So a few months ago the country was enthralled with the idea of a few patients, infected with the Ebola virus, coming to the United States. Up until this point, we had been safe from Ebola due to the fact that bats can’t fly over the Atlantic. Some people were completely indifferent, while others had seen Outbreak one too many times. Most were a healthy mix, somewhere in between, but what bothered me the most was both the lack of education and the poor information that was spreading more virulently than the virus could ever hope to.
First, I want to stress that I am a nurse, not a virologist, and hopefully throughout my post you will see that I am not pretending to be one. I have a Bachelor’s in Nursing and am currently a graduate student. I have worked extensively with Infectious Disease Specialists. I have been exposed to almost every infectious disease known to the modern world. I have taken courses in Biology, Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology, Pathophysiology, Advanced Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, and an assortment of others. However, I am not and will not pretend to be an expert, just an experienced professional. When it comes to an epidemic of any sort, my first focus is on the patient, protecting and healing them, my second focus is on protecting the community. I don’t care about which strain does what, or what we can do with in lab. As a nurse, I concern myself with the current patient and future possible patients. I feel the first thing we should examine is Ebola itself. It is foreign to the US, both literally and figuratively. What it does to people and how it harmonizes with nature are both things that most westerners have little concept of. It is a virus, not a bacteria. This means that it is not its own organism. It is actually much smaller and basic than you can imagine. It is nothing more than a few pieces of DNA/RNA and some proteins. No cell wall, no cytoplasm, no metabolic functions. This is both their advantage and their downfall. Viruses require a host. For this example I will use the HIV virus. HIV gets into the human body and invades the host’s white blood cells, T4 cells to be exact but I won’t get that involved. The proteins help get the virus into the cell and those few small sequences of DNA/RNA write themselves into the host DNA/RNA. Now instead of the white blood cell attacking invaders, it is nothing more than an HIV factory. All of its metabolic functions are redirected at producing more of the virus, which pours out of the white blood cell like a sieve until eventually the host cell dies. This is why HIV infected patients have poor immune systems. The virus re-writes the DNA of the host cells. This is not something we can stop. New viruses are pouring out of the white blood cells at a rate of millions a day. We cannot filter them out. We cannot “kill” a little chunk of DNA and we don’t know enough about the human genome to correct the DNA sequences. This is why a lot of viral infections like HIV, Herpes, and Hepatitis are life long infections. HIV invades the white blood cells, Herpes invade the nerve roots, and Hepatitis invades the liver.
Now that we have a better grasp of viruses, we will focus on Ebola a bit more. In tropical Africa, Ebola naturally lives in bats. It is nice to the bats and doesn’t cause them many issues. It is rumored that there are many viruses humans carry our entire lives and have no idea because they show zero symptoms. Therefore, they have never been studied. If this sounds crazy, just remember that it was in recent years the we discovered there was a virus behind cervical cancer. A virus that men can carry and spread without ever knowing they have it. Where the problem arises is that in tropical Africa, people like to eat bats. Sometimes they get infected with Ebola and it spreads. This process is called Zoonosis and can be true of bacteria or viruses. Racoons carry Rabies, Armadillos carry Leprosy, Birds carry the Flu, Bats carry Ebola.
