glass, metal, or plastic surfaces.²³ Aerosolized (1-3 mcm) Marburg, Ebola, and Reston viruses, at 50% to 55% relative humidity and 72°F, had biological decay rates of 3.04%, 3.06%. and 1.55% per minute, respectively. These rates indicate that 99% loss in aerosol infectivity would occur in 93, 104, and 162 minutes, respectively.²³

In still air, 3-mcm particles can take up to an hour to settle. With air currents, these and smaller particles can be transported considerable distances before they are deposited on a surface.

There is also some experimental evidence that Ebola and other filoviruses can be transmitted by the aerosol route. Jaax et al²⁴ reported the unexpected death of two rhesus monkeys housed approximately 3 meters from monkeys infected with Ebola virus, concluding that respiratory or eye exposure to aerosols was the only possible explanation."

http://www.globalresearch.ca/ebola-can-be-transmitted-via-infectious-aerosol-particles-health-workers-need-respirators-not-masks/5408022

[catweazle]

Didn't they state that Ebola would not be an issue in Thailand? And... if I remember correctly, Thailand invented an antidote and/or vaccine against Ebola?

The western world already has to deal with some Ebola infected people, because of some "mistakes"... Thais don't blunder of course, so nothing to worry about aye?

Edited October 16, 2014 by catweazle

[catweazle]

"Experimental work has shown that Marburg and Ebola viruses can be isolated from sera and tissue culture medium at room temperature for up to 46 days, but at room temperature no virus was recovered from glass, metal, or plastic surfaces.²³ Aerosolized (1-3 mcm) Marburg, Ebola, and Reston viruses, at 50% to 55% relative humidity and 72°F, had biological decay rates of 3.04%, 3.06%. and 1.55% per minute, respectively. These rates indicate that 99% loss in aerosol infectivity would occur in 93, 104, and 162 minutes, respectively.²³

In still air, 3-mcm particles can take up to an hour to settle. With air currents, these and smaller particles can be transported considerable distances before they are deposited on a surface.

There is also some experimental evidence that Ebola and other filoviruses can be transmitted by the aerosol route. Jaax et al²⁴ reported the unexpected death of two rhesus monkeys housed approximately 3 meters from monkeys infected with Ebola virus, concluding that respiratory or eye exposure to aerosols was the only possible explanation."

http://www.globalresearch.ca/ebola-can-be-transmitted-via-infectious-aerosol-particles-health-workers-need-respirators-not-masks/5408022

Thanks for the crash course on virology - let me translate this to the common TV member: We are all f#$%ed!!!

[inzman]

Thank god Thailand has the cure, uh,they said so right? F@#cking morons! I don't know why I live here.

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

Stay tuned folks this is going to get interesting

My theory is if there are a few cases in Thailand and the virus can jump to a suitable host such as fruit bat etc then the virus can mutate its own special versions in SEA.

Colder and temperate areas like North America are a lot more difficult for the virus to find a suitable non human species to mutate in. The virus without a non human species to mutate in is likely to burn out due to the shorter gestation period and quick death.

If you spin the globe and look for suitable climate and wildlife to emulate West Africa then SEA asia is perfect petrie dish for the virus to find a new home.

Better get crackin on that vaccine program

Edited October 16, 2014 by CobraSnakeNecktie

[Ulic]

It would be a heck of a hit to foreign tourism if Ebola hits Thailand. The western world seems to have a difficult

time with 1-2 cases. Hopefully they will get things under control and the WHO will have more success in West Africa.

[Crazy chef 1]

Thank god Thailand has the cure, uh,they said so right? F@#cking morons! I don't know why I live here.

than maybe time to reconsider????

[Mot Dang]

An Ebola outbreak in Thailand ...... probably the only reason that would encourage me to go home. Nothing else could. Ebola would go through Thailand like a rat up a drainpipe. Ever live in Soi 22 Sukhumvit, shit it's a wonder it's not there already.

Edited October 16, 2014 by Mot Dang

[Tokay]

The West can't manage Ebola properly, how is Thailand going to do it?

It seems just the one center in Atlanta has been able to cope with Ebola and treat the patients. The hospital in Texas totally dropped the ball. Now a 2nd nurse has it and she was able to get on a plane and fly to Cleveland!!! What a mess.

[Mot Dang]

I doubt they would inform the world

I doubt that they would inform their own citizens. First thing we would know about it would be some dude pushing a cart in the streets ringing a bell and calling out "BRING OUT YOUR DEAD".

[wackybacky]

Also being reported that a UN worker has died of ebola in a German hospital in Leipzig on Tuesday..

