Ebola, we're told an epidemic

[Suff]

I've been tracking the numbers over time and, other than a huge blip when they were massively pushing for finance, the figures are running at about 150 new cases per day and 17 deaths per day.

OK it's a horrible disease, but, as has been shown, the more people get it and survive, the more treatable it is.

Today, to date, there have been 5,727 reported deaths.

From the CDC article on annual deaths, influenza related, in the US.

estimates of annual influenza-associated deaths from respiratory and circulatory causes (including pneumonia and influenza causes) ranged from 3,349 in 1986--87 to 48,614 in 2003--04

It may be newsworthy, but it surely isn't as damaging to the overall population as Influenza. For which we also have no cure.

I must admit, horrible as it is, I'd love for just a little perspective. Flu can be caught just by someone breathing on you, it's fully pneumonic and rips through populations very rapidly.

Perhaps I'm just tetchy because I'm feeling ill. Probably because people at work have been having this years Flu "inoculation" and have infected me...... I'm off to work today to "give it back" and get some work done....

[Workingman]

I said at the time of the big campaign for funds that the graphs and figures, with their 1.5, 2, and 2.5 multipliers, made it look as though the numbers of infections and deaths were rising exponentially. Take those multipliers out and there is a different picture.

The number of deaths will continue to rise, but not exponentially, as will the total number of those infected. The one number we never get to know is the one for those currently infected on a daily basis. Its rise, fall or levelling off indicates the way the epidemic is going.

BTW Suff, if you do have influenza, or even Manflu, you should not be going to work to spread it about.

[Suff]

Unlike permanent people, I don't get paid if I am not at work. So they can have it back. I am not the only person at work who is sick. ..

It's not flu, just a virus. It doesn't feel any better for all that though!

[pederito1]

So sorry you have been unwell Suff and hope soon better. Son had a mystery virus a while ago not thought to be flu but very unwell for quite a while though now recovered. Do take care won`t you. As for Ebola it is indeed a terrible virus which can turn one`s organs to mush bit I think it is being rather overhyped,
I believe there have been over 7k deaths from malaria in the same period of which very little is ever heard. A vaccine for that is almost impossible to achieve as the immune system cannot see into the red cells where the parasites get and it is only in people with one copy of the sickle cell gene which causes the cells to open under the acid condition from the infection that the parasites can be eliminated. I think an attempt should be made or rather should have been to contain the Ebola in West Africa ie no one in and as far as possible no one out. The "Do gooders" who go there and then come out constitute a risk of spreading it throughout the world whereas if contained it will I am sure die out. Drop aid and medical supplies of course by all means.