When I said Westerners don’t really understand Ebola, the primary aspect that I am talking about is the patient. We don’t ever see what Ebola does. Our media is too censored, we hear how many died, and see people in haz-mat suits. Speaking of suits, we’ve all seen the pictures. Rubber gloves are adequate for AIDS and hepatitis, a simple mask (N95) stops Tuberculosis, but this requires space suits, just keep that in mind when you think its no big deal. So here is what happens when you catch Ebola, I figure you’re getting bored with reading right about now, so I’ll spice it up. First the virus gets into your system, I’ll elaborate on that later. Then, it hangs out for a few days, even up to 21, growing, multiplying at a rate of millions a day, and guess what, you’re infectious. Now at this point it would pretty much require a straight blood to blood interaction so the only real threat here is for IV drug users who share needles. Just like with the flu or hand foot and mouth disease, you can be spreading it to others before you show a symptom*(apparently not many see the *, so please read the elaboration at the bottom). Remember, nurse mind set, protect the community. At first it’s not bad, little nausea, some sweating, diarrhea, much like a stomach bug. But then the virus really starts to build up in your liver and adrenal glands, after it has saturated your blood cells, the lining of your vessel, your skin, and bones. Hepatocellular necrosis occurs, which is fancy term for your liver starts to decompose.Your liver is what regulates blood clotting. This causes your blood either clot up and turn to jelly in your veins, stay liquid and bleed profusely, or a combo of both. The adrenal glands then do the same, causing your blood pressure to drop. This requires lots of IV fluids to keep your circulating volume up. At the same time inflammatory cytokines are released which causes vascular leakage. Cells don’t do a good job of holding things together so it all becomes a bloody goop. Anywhere in your body that blood vessels are shallow, like your nose, ears, gums, throat, GI tract, urethra, vagina, rectum, all start oozing fluids and bleeding because the tissues that normally keep it contained are disintegrating. So now you bleed from every orifice, including your eyeballs. Every time someone or something touches you, your tissue gets damaged which further the cycle, so a shot in the arm can turn into a massive blood blister. Those who survive are left with massive scarring. Since the adrenals cannot keep your blood pressure up, and you are losing blood and fluids, we have to put IV fluids in to keep you out of hypovolemic shock. This in turn reduces your blood concentration, lowering your oxygen carrying capacity, which causes your heart to race. So you lay in bed, oozing fluids from everywhere, all while feeling like you just ran a marathon, with bloody diarrhea, oh and did I mention pain? Lots and lots of pain, but you can’t have any pain medicine because your liver and kidneys have failed. This why it pains me when I see this outbreak ONLY has a 50% death rate, when in Africa it is up to 90%…ONLY 50%. That is literally worse than cancer, and people are blowing it off. Imagine if cancer was infectious, and you lived in a country with zero cancer, and someone thought it would be a good idea to fly a few people in. I think there would be a different attitude.
The biggest part of the discussion is how Ebola is spread. I will say two things on the topic, no, it is not airborne, and yes, basic hygiene plays a HUGE factor. But while on the topic of whether it is or is not airborne, the definition of an airborne contagion is one that can freely float in the air, survive lengths of time, and infect someone else. VERY few things fit in this category, most have been eradicated, Small Pox, Tuberculosis, Measles. Things that are also NOT airborne, are the flu and the cold. For the flu, you have to come into direct contact with the patients body fluids. How then, do you explain why people catch it and have no idea how. Well for one, people can spread it before they show symptoms, just like Ebola, and one other HUGE factor…droplets….let that word really sink in. The virus may not be airborne, but the droplets are. I’m going to digress for a second and get back to HIV and Hepatitis, while I let droplets dwell in your mind. Everyone knows that HIV and Hepatitis are spread by blood contact, and sexual fluids, I don’t mean a drop of blood on the skin, or even a mucous membrane, it has to get INSIDE of you. This is why only gloves are required. HIV and Hepatitis are not found in urine, stool (Some forms of hepatitis are, but you have to eat the stool to get infected) saliva, sweat, tears, or mucous. This is where some viruses are different. The flu gets into your mucous and other secretions, Ebola tends to stay in the blood, but remember, every one of your bodily fluids are full of blood now. So a person with the flu sneezes, and now millions of little droplets (remember those guys?) shoot out of their nose at nearly mach 1, all across the room, same for a cough, all it takes is a little microscopic droplet to land in your eye, nose, mouth, or the unlikely scenario of an open wound, and you’ve now been infected, because you came in CONTACT with their bodily fluids. I see the word contact thrown around a lot, but most people think of mass amounts of contact with blood, but what they don’t realize is that contact also includes microscopic mucous and saliva droplets, each one chock full of Ebola. Bacteria can survive for long periods of time without a host because they are their own organism. They can feed on just about anything and be happy. Viruses lifespan without a host is much shorter. Their goal is to infect, replicate, and spread, if they cant replicate, they die. Measles only lives 2 hours. But Ebola, depending on what data you look at, can survive for several days.