Was reported that up to 25% of deaths so far have been health workers.... are they ALL breeching protocols?... I doubt it.

I wouldn't start sending Thais over there. They fall ill and are brought back, I will feel quite nervous.

[Tokay]

An Ebola outbreak in Thailand ...... probably the only reason that would encourage me to go home. Nothing else could. Ebola would go through Thailand like a rat up a drainpipe. Ever live in Soi 22 Sukhumvit, shit it's a wonder it's not there already.

When Ebola hits Asia, it's game over. The cities are so densely populated, especially in places like India and China, there will be mass death. SE Asia isn't much better. Bangkok is toast, as is Phenom Phen, Hanoi, HMC, Yangoon, Hong Kong, and so on. These cities are packed with people, are not equipped to handle Ebola, and all have Africans entering them on a regular basis. It's only a matter of time.

Now is a good time to be stocking up on whatever you may need to stay put for 6 months. When the first outbreak hits the news in Thailand, it will probably be too late and too dangerous to get on a plane to leave, because with that first report, there will be countless unreported, as the Thais have no ability to properly track tourists moving about.

This is morbid, but I believe that if an African comes down with Ebola in one of these Asian countries, they will just kill him. It will be cheaper and easier, and no one would ever hear about it. None of these countries are strangers to killing people.

[wackybacky]

The West can't manage Ebola properly, how is Thailand going to do it?

With so many people living in close quarters in Thailand, they will never be able to get ahead of it.

Wait until no one can go to work or deliver food and restock grocery stores.

I don't think many people have really thought about what this truly means here in Thailand or in the west. You should be prepared to stay at home for at least three weeks without going out for anything. Good luck.

Why only 3 weeks?... It may rage across the country for 1 to 2 years before burning itself out.

[eddie830]

"Experimental work has shown that Marburg and Ebola viruses can be isolated from sera and tissue culture medium at room temperature for up to 46 days, but at room temperature no virus was recovered from glass, metal, or plastic surfaces.²³ Aerosolized (1-3 mcm) Marburg, Ebola, and Reston viruses, at 50% to 55% relative humidity and 72°F, had biological decay rates of 3.04%, 3.06%. and 1.55% per minute, respectively. These rates indicate that 99% loss in aerosol infectivity would occur in 93, 104, and 162 minutes, respectively.²³

In still air, 3-mcm particles can take up to an hour to settle. With air currents, these and smaller particles can be transported considerable distances before they are deposited on a surface.

There is also some experimental evidence that Ebola and other filoviruses can be transmitted by the aerosol route. Jaax et al²⁴ reported the unexpected death of two rhesus monkeys housed approximately 3 meters from monkeys infected with Ebola virus, concluding that respiratory or eye exposure to aerosols was the only possible explanation."

http://www.globalresearch.ca/ebola-can-be-transmitted-via-infectious-aerosol-particles-health-workers-need-respirators-not-masks/5408022

what the f@@@ is all this gobblegook?

[lausie]

Surely not much to prepare for seeing as they've got the cure?!

[outsider]

Thailand has SCREENED TRAVELLERS??? Come on you bozos.

I landed in BKK mid last month, the scanning area was just before passport control. Passengers were walking two- and even three-abreast past the scanners. Now I could be wrong, but can the scanner scan three people abreast? Secondly, the operators were just paying scant attention to whatever they were looking at behind the camera. Very laid-back. Relaxed. Sabai-sabai. Do these morons know how important their jobs are?

Seriously I sometimes do wonder how is it this place is still up and running.

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

This is morbid, but I believe that if an African comes down with Ebola in one of these Asian countries, they will just kill him. It will be cheaper and easier, and no one would ever hear about it. None of these countries are strangers to killing people.

The connundrum with that scenario is that if people get a whiff of euthanising patients then sick people will not seek treatment and try to ride it out with robitussin or whatever.

[Phuketboy]

Why don't they simply stop all travellers from the infected countries such as West Africa from entering the country.

[A1Str8]

So what's the problem. They said that they have the solution for it. Ah yeah the patent. Money first.

[thailiketoo]

Why don't they simply stop all travellers from the infected countries such as West Africa from entering the country.

And America and Spain and Germany too I think.

[organic]

What are they concerned about. Wasn't it not more than a little over a week ago that they were claiming to have a cure for Ebola. Haven't heard much more on this ridiculous claim as of late.

Being tested by the WHO and the Americans as we speak!!

After that they are going to start trying to find a cure for Thaivisa-antithai-everything-venom all too common around here!

And if it's found to work fine, it'll still take a while to set up manufacturing for the stuff - in any country.