Air borne viruses?

[Gelliebeans]

I have Scarborough on mute but I just read in tele-text on the TV that said that 4 people have died of an air-bourne disease. They said that they have tested the sludge in the water and determined e-coli, norovirus and one other but I am unsure because it flew by on the screen, so I won't post it.

My question would be if those people that were exposed to this combo of viruses, how long will it be before people develop symptoms? If we have moved the evacuees to different states will we be able to care for them and prevent the spread to other populations?

I know the CDC would have to deal with this but is the head of the CDC one of bush's cronies? These people (evacuees)may need medicines and quickly especially the ederly and young.

Has anyone heard of these reports anywhere besides Scarborough? When I did a google search, I just came up with senarios not reports of actual problems.

[skooooo]

1. Probably the head of CDC...

...was the head of a golf lawn management company or something. Everything will be fine.

[Gelliebeans]

2. God Skooooo I feel better already

;) Is this just ridiculous or what?

[prodigal_green]

4. LOL

You know, when I was in college, frat guys who were trying to impress smart girls (me and my friends) would say they only joined for the business contacts...guess they really weren't kidding.

[jim3775]

3. A health worker in Houston is posting kos diaries

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/9/5/84359/03911

"Just a quick update. We've seen a few cases of the runs at the Convention Center. This could be a serious problem because of the potential for an epidemic of infectious diarrhea - which would be bad, with thousands of people crowded together, poorly nourished, and many children. The plan is to make a seperate area for the affected patients to try to keep it from spreading."

[Gelliebeans]

5. thanks jim I am collecting data

and your link helps :hi:

[Avalux]

6. Could be the Norwalk virus -

it's a norovirus. Causes vomiting and diarrhea.

"Outbreaks of Noroviruses frequently occur in institutional settings such as schools and nursing homes, where infection is passed person to person. In these cases, the virus is introduced through common-source exposure (e.g. contaminated food or drink) and spread through person-to-person transmission. Crowded quarters and reduced levels of hygiene may be a factor in the spread of Noroviruses within these institutions.

Potential sources of contaminated water include municipal water supplies, recreational lakes, swimming pools, and water stored on cruise ships."

http://microbiology.mtsinai.on.ca/bug/norwalk/nor-bug.shtml

[Gelliebeans]

7. thanks sparosnare

[Avalux]

8. You're welcome!

I'd almost expect this; a nuisance, but not deadly.

[electron_blue]

20. norovirus and rotavirus can be deadly

not to cause a panic, but the key to them is getting treatment immediately. Yes, rehydration is the key, but if you have a bad case and wait even a few hours that can be too long. I know, it happened to me a few years ago. I was fine one minute, cramping up the next, passed out cold the next. I happened to be in a hospital when it happened, so was immediately taken to the e.r. and went through a few bags of i.v. fluids. It was terrifying, I kept passing out (plus other unsavory details I'll leave out) I was convinced I was going to die. The doctors finally diagnosed me with either Norwalk or Rotovirus. Incidentally, rotovirus is one of the top pathogens feared in biological weapons.

As I keep saying - what precautions should we be taking now as a country that we are not? THIS is what I have feared more than the hurricane all along. The aftermath. Seriously, folks, what should we be doing to get these people the help they need? And to keep it from spreading?

Dispersing these people all over the country seems like ahorrible idea in hindsight.

[skooooo]

9. sounds like the flu

[jim3775]

11. Norovirus causes diarrhea which causes the body to lose water quickly

Someone with diarrhea who doesnt have access to clean drinking water could easily die.

[Cobalt Violet]

12. But is it airborne and does it kill?

[Avalux]

14. It's not deadly -

although someone already dehydrated and in poor health could die from it.

It's found in contaminated water, and passed through close personal contact - like all those people crammed into the Astrodome sleeping inches away from each other.

[electron_blue]

21. It can be deadly in healthy people - read my post above.

[Gelliebeans]

15. It probably can

if you are someone who is weakened anyway such as someone with an illness or auto immune disease.

The problem is that many who were the last to be evacuated had illness such that they couldn't evacuate in the first place. Those are the people MOST at risk I would think.

[FloridaPat]

18. Not airborne. But if it's on anything that goes into your mouth, you

could get sick. It also depends on how your immune system is doing and how much you take in.