So with all this information, lets have some role play, so that you can see exactly what this means, to a nurse, in the real world. Imagine it as a cheesy PSA or lifetime movie. You go to see your doctor because its that time of year, you need some blood drawn and refills of your blood pressure med. You sit patiently in the waiting room, thumbing a magazine while your 2-year-old plays with her toys. Like all two year olds, she touches everything, and everything goes in her mouth, toys, pens, her own fingers. She is a 22 lb drool factory and you love her to pieces. You see the doctor, get your goodies, and go home. A week later your angel starts vomiting blood and within 3 days she dies because her heart raced so fast it finally gave up while trying to maintain a blood pressure. Her eyes are blood red and demonic, her skin falls off in sheets. What you don’t know is that 3 days before your visit, someone thought they had the flu. It is October you see and they sneezed while thumbing through that very same magazine you thumbed through. The same thumb you grabbed her pacifier out of your purse with in the waiting room. The people caring for Ebola patients wear space suits, and burn the bodies, yet it still spreads. Here in America, we have much better protocols, and much better hygiene. So if it spreads, it will be contained much better. Still, it spreads prior to symptoms and survives will outside the body, just like the flu. Despite vaccines and good hand washing, thousands still get the flu every year. But while the flu kills 1-2% of its victims, Ebola kills 50% on a good day, and spreads the same way. So please, do not write it off as hype. It is a real thing and it is here.
The case in Dallas has been confirmed. The patient had contact with five children and adolescents prior to admission. Those five kids attend four of the largest schools in Dallas. One sneeze and we could already have thousands of people, who don’t know it yet, infected.
Thank you for reading. Please feel free to comment.
Symptoms* I have had a lot of comments in regards to this. I picked my words carefully, but I never imagined getting thousands of views an hour, or my article getting picked apart, but I will try to elaborate now. I said spread, the virus, I did not say you were contagious. What I meant by this, was the summation of two concepts. To fully explain everything I could write a book, but this is meant to be short and sweet. The first concept is that of a fomite. We have established that the virus can survive for an unspecified amount of time outside the host, and we have established that sneezing/coughing is a perfectly logical method of transmission. So if patient A is infectious/contagious, they sneeze on patient B, but then patient B goes home and picks up their sisters 1 6 month old, who rubs his face, and licks all over your shoulder, he could very well have just orally consumed large quantities of the virus, therefore become patient C. Patient B never got sick, the virus never entered their system, yet they are responsible for spreading the virus to someone else. This is why the 5 exposed kids are so important, there may only be a 2% chance or whatever that they’ll get sick, but if they went to school, and each rubbed up against 500 kids in the hallways, you now have 2500 exposed kids, 50 of which will statistically become infected, 25 of which will probably die. No I do not have a source for the 2%, that is just an EXAMPLE number used to represent the relatively low likelihood of contracting the virus if exposed, granted the R0 factor of R2 is correct. Remember, heal the patient, PROTECT the community. The second concept of this is defining “symptom”. Lets assume it means anything other than your baseline condition. That means the first signs of being contagious, are also the more mild symptoms, sneezy, achy, nausea, flu-like symptoms. So who is going to wake up, feel a little under the weather, and think, crap, I have Ebola, better get quarantined, no, THAT’S how you start fear mongering and mass panic. Again, flu season is upon us, the initial stages of Ebola are like the flu, and its human nature to be in denial, so many people, if infected, would hope its just the flu and wait it out, they are not showing symptoms indicative of Ebola, but they ARE symptomatic of something, and therefore, by the CDC definition, would be contagious. Its also normal procedure for people to be symptomatic BEFORE seeking medical care, so technically, everyone will be contagious, BEFORE knowing they have Ebola. But like I said before, I omitted this lengthy explanation because I didn’t feel it was necessary for the point of the article.
ADDENDUM: Sadly, I feel the need to point out that the title of this blog is “Ebola, A Nurse’s Perspective”, not “A Nurse’s Guide to Surviving the Apocalypse”, or “How to Become an Ebola Expert in 15 minutes”. It could just as well be “Hamburgers, A Chef’s Perspective” and no one would be hounding me over grammar, a misplaced comma, or wanting citations as to why I say it should be on the grill 5 minutes per side of 7 minutes per side. The point is those things are irrelevant to the goal of the article, this is MY perspective (a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view.) I don’t have to prove anything, the point of my article is to take what the uneducated (in a medical sense) journalists say, what the talking heads on TV say, and then let you know what the people say who are on the front lines. That’s like discrediting your grandads account of what happened when he stormed Normandy beach, because its not what your history teacher told you. Have I experienced Ebola first hand? Nope, have I experienced a WHOLE lot of other things that the majority of the population has not? You bet your ass I have, and I felt the need to take the time to hopefully help other people out a little. So please keep that in mind, I’m not perfect, but my experiences are my experiences, and I wanted to share them with you, to let you inside the head of a nurse for a minute.
dtolar 
Your article is very well written; thank you for posting it. I know nothing about such things, but you have confirmed what I keep thinking…that the government is not forthcoming about how this is transmitted. That there has to be a period of time before symptoms present themselves that it can be passed to others. It is a dark, silent killer.
