Ebola Outbreak..

[InfinitiveDivinity]

I'm not sure how many of you, if any, have been following the coverage of this story. Currently in Africa, there is an ongoing and relentless outbreak of Ebola that has been ravaging the Westernmost parts of the continent. It is currently fixated mainly in the country of Liberia, but has spread to a few other locations as well. It has claimed approximately 3,000 lives of the estimated 6,500+ people it has infected. For those of you who are unaware, let me give you a quick rundown of what exactly this bioterrorist is. Ebola is a virus that affects the blood clotting capabilities of our circulatory system. By doing so, the host experiences violent episodes of internal AND external hemorrhaging due to the fact that they have extremely thin blood. It is highly contagious and nearly 90% of individuals diagnosed with this rare virus meet a fatal end.

I mention these statistics not merely to make people fear the potential of this virus, but to be especially cautious. Until now, this vicious strain has been essentially isolated to Western Africa. In news reports today, it has been confirmed that on the 20th of September, an individual in Texas came home from a flight departing from, you guessed it, Liberia. He had apparently went to visit family and friends. At the time of the flight, the individual, who's identity is being kept a right secret, felt perfectly fine. However, around the 24th he began experiencing strange symptoms. He did not admister himself and become diagnosed until the 28th though. The CDC claims that this incident of Ebola (the current first U.S. case) can be contained and that they have taken the preventative measures to ensure that a widespread outbreak does not occur. I can only hope that this is a factual truth.

Ebola has an incubation period in which is cannot be contracted from its current host. But, once the carrier begins feeling the first signs of the virus, they become a walking conduit of sickness. I have read novels (such as The Hot Zone) and seen films (like Contagion) that document fictional events of a potential worst case scenario occurrence. The worst case scenario isn't a mutation in the virus, or a carpet bombing of spores, it is simply any sort of movement between hosts whatsoever. Like I have already mentioned, this virus is lethal, and it spreads like wildfire if not contained. Nearly any example of bodily excretion can cause an infection in a new person. This isn't zombies, this isn't aliens or nuclear warfare. This sh💩t isn't even combatable. Currently there is no cure. This is some serious sh💩t my fellow brothers and sisters. Watch the news coverage in the following weeks very closely. Wash your hands as often as humanly possible. Avoid door handles and unsanitary surfaces, avoid touching your bodily openings and faces, and in general just be smart. I may come off as a lunatic, but even before this incident I have looked into this killer and have studied up on its effects and fatality, it is no joke. At the very least pay attention to the coverage during October, if you hear of any sort of spread, please, please, be very cautious. Many people do not take this virus seriously enough. It does not kill quickly. It is slow, and very painful. It does not care whether you are wealthy or poor, black or white, gay or straight, it does not discriminate, it simply kills. It is at our doorstep, and as a new father I am horrified.

I do not mean to place my fellow gamers into a box, but for the most part, hygiene comes second to many Magic players. I'm not pointing this directly at any one of you, hell, I'm a clean freak, I've just been to too many bigger tournaments to be ignorant to that fact. My friends, to any who it may apply, and even to those who it does not, raise your standards. Seriously.

•Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands
•Avoid touching your face often
•Avoid unsanitary surfaces such as doorknobs and faucet handles, and even public restrooms if you can help it
•Keep hand sanitizer on your person

Abide by these rules at least until this terror passes. I cannot stress enough how brutal this virus is. It has already killed over half of the curent infected in Africa. Be safe my fellow iMtG'ers.



TLDR;
No, no shortcuts here. Please, I highly advise against skipping over the wall of text above this. If there's anything you should read today, at least let it be this.

[Munchlax]

Fun fact about Ebola. It may not have a cure but is easily combatted by the person simply being well hydrated. Part of what Ebola does is get rid of lots of your bodily fluids through various methods (Vomit, diarrhoea, ect) and a lot of infected people die of dehydration. Quite simply, if you even suspect you might have this virus, just drink a lot of fluid

[5/9 Turtle]

It's only contract able through bodily fluids so, don't go around sharing fluids y'all

[Munchlax]

Also, part of the reason it spreads so fast in those countries (which is our only thing to compare it to) is because these countries have horrible health care and living conditions and sanitation methods. In the US we are, for the most part at least, safe from death by Ebola

[Munchlax]

It's only contract able through bodily fluids so, don't go around sharing fluids y'all

Not just bodily fluids
Here straight from the WHO website

The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission.

[InfinitiveDivinity]

It's only contract able through bodily fluids so, don't go around sharing fluids y'all

Not just bodily fluids
Here straight from the WHO website

The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission.

Like I said, nearly any type of bodily excretion. Feces, saliva, blood, etc. Improperly handled food can even cause an infection.

As Munch had also mentioned, hydration is a means to assist, though it is far from a cure. Early detection and treatment is your best bet to endure.

[Munchlax]

I do my research

[InfinitiveDivinity]

I implore individuals to remember though that Ebola is a class-4 bioterrorism. Simply drinking water is not going to save your life, prevention is key. If symptoms occur, avoid touching things as little as possible and carefully make your way to a hospital. IV fluids and hydration methods will help. I will quit ranting now. I just want people to be prepared and knowledgable in case something happens.

[Distriimuir]

Ok enough fear mongering, Ebola is only transmitted thru DIRECT contact with infected persons fluids. Vomit, diarrhea, blood, etc. it's has a very low infection chance. We have the best virus control in te world here in the us. Really no need to worry, even if we have a few cases here, it'll never be a large outbreak like in w Africa. It's all ok people lol, te main issue is it mutating and going airborne (which btw is very very unlikely)

[MarduArrow]

Anyone hear about the dead Ebola victims coming back to life? Has this been proven as a fact or a hoax yet?

[DirtyMustachio]

Fox News just confirmed it. 

Eh??

[Rothsteine]

Ohhhh.... Fox...

[NovusOrbis]

Pls no, I want to live 😞

[Empathie]

Staying hydrated does nont help blood loss from internal bleeding

[Empathie]

Also due to it being an RNA virus there is concern of a mutation resulting in airborne transmission