[Olney Blue]

23. Yes, noroviruses are spread very efficiently in crowded conditions.

The virus is shed from the body in feces and vomitus, so it is not surprising that it has been found in the water around NO. The incubation period is usually 24-48 hours after exposure, and infection can occur can from person-to-person contact or by ingesting contaminated food or water. The gastrointestinal illness is commonly known as "stomach flu", but it is caused by a virus (norovirus) that is very different from the influenza virus that causes respiratory illness. Most people recover without serious consequences after a day or two of vomiting and diarrhea. However, it can be quite severe in infants and young children, and the elderly. Attention must be paid to avoid dehydration in all cases.

[lildreamer316]

10. Just posted here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4671357

nothing different though,


This could be a SERIOUS PROBLEM. People are spread all over the country. danger that we are not even paying attention to.

[Gelliebeans]

13. thanks for the cross post

everything on DU is flying by sooooo fast my head is spinning :crazy:

[demgurl]

16. I heard of e.coli on CNN today.

I was working out on my treadmill trying to get the frustrations of this situation worked out. CNN came on twice talking about it!

demgurl

[Gelliebeans]

17. I will put that in my

file I am collecting. I will comb CNN later to find a page and take a snap shot. Thanks :hi:

[demgurl]

31. You are welcome and keep up the good work. eom

[Avalux]

19. Here's more info:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4671844

Seems the story may have been wrong to call it an airborne virus; bacterial cousin of cholera instead.

[Gelliebeans]

22. that makes more sense

Thanks again you've been a help

[Avalux]

26. What's strange....

and I may be clueless about this - Vibrio loves salt and normally lives in salt water. Is that contaminated water in NO salt water?

[Gelliebeans]

28. very interesting

I will put that in my research pile. Some of these viruses have not been seen in the USA in years because of our sanitation standards. But when a clusterfuck happens these little bugs can multiply.

[Gelliebeans]

33. Hey sparosnare

Looky what I found Vibrio here is the link
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2005/katrina/interactive/timeline.katrina.large/frameset.exclude.html
snip>>>>

• Public health officials report "minor outbreaks" of diarrheal diseases in children evacuated from the flood zone. The Centers for Disease Control says five people have died from infection with Vibrio vulnificus, a form of the bacteria that causes cholera. An official in the New Orleans mayor's office says the standing floodwater is contaminated with E. coli bacteria.

[smurfygirl]

24. I am really becoming concerned about this as well

the problem I'm having is I noticed a trend today when I was watching democracy now. It seems as if gov. agents are all wearing face masks while doing rescue while volunteers are not. I was amazed that no one else caught this and inquired about it.

I would like to know what they know that they are not telling us.

[Gelliebeans]

25. This got my attention hence my OP

I saw a reporter on my local news here in Ca say that he has to go through decontamination after leaving the area.
:wtf:
went off in my head.

[smurfygirl]

30. also remember on Oprah for any of those that saw it

remember how they told her to wash everything, wear a mask, and agree that they were not liable for anything that she might get from entering the dome?

okay, so here is a major tinfoil theory. 3 days ago we were supposed to receive people in our shelter. They still have not arrived. I am wondering what the hold up is. We have received some people but most of these people were evacuated before the hurricane made landfall.
How easy would it have been to take a stadium full of people and infect just one person and see how fast it spreads? I know this sounds sick but Bushco is a sick group of fuckers. hence the slow response you give time for the illness to incubate and start spreading. most military and rescue workers have shots, no telling what is really in those shots. In fact I talked to 3 firefighters today who said they just got their shots this morning and were on the way down tomorrow. The strange thing to me is that they said they got the shots at the reserve in town which really spun my head but I said nothing. I don't want rumors floating but this just seems so fucked up. all of it. I am beyond mad and sad. I am exhausted. this government has exhausted me in ways indescribable.

[Gelliebeans]

32. smurfygirl, as much

as I hate bush and believe me words can't describe my hate. I don't think that I could even go there on that type of speculation. These types of viruses can be spread from close quarter living just like sparosnare stated earlier.
As far as Oprah, I did witness what you described on her program and yes I believe that it is a cesspool down there in NOLA.

The reason for my original post was to determine legitimacy to the virus rumors and to find out in a round about way if Bush and cronies have control over what information is leaked via the CDC.

I am hunting for information at universities to find some scientific analysis on this situation.

[LSK]

27. any confirmation???

Rumors are running rampant.

[Gelliebeans]

29. that is what I am trying to find out

Twice today it was reported on CNN and MSNBC respectively.


http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/infectiousdisease.asp

this is CDC's site they haven't updated since the 1st of Sept.

CNN and MSNBC have said during the day that there was 4 deaths due to an air bourne virus.