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If I am reading this correctly, the Ebola virus can live several days outside of a host. Which tells me that thumbing through my mail, that comes from all over the U.S., could put me and therefore others at risk of contracting the Ebola virus.
If a droplet has been dropped, on paper, cardboard, clothing, etc., I receive the article in the mail, rip it open, then have an itchy eye that I tend to without giving it a second thought, I (anyone) could be at risk?
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Technically, yes that could cause infection. It is the same principle as thumbing through a magazine that was used in the post above. Not to say that it will happen, but it is certainly a way that viruses and other microorganisms can spread.
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This is where personal hygiene plays its vital role – wash hands frequently. Use disinfectant wipes often. Don’t rub your eyes or touch any body part without first washing hands. Standard hygiene practiced even more often. Vinyl gloves are cheap enough to use to sort mail, too, if you like that option.
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Educating people is the KEY. Fear is normal with something we are not familiar with. As I read this information one important thing is to WASH your hands, children need to learn how to wash as so do adults. Did you ever stand in a public bathroom and watch how many people wash their hands after using the toilet or urinal? Pretty scary to watch. So this is one reason why it would spread so rapidly. Take a paper towel or your sleeve to open public bath room doors, use the wet ones in grocery stores, carry a antibacterial bottle in your car & purse or pocket (they can be purchased small enough). Cold and Flue is spread by not washing your hands and sneezing without covering your mouth (use your sleeve for sneezing too). I am not a nurse but have common sense to try to prevent these germs from spreading. Ebola is worse if we don’t educate everyone. I hope every one learns something from this Nurses View. She isn’t trying to scare you she wants you to be aware and how to try to protect yourself. PASSPORT SCREENING is very important as this tells AGENTS WHERE YOU CAME FROM.
Just remember most media’s are not explaining this clearly they are hiding a lot of the facts. Do your own homework the INTERNET IS A WONDERFUL TOOL TO EDUCATE YOUR SELF and your FAMILY.
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Dear Dianne C,
After reading your post, I feel that I need to reply as to correct some of your comments on normal hygiene. I have a PhD in immunology and have worked with trying to find new antibacterial drugs. One of my biggest concerns is actually not Ebola, but that soon we will not have any anti bacterial drugs to treat infections such as urine tract disease, pneumonia or other diseases that we find trivial today. One of the reasons that bacteria are becoming multi-resistant is that we over-use antibacterial products where there is no need for it (e.g. in soap detergents, wash detergents, bottles etc.). Please note that using antibacterial detergents as you mention in your post will NOT HELP from Ebola. Ebola is a virus and not a bacteria. A good old soap wash, will do perfectly fine in order to keep good hygiene. And as a matter of fact, your hands do sweat, and that sweat contains small amounts of antibacterial material, so by de-sanitizing your hands with antibacterial detergent, you’re actually weakening your body’s own defenses. So in short, hygiene is good in all aspect. Use soap, perfectly good. Use chloride/gloves if you’re afraid of Ebola.
Regards,
Kristina
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I agree with this. I firmly believe in letting my immune system do its job.
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I COMMEND THIS VERY INFORMATIVE ARTICLE YOU MADE…… NURSES SHOULD NOW START TO DO COMMUNITY HEALTH TEACHINGS ON THE PREVENTIVE ASPECT OF EBOLA TRANSMISSION. THERE IS BEAUTY IN FEAR, ( NOT PANIC ) ‘CUZ YOU LET ALL BLOCKAGE AND PROTECTIVE GEARS OUT.
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Reblogged this on Coffeebreak 411 and commented:
It is essentially common sense that this virus is easily contractible via bodily fluids given that’s precisely how many other viruses are contracted. The thing about this virus is that it’s much deadlier than the flu and yet we have a failure of leadership in dealing with it.
