The Ebola virus – Menace to mankind

(part 1 – http://africasiaeuro.com/wordpress/the-ebola-virus-mutates/#comment-115 )

What do we know, and what is being published – are two different things.

For one – no government wants to create panic. Absolutely not. If this should happen, we are all going to be affected, at least indirectly – in one way or another.

Reasons :

• Travel – We all sit in waiting lounges, going to public bathrooms, crossing thousands of fellow travelers, and we sit – for hours – near a stranger in a plane.

When I took the journey ( bit.ly/heinzrainer-kindle ) to the Ebola areas, I was not aware of imminent dangers. Somehow, however I had always a bad notion that the conditions encountered spell disaster.

I entered the rain forest with two companions from the Western part of the Ivory coast ( North of Liberia ) and found horrific conditions, encountered dangers at every corner ( the book written – bit.ly/what-henry-africas-kindle ) .

Since undertaken this journey my outlook in life has changed. I have noticed how precious life is . In the wilderness one ‘s life is worth nothing.

Even in the 21^st century people still live in the stone age, killing and devouring other fellow humans is not a fiction or tell tale, it is reality. Within the areas traveled to there are tribes that hunt for chimpanzees, or monkeys, among others.

You may have read about ‘ bush meat ‘ consumption, the reason why Ebola has become so rampant. I won’t mention ‘fruit bats’, as they are even eaten in the capitals.

There are many, many street and other food stalls near the road side, over land routes, that sell ‘ bush meat ‘. Bush meat is the preferred form of animal protein in Africa. Not only in afflicted areas, no, it is all over.

One can see roasted Antelope ( Dykers, Bongos ), Guinea fowls, Frankolins ( partridges ), Togo hare ( wild rabbits ), wild Teal ( black wild duck ), Wild cats ( Africa civet ) , Pengolins and Armadillos( Chinese people are crazy for it), Servals, and – monkeys – including chimpanzees. ( It never was a surprise to me learning about the killings of the great apes – Gorillas.

In northern parts people consume Elephants ( no two ways about it ), hunting them with poisoned arrows and follow the Elephant till it collapses. After that, the whole village will gather and cut off their junks of meat, carrying it back to the village, drying it (above smoking fires – some horrific conditions). Another delicacy is the African python and the Guinea viper. More you will read in my book. One never can imagine what I have seen – with my own eyes. (Hunting the African python is another harrowing story to tell)

Now what can I tell you- the stories I can write about will keep me busy for the next 20 years. Harrowing tales from hunters will keep this subject alive. ( Below – hunters killed this beautiful young Bongo antelope, returning from the bush at dusk. )

Hunters in Africa

• Risks – There are no risks ‘ they ‘ say for anyone – unless you come in touch with so called ‘bodily fluids’. Does this not sound familiar to you? Its bodily fluids. The virus can only be transmitted this way. I for one do not believe any of the crap I read in the media. I use other sources – from doctors on the ground, publications from the region, friends from the region affected, and publications from experts who are not biased or manipulated.

Many of us believe the crap that is written by those journalist who get their fat payroll and are asked what to write in return. There are many such journalists that came forward, and their numbers are increasing.

So what to believe and who to believe ? I think caution is the key here. Two days ago I spoke to a close friend in West Africa who told me: ( I relate exactly the words ) :

“ We do not greet people as before. This means we do not kiss – pecks, hug, even shake hands is taboo now. We stay mostly indoors.” (And these are big time socialites, every party, each cocktail, and functions one can find them.) They are from the upper class society. So, in order to clarify, we know that precautions are taken within the areas in West Africa even where Ebola has not had appeared. Does this amount to fear, or unnecessary precautions? The people don’t think so. They practice safety.

• What does the future hold – For one thing, I go according to my intuition. Read the publications coming from the stricken areas themselves. Doctors, Medecins sans frontiers, Epidemiologists – like the Russian expert Dr. Ivanovski Butenko : http://bit.ly/ebola-facts-11 Such experts are not going to lie for they are not being bribed.

The Chinese army has also dispatched specialists to West Africa – and have developed an experimental vaccine called JK-05.

• Risks of infection – this is the most controversial issue today. From our observations in Africa for over thirty years, washing hands wherever and whenever you have contact with other humans, touching rails, benches, shortly everything other people have touched before you, is a wise thing to do. Using hand sanitizing gels and liquids for regular use is recommended. If you can stay away from big gatherings is also a good thing to do. Sure, one may sound almost paranoid. We take the reports we have on the ground as our guide.

Remember – not only Ebola is a risk, we have numerous other pathogens – amongst them Cholera ( yes, as we speak of it, many people are dying in West Africa, and not in countries where Ebola is rampant. ) Typhoid – as common as Malaria – Typhoid afflicts two thirds and more of the populations. Many are dyeing from Typhoid infection due to lack of health facilities and medications. In the center of Ghana I contracted Typhoid ( and the north is always more risky ) whilst working on a project in the north I had severe tummy pains and as a result went to the local health facility of Bolgatanga district. The nurse on duty ( no doctor available at 03.00 a.m. ) gave me a shot of Chloramphenicol, a dose of Metazole (Flagyl), and paracetamol tablets. It helped me eventually I had to switch to quinolones (Antibiotics) eventually before symptoms vanished. As we speak, our friends tell us that many patients are dyeing in Korlebu Hospital in Accra from Cholera.

The Ebola virus mutates

More worrisome news

The Ebola virus is mutating. According to the voice of Russia, the Ebola virus is changing.

The virus causing Ebola has begun to mutate. It already has more than 300 varieties.

Researchers estimate that these mutations contribute to the rapid spread of the disease and prevent the development of a universal vaccine. The head of the UN emergency mission for the fight against the epidemic of Ebola Anthony Banbury admitted that the battle waged by humanity against Ebola virus took until the top.

via africasiaeuro wordpress notes.