Ebola Outbreak And Travel Restrictions

[jyl]

The Ebola outbreak in West Africa has now infected about 600 and killed about 400. It has moved into some of the local cities, including the capital of Guinea. Ebola incubates for up to three weeks before the person becomes symptomatic.

I am wondering - are there any international or local mechanisms to restrict travel from areas struck by epidemics? Suppose someone wants to travel from Guinea to France, or from France to the USA? Have travel restrictions been used in any previous epidemic?

There were, I recall, some attempts to screen passengers with fevers during one of the SARS epidemics, but the disease spread anyway, from rural China to Hong Kong and then globally.

The Ebola virus is apparently much less contagious, but the mortality rate is 60% . . .

Could The Ebola Outbreak Spread To Europe Or The U.S.? : Shots - Health News : NPR

[Hugh R]

JYL, I think Ebola is very contagious, blood, mucus, saliva, etc. One or two examples cited in that report of a guy on a plane not infecting anyone else doesn't impress me. What happened traditionally is that it spread in small villages so rapidly it burned out of hosts quickly. That of course was when long distance travel was more difficult.

[matt f]

Read a good book about Ebola, Marburg and other hemorrhagic diseases 15-20 years ago.
Believe it was called "Hot Zone" or "The Hot Zone."
Author was Preston, I think.

Matt

[Hugh R]

Yep, good book.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Excellent book. That's a nasty disease.

[jyl]

Suppose someone travels from Guinea to Paris and a couple Ebola cases show up in France. You're the CDC and US Govt. What do you do? Do you halt all flights from France to the US? What about from Frankfurt or Heathrow? Or do you take your chances?

[matt f]

Yes, have to.
Ebola liquifies organs and is pervasive.
Symptoms quantify within 2 to 21 days.
That alone could be devastating.

Matt

[jyl]

People can fly from France to anywhere - Canada, Italy, Mexico - and from there to the US. So would you cut off the US from all international travel? For how long? Or is there some other action to take?

[techweenie]

There've been a couple movies about this scenario... and a buttload of books. Just re-read Vector a few months back.

The most recent movie with a realistic scenario was Contagion Contagion (2011)

In one of the books I read, it described the virus as totally focused on replication and developing tactics to spread, including delaying onset of symptoms in order to gain more hosts.

[jyl]

Outbreak continuing in West Africa.

Ebola virus: Can nations stop deadliest ever outbreak from spreading? - CNN.com

[GH85Carrera]

I would GUESS if there is much of an outbreak anywhere in a first world country international air travel will just stop. It would cause global problems but less problems than an Ebola outbreak.

[jyl]

Ebola outbreak hasn't gotten much news attention, but it continues to grow, with 660 dead now, and cases in the capital cities of all three countries Guinea Liberia and Sierra Leone, including infected people who have escaped from hospitals and are at large. The Liberian man being tested in Lagos could be the first Ebola case to travel by air out of West Africa.

First Ebola victim in Sierra Leone capital on the run | Reuters

[techweenie]

Apparently a doctor treating victims has become infected. It's a horror show. And in a group of countries where science takes a back seat to rumors ('white people bring this disease; they infect you in clinics/hospitals') it's an uphill battle.

There have been a couple movies - speculative fiction - about outbreaks.

[Don Ro]

Yesterday the news was that the Ebola is air born...makes it even more contagious.

[jyl]

Yes, the head doctor in charge of Ebola treatment in Sierra Leone has himself contracted the virus. Multiple nurses have died. Other nurses are on strike.

Apparently there are vaccines in development. Seema Yasmin: Ebola virus hits closer to home | Dallas Morning News As a practical matter, in that area of the world it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to vaccinate enough people to stop the virus' spread.

[techweenie]

Originally Posted by jyl

Yes, the head doctor in charge of Ebola treatment in Sierra Leone has himself contracted the virus. Multiple nurses have died. Other nurses are on strike.

Apparently there are vaccines in development. Seema Yasmin: Ebola virus hits closer to home | Dallas Morning News As a practical matter, in that area of the world it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to vaccinate enough people to stop the virus' spread.

Not to mention that in the 3rd world, vaccines are difficult for the uneducated to accept. Not looking like there's going to be a quick fix here...

[techweenie]

Originally Posted by Don Ro

Yesterday the news was that the Ebola is air born...makes it even more contagious.

I don't believe that's true. Where did you read that?

[Don Ro]

Saw/heard it on CNN.

[techweenie]

Originally Posted by Don Ro

Saw/heard it on CNN.

Not showing up as news in Google search.

There was some speculation 2 years ago based on some animal studies but proved incorrect. Direct contact only.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Originally Posted by jyl

Suppose someone travels from Guinea to Paris and a couple Ebola cases show up in France. You're the CDC and US Govt. What do you do? Do you halt all flights from France to the US? What about from Frankfurt or Heathrow? Or do you take your chances?

Clearly the first step is to stop all flights to/from Israel.