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This article is very informing and gets everyone to think. That is the good part. Now to what I consider the bad part. Everyone expressing what they consider their medical diagnosis of this causes a very increased anxiety levels in some individuals which suffer from that especially if that person has young children they are trying to protect. Especially when it goes into detail on how kids are directly effected by this disease.
This hits home with me because it directly effects my wife and her thoughts on the safety of our kids. Now, I do agree that there is a concern level but these types of articles makes one believe that you should stay trapped in a bubble because that is the only place you are safe (or on a deserted island) as mentioned in one of the earlier comments in this thread. This is especially true if you suffer from anxiety levels when it comes to any type of germs and the spread of diseases.
This is where I see these types of articles very bad. These medical opinions even if stated in the article that they are not fully tested become reality in many minds. Personally I can read these articles, increase my awareness and how to go about protecting my family, but I don’t let these things stop me from doing things that we have planned. Theory and assumptions based on medical fact is still opinions and is making this concern much more than it should be and causing many individuals fear, anxiety about doing anything in public.
Does this make anyone think and understand where I come from in this comment?
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As an RN of many years, I was taught to look at everyone as a potential carrier, particularly after HIV was introduced. And I have always continued to do so. I do not consider myself paranoid. I travel abroad, go out to eat and work in the health field. I just use precaution, keep my distance from all, chlorox hotels, never put my fingers in eyes, nose, mouth, don’t drink after others, don’t share personal items, phones, and most importantly, always wash hands before and after many things and taught my kids and students these same basics. After all, nobody wants to catch other peoples cold or flu either.
Now, I would have thought that just basic intelligence, particularly in a hospital, already handling body fluids, or having some sick undiagnosed person in the ER,would behoove a hospital worker to take precautions. But no. That is what this is all about. People, who should, not taking basic precautions. Whose fault is that? The hospitals? and i have been in hospitals and seen with my own eyes blood draws not using gloves, DRS and nurses not even using the gels provided. No, I truly believe it lies with the worker not only not using the basic precaution in their own lives, but being stupid?, negligent? enough not even to use the precautions on the job. On the job in a hospital. And don’t even get me started on nosocomials.
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I understand that you are concerned about the level of anxiety, however, this situation is not being handled correctly or taken seriously. The fact that the CDC and the WHO is not recognizing this serious issue for what it is… SERIOUS, is concerning for all of us. Anxiety issues or not, the word needs to get out that this could be the next plague. L. Wilson, Nurse Practitioner.
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John: Please do not let your wife be too worried. Advise her that the folks getting ill here in the Dallas are healthcare workers in actual contact with an Ebola patient. Mr. Duncan’s family who lived with him when he was first ill (fever, vomiting and diarrhea at home) have fortunately not contracted the disease. However, two of the nurses who did care for him are ill. I don’t know how to explain the difference but the danger to healthcare workers is immediate, the danger to the general public is theoretical. However, that could change if it becomes airborne or mutates to become even more easily transmissible but I do not think we are there. I would write my congressional representative asking for immediate and reasonable travel restrictions. I think that is the best protection for you and your family at this time.
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Thank you so very much for taking the time to share with us the truth behind the news coverage. Decades ago I remember reading about an Ebola crisis in Africa and the article stated as you have about the frightening breakdown of the body. My thoughts, at that time, were I’m grateful that it was not occurring in the U.S. Now it is here on American soil and we should not take this lightly! Again, thank you for sharing your knowledge with those of us who care to be informed.
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Very informative!
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Great article and very informative. I thought I was well educated about Ebola after reading The Hot Zone, but I did not realize that the virus could live outside the body for several days. Thank you for writing and try to ignore the few who read and re-read only to criticize.
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Excellent reading material!
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Thank you for your article. I too work in healthcare, and America as a nation is not ready for this what so ever… It is very scary. They are playing this off so it’s not to cause a mass panic, I get that, but there needs to be more preparation than what is being done.
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Your post was very well written and very informative. That’s the key word “informative “. We do need to be educated and I thank you for doing just that. I also an a nurse and not an expert but I do learn something every day about nursing. I also feel it’s so very important to educate and take care of our communities which is why I became a nurse. To make one small contribution to healthcare and my community. I thank you for educating me 🙂
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This is a fantastic perspective, thank you for sharing. I too am a Registered Nurse of 20 plus years and you succinctly summarized what Ebola is and why it’s important to take this very, very seriously.
