The spread of infection solely depends on how the infectious disease is transmitted (whether its airborne, sexually transmittive, etc). In terms of Monet’s infection, and early stage of Ebola (Marburg), it is blood borne infection. It can only be spread through direct contact of the bodily fluids of an infected individual. This may not seem as much of a problem for an airplane as it is not airborne driven infection. However, planes still remain a prominent area where diseases spread, especially for this case: “the seats are narrow and jammed… [a bag of black vomit] threatening to leak, [is handed] to the flight attendant” (Preston 17-18). It is described that there are particles of Monet’s vomito negro able to seen, this means contact can be made with the infected particles. Especially, being able to spread to the flight attendant, as the bag is ready to burst; the flight attendant may touch another object (like a door knob) with the hand she touched the bag. Others may touch this door knob, not knowing there are strains of the deadly virus on it. In addition, Monet’s bodily fluids, as minor as they may be, could be spread areas around his seat. Eventually on the next flight, someone may sit where Monet sat and touch the infected areas, and infect themselves by touching their face or not washing before eating. The same goes for being in a taxi, and the cycle continues. In addition, the infection may even spread before symptoms appear: “Ebola has an incubation period of up to 21 days… [it can] potentially [transmit] to the people they know” (Robson, 2014). Communication in taxis and planes are crucial since they are such small locations. Eventually, transmission branches off and grows exponentially as the initial host spreads it to two, then to four, then to sixteen, and so forth.
Preston, R. (1994). The Hot Zone (p. 422). New York City, New York: Anchor Books. Robson, D. (2014, July 30). Ebola: How easily do germs spread on planes? Retrieved April 18, 2015, from http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140731-can-ebola-spread-on-planes
As Ricardo stated, the Ebola virus is transmitted through direct contact with an individual's fluids in the same way AIDS travels. Many other victims of the disease seem to have caught the virus by handling "Ebola-infected cadavers". The crowded-like regions that Monet goes through such as the plane, taxi, and hospital makes it more likely for the virus to find a new host since their are a variety. Ebola is so easily transmitted that individuals in Zaire caught Ebola while "grieving relatives kissed and embraced the dead or prepared the body for burial" (Preston 66). The more host for the virus, the easier it is for Ebola to find a new individual and a create a worldwide threat for viral transmission.
The spread of infection solely depends on how the infectious disease is transmitted (whether its airborne, sexually transmittive, etc). In terms of Monet’s infection, and early stage of Ebola (Marburg), it is blood borne infection. It can only be spread through direct contact of the bodily fluids of an infected individual. This may not seem as much of a problem for an airplane as it is not airborne driven infection. However, planes still remain a prominent area where diseases spread, especially for this case: “the seats are narrow and jammed… [a bag of black vomit] threatening to leak, [is handed] to the flight attendant” (Preston 17-18). It is described that there are particles of Monet’s vomito negro able to seen, this means contact can be made with the infected particles. Especially, being able to spread to the flight attendant, as the bag is ready to burst; the flight attendant may touch another object (like a door knob) with the hand she touched the bag. Others may touch this door knob, not knowing there are strains of the deadly virus on it. In addition, Monet’s bodily fluids, as minor as they may be, could be spread areas around his seat. Eventually on the next flight, someone may sit where Monet sat and touch the infected areas, and infect themselves by touching their face or not washing before eating. The same goes for being in a taxi, and the cycle continues. In addition, the infection may even spread before symptoms appear: “Ebola has an incubation period of up to 21 days… [it can] potentially [transmit] to the people they know” (Robson, 2014). Communication in taxis and planes are crucial since they are such small locations. Eventually, transmission branches off and grows exponentially as the initial host spreads it to two, then to four, then to sixteen, and so forth.
ReplyDeletePreston, R. (1994). The Hot Zone (p. 422). New York City, New York: Anchor Books.
Robson, D. (2014, July 30). Ebola: How easily do germs spread on planes? Retrieved April 18, 2015, from http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140731-can-ebola-spread-on-planes
As Ricardo stated, the Ebola virus is transmitted through direct contact with an individual's fluids in the same way AIDS travels. Many other victims of the disease seem to have caught the virus by handling "Ebola-infected cadavers". The crowded-like regions that Monet goes through such as the plane, taxi, and hospital makes it more likely for the virus to find a new host since their are a variety. Ebola is so easily transmitted that individuals in Zaire caught Ebola while "grieving relatives kissed and embraced the dead or prepared the body for burial" (Preston 66). The more host for the virus, the easier it is for Ebola to find a new individual and a create a worldwide threat for viral transmission.
ReplyDelete