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This is beyond an educated purpose for those who storm the outbreak of such a deadly virus. With the grants of study and facts, one should take caution. Not only will this virus spread, but like you said, leach on you till you bleed to death. With that being said, avoid contact and be more aligned to the actual state of its presence in our own country.
Thank you….
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Thank you for this. I was one of the people that didn’t know how terrible having Ebola was. Didn’t know what it did to a patient. Now I do, and won’t underestimate it again!
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Prevention of Ebola requires a consolidated effort of the entire world. Prevention of Ebola is an individual task for the betterment not only to self but also to the entire community and the whole world. Prevention of Ebola is united we act and pray.
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Thank you so very much for your post! It is the best-written body of information I have read, including all of those written by “the experts” and all forms of media. Thank GOD for educated and compassionate nurses like yourself, who give endlessly of themselves for the benefit of others. Your deeds do not go unappreciated.
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Great, genius. Now you have people thinking that Ebola spreads like the flu. You should have stuck with the symptoms, that would have scared people enough (and yes, your description of what Ebola does to the body is accurate).
But it doesn’t damn well spread like the flu, or the common cold. The 1918 flu, a real pandemic killer, went global and wiped out somewhere between 25 and 50 million people in the back half of 1918 alone. Ebola, which has been running in western Africa for the same length of time, has killed what… 10,000? 20,000? Somewhere in there.
You’re making it out that Ebola is another 1918 type bug. Why don’t you scream “FIRE” in a crowded daycare building while you’re at it?
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Great last comment … and connects with my post: https://dtolar.wordpress.com/2014/10/01/ebola-a-nurses-perspective/comment-page-22/#comment-1651
More need to be aware of this and help stop the panic many young mothers have!!
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You need to read the article again. You obviously missed a bit. And, why are you responding in this manner?
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I didn’t miss anything. He got it right until he insinuated that Ebola spread like the flu. It doesn’t. If it did… well, look at the 1918 influenza. In six months, it killed more people than the Black Death and AIDS during their entire run. Ebola is five times as deadly as the 1918 flu was.
Do the math.
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Jeff is being an ass something you are proud of? Or do you just like to cut people up & make yourself look good. Newsflash … you made yourself look like an uneducated, complete asshole!
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I understood exactly what you was saying. thank you for the education. One question what about those who had laid dead for hrs.. and yet are not dead… could this become a zombie apocalypse like some have mentioned.
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Thank you for the clarification. You have put things into perspective and I appreciate that.
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Thank you for taking the time to share this information. You will never make everyone happy so just know that you served many by sharing your perspective and forget the naysayers!
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Great post! Thank you!
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As a recently retired critical care nurse, reading your thoughts was amazing. I learned some info. Your writing style is great. I THINK YOU were able to reach many folks who are not in the medical field. I hope the doctors, who aren’t in infection control will also benefit! Thank you for writing this..
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Thank you for your time in posting this- I feel better informed & I appreciate the information!
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Wow, great lay persons read. I have been an RN for over 35 years and have been shaking my head over what little news media I have allowed myself to listen to. Your choice of explanation Is great. It just irritates me when I hear the numbers dying with flu compared to this potentially unnecessary epidemic happening in our country. And your clarification of exposure couldn’t be more to the point.
Is this being blown out of proportion? Hell no. If people don’t wise up and use intelligent precaution, it could really bad. Who knows how many these people contaminated, as I have already explained to my paranoid husband. I also made the point about the child exposure, who then take it to daycare and schools.
You did a marvelous job.
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Reblogged this on The Musings Of A Marvelously Imperfect Woman Named Martha and commented:
I think everyone should read this!!!
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As a critical care nurse, I can relate and reading your thoughts was amazing. I also learned some bits of info which I always appreciate. I thought you did a great job because you have a knack for writing, I don’t think I could have summed it up so eloquently. I know you will be able to reach many folks who are not in the medical field. I hope the doctors and other medical professionals will also benefit especially if they are not affiliated with infectious disease! Thank you for writing this..
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There are several things wrong in her take on the situation. Things that have been eradicated TB still out there, measles still out there. That being said as a virus it is constantly mutating no one knows how it will mutate. People need to know how to protect themselves. Especially health care workers.
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The only criticism I have of this piece is that the current strain affecting West Africa does not have a 90% mortality rate; it is more like 60% according to WHO and Doctors without borders. That particular strain is called Ebola Zaire; which is not the current strain. Otherwise, this blog is good for those who have no clue about disease transmission and are caught up in the current fear mongering.
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A lot of stuff I already knew and a lot more I didn’t. You’re unique perspective is both badly needed and much appreciated. The only downside is that many are either too impatient or too lazy to come to understand many of the concepts contained here, but ultimately that doesn’t matter. You presented the ugliness of this disease’s symptoms in plain, simple and ugly language which WILL get people’s attention and that is good. They really don’t need to understand the science behind it, but they do need to understand that there is no such thing as “too safe” when it comes to this national crisis. Thank you for taking the time to write this, and in your defense from the grammar Nazis, grammar be damned!
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Thank you for writing this article. You are definitely God’s instrument. May He continue to give you wisdom and understanding to guide us. If you allow me I would like to share this with all the viewers so they can pass it along. We need to allow God back into our nation, schools, lives, families, children, etc. He is the Source of life but we are ignoring the truth and we have shut the doors to Him. This is why our enemies will try to penetrate and God is allowing it because we have revealed against Him by not acknowledging Him as our God and Protector. What I mean with this is that all sorts of sicknesses and virus are entering our territory and mankind is not able to stop it. Yet, we complaint and have religious debates when in reality, religion is just another tactic of the enemy. Religion distracts, confuses people and destroys. However, an intimate relationship with our Creator can restore the broken, the damaged, the sick and heals our land. This virus, as well as those mentioned by the nurse, are nothing more than plagues caused by our own sins of rebellion and pride; thinking we don’t need God in our lives. The demonic forces take advantage of this wrongful attitude and carries out a plan to spread deadly viruses to destroy humankind. People often ask: “why doesn’t God do something about it, if He really exist? The Word of God can answer this question:
2 Chronicles 7:13 “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 16 I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there”. We need to start praying and seek Him as it was in the beginning. United States and it’s constitution has declared “God bless America” now sadly to say, but because of our actions is more like “Godless America”. Where is God? only a prayer away of repentance from the heart, but we need to spread the Word of God. I am sure that this is the only successful antidote virus that will stop and destroy every evil virus out there. The enemy will continue his plan to destroy humankind. What should we do? God will not send the plagues but He did sent His Son to pay for our sins and so that everything could be restored again. He died and resurrected for us so that our lives and our land could be healed. But we need by faith accept this is true and invite Him in our hearts, lives, homes. Ask for forgiveness and He will heal us. Read His Word and receive His guidance. Now is the time! As long as you breath, is not too late. God bless you all.
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This is not about God lady so quit your preaching & stay on the subject!
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that’s the problem people can’t see. It’s all about Him.
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I am not a nurse but I work in the healthcare field, the information I’ve just read is the most informative on Ebola I’ve heard by far. I appreciate every word totally, your theory to me has allow me to better understand more about Ebola. I thank you for taking your time to share, I stand behind your message 100%.
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Thank you for letting us in your head and for helping the general public understand. Your read was worth more than all the interrupted news from TV or Radio.
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As a nurse with several years of experience in clinical areas and education, I must say I feel that the personal protective equipment ( PPE) used for Ebola patients is inadequate. Start w the gloves. They are thin, poor fitting and not long enough to cover the sleeve of the gowns. So even double gloving won’t help if they fall off. The gowns are paper when they should be impervious to liquids. Masks should be tight enough so that pt secretions cannot be inhaled. If masks get wet they need to be changed. Masks are often one size for all. Hair should be contained in a cap. Time spent w a pt should be no more than 30 minutes and then all PPE should be changed or a different caregiver assigned. This info is from fundamentals of nursing. The CDC needs to use it.
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I would say that the nursing staff at Texas Presbyterian would agree with you…
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From a health inspectors perspective I found this article to be well written. Well prepared or not we’ve been waiting for a bug like this to develop just on the principle that history has a tendency to repeat itself, I.E. the Spanish Flu which we’ve all forgotten about.
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I want to thank you for sharing this information on Ebola. I have heard so much on this and knew nothing. I was told it came from Monkey’s. You did a wonderful job on your explanation of Ebola and cleared up a lot of wonder’s for me.
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Thank you. Do not be thrown off by trolls. What you have done is powerful and necessary. You work is succinct, honest, and easy to understand. Thank you.
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Thank you for sharing your experience & thoughts. I’m sorry you are taking heat from some individuals. I just wanted you to be encouraged that you are helping people to SEE. There are none so blind…. as those who do not wish to see. Thank you!
Blessings
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To the author of this article. We need more people like you in this world. You obviously have great character and value life. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and for caring enough to inform us. For those of you whom claim that the author of the article is causing panic is an assumption that you can only account for on your behalf. You should not assume that the “young moms” or anyone else for that matter are going to panic and furthermore, consider that anyone or everyone would not have the ability to keep a level head. Your comments, speaks mountains of your own character and how you think others might react or think ( as if they are weak minded fools and mass chaos is going to start). Really? The author of this article is doing us a service by informing us and giving us their perspective on ebola not to mention that facts. I feel that that just about anyone can take from this article and apply it not only to just about any other life situation and the common illnesses that we deal with daily. As an example, the flu, common colds, strep throat and any other virus and even bacterial infections. Great Article… Please keep them coming!
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Thank you for your article. As an ED RN for 21 years, this is the scariest time in my career. We see mishandling and incompetence on the part of the government. We see news anchors like Shep Smith and other uneducated folks calling for calm, calling for a “business as usual” attitude. I say BS to that. Put a patient in front of them that even potentially has Ebola with inadequate equipment and lack of good protocols and these same people will be wetting their trendy pants. This is a real health emergency. Like it or not
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Thanks for the informatice article from a nurses viewpoint
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I deeply am appreciative for the message you sent. It is accurate, precise, a bit of
humor, and I understand perfectly what your talking about. Your educated and have the knowledge of the sciences that you have left the reader to fully understand how
virus’s occur, what virus’s affect in the human body, and much more. I hope America will begin to understand more about EBOLA. You have started the
“message”, the information, and I am very proud of your courage, your convictions, and the time you took to prepare this concise, informative page. God bless you.
The comments are there, but I get upset with the pettiness, ie: 50% not 70%,
The information you wrote is concise, and gives lots of information. Thank you. Love, Jeanne
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You being a nurse has advantages you should keep us updated on this epidemic as it progresses
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Meanwhile, the CDC and our nation’s leader are telling us Ebola is not infectious as long as the symptoms have not appeared; that they cannot be transmitted by air bourne means. I’m not in the field of medicine, but it does not take a medical scientist to know that infectious cross contamination thru mucus membranes or skin absorbtion, not direct bodily fluid contamination can (and very likely has already) occurred with Ebola. Hence the sporting of space suits.
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Thank you for taking the time to write and send such an informative article.
I have shared it with most of my family and friends.
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Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts, knowledge, and experience. I really appreciate this article. I have a question that you may be able to answer. In terms of being more diligent with hygiene, how do you wash off a virus? Does anti-bacterial wash even work on a virus?
Thanks again!
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Gotta say, very good article. Screw the naysayers and critics. I am not a medical professional though I was a volunteer EMT for 10 years and received LOTS of infection control training. We were never taught how to handle anything like Ebola simply because the likelihood of coming in contact with an infected patient was near zero. HIV is the closest we ever came, and we had lots of patients. I answered over 3000 calls in my 10 years and after over 15 years of leaving that activity behind, I remain healthy.
Thank you for your insight and education. I will be sure to share this with people I know.
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I am an Ebola Virus and i find this discriminating and offensive.
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Emergency rooms, bleach wipe the hard covers of the patient charts. That is for gotten a lot and these charts are picked up and written in after nurses and doctors touch the patient. A lot of times the charts are left on the patient cot or among patient clothing. as each chart is emptied after patient is discharged or sent to floor
, it should be bleach wiped before using for the next patient.
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I to am a registered nurse, and I applaud you for your frankness and honesty. I have suggested many of these same thoughts as you and others have pooh-poohed me. This is real enough to escalate and make “The Walking Dead” look like child’s play. What is wrong with the CDC? Are they unable to get the politicians to see clearly? Is the White House immune to the real world? God help us. Thank you for presenting this.
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