The Best High Throughput "No Touch" Ebola Fever Thermometer

The latest and greatest "no touch" fever thermometer with the potential highest victim through-put rate is the the VisioFocus made by Tecnimed in Italy. The thermometer directly displays a person's temperature on their forehead as the temperature is being taken.

The beauty of this display feature is that medical personnel do not have to touch or take their eyes off the person being measured. This lack of handling and fumbling with the thermometer means that any group of people being scanned can be more rapidly moved through the queue.

The draw backs to these types of no touch thermometers is that they measure skin temperature and an offset is automatically applied to determine core body temperature (oral, anal, or axial). Environmental conditions can alter heat transfer rates off of the skin, thereby making measurements less accurate.

The thermometer is also able to measure the temperature of household objects, such as baby milk bottles. This capability also allows the device to be rapidly calibrated if the thermometer has undergone a rapid temperature swing, such as from a cold winter day to a warm inside room. The unit displays in both degrees Fahrenheit and Celsius.

Another obvious drawback to the unit is that one can not take one's own temperature without the aide of a mirror to make sure the thermometer is at the right focal distance away from the forehead or eyelid.

For greater insight watch the video.

ALERT! The CDC is NOT Requiring Cremation Or A Chain of Custody For Ebola Infected Bodies

In a surprising turn of events favoring aspiring biological terrorists the CDC is allowing Ebola infected bodies to be buried in hermetically sealed caskets. Use of cremation is optional.

Disposition of Remains:

• "Remains should be cremated or buried promptly in a hermetically sealed casket. 

• Once the bagged body is placed in the sealed casket, no additional cleaning is needed unless leakage has occurred. 

• No PPE is needed when handling the cremated remains or the hermetically sealed closed casket."

The concerning thing about CDC's decision is that a readily field improvised bio-weapon will only be a few feet of dirt away from an aspiring terrorist. Moreover, since the CDC is also not requiring a clear chain of supervised security for the infected dead body, a slightly more enterprising terrorist could readily intercept the Ebola infected bodily fluids even prior to burial.

Edited to add Analysis:

The only way this set of handling requirements for Ebola infected bodies makes sense is if
the CDC expects such a high body count the protecting access to them is pointless

Sources:

The 1st Sign Your City Was Attacked By An Ebola Bioweapon

Ebola Bodily Fluids Readily Weaponizable Using An Ultrasonic Humidifier

Guidance for Safe Handling of Human Remains of Ebola Patients in U. S. Hospitals and Mortuaries

August 17th Photo Of Suspected Irish Ebola Victim Dessie Quinn

This appears to be a photo of Dessie Quinn the suspected Irish Ebola Fatality. The photo was taken Aug 17th. He certainty doesn't look like a guy who is going to die four days later from Ebola.

Compare the photo against this one published by the Irish Mirror

Government Contract Points to Unnatural Ebola Outbreak In West Africa; Seeks Survivors of "Natural" Ebola In The Congo

Yesterday reports surfaced of a possible Ebola outbreak in the Congo, simultaneously the US Government released a contract which specified that they want samples from people in the Congo who have survived a 'NATURAL exposure to Ebola'

"The purpose of this contract is to evaluate samples from individuals who have survived a natural exposure to Ebola virus in order to assess the specific immune responses"

This brings up the obvious question, is there such a thing as an unnatural exposure to Ebola in Africa? After all, the reported exposures are: wild creature infects a person, and then that person infects several others.

It seems the US Government is concerned that there is something UNNATURAL about the West African Ebola outbreak. It does have somewhat different symptoms than previous outbreaks. And, the outbreak has grown faster and farther than all previous outbreaks combined. IF the outbreak is man made, then obviously one source of comparison which might point to that distinction might be made by looking at differences between the current unnatural outbreak in West Africa and the previous natural outbreaks in the Congo.

Its also clear one would want to take such samples from the previous natural Ebola outbreaks in the Congo prior to the region being infected by the unnatural outbreak from West Africa. Given yesterday's the reports that West African Ebola may have spread into the Congo, it makes for a clear indication why that new may have triggered yesterday's contract for blood samples from survivors of "natural" Ebola in the Congo.

Sources:

Solicitation Number: NIAID-NOI-14C-1688951

http://af.reuters.com/article/congoNews/idAFL5N0QQ36R20140820

Ebola Emergency ZMAPP Production Rates & Costs

Based NIH data, the POTRBLOG team has been able to calculate that Kentucky Bioprocessing has the Rough Order of Magnitude [ROM] emergency capability to produce 97,751 courses of Ebola treatment per month. The lead time to meet this emergency production rate is approximately 5 weeks.

One very concerning bit of information, the ZMAPP treatment has components which are reported to produce one escaped mutant per every twenty non-human primates treated. And, that the escaped mutants do exhibit reversion.

Source and cost data to follow:

Filovirus Medical Countermeasures (MCM) Workshop

Kentucky Tobacco Smokes Out An Ebola Treatment; Phase 1 Clinical Trials Contracting Now

Max Alert! Ebola Bodily Fluids Readily Weaponizable Using An Ultrasonic Humidifier

The 1st Sign Your City Was Attacked By An Ebola Bioweapon

The 1st Sign Your City Was Attacked By An Ebola Bioweapon

The 1st sign that your city has been attacked by an Ebola bioweapon will be the reports of a suspect case with no primary or secondary ties to West Africa. When such a case does happen it does not mean with certainty a bioattack has occurred, but it does mean that things go south very rapidly.

The time line of Ebola's spread means that an attack is possible with in the 9/11/2014 time frame and should be expected. However it does not mean that such an attack is a certainty; it only means a potential attacker with the appropriate skills/knowledge would likely have ready field access to the minimal amount of equipment required to implement such an attack.

Terrorist seeking to maximize the death toll would leave the attack unannounced as to increase victim to subsequent victims spread. Alternatively an unskilled terrorist would likely make the attack public as to spread fear & uncertainty. The former case is likely the most dangerous and the one most likely to result in the Government ordering people to shelter in place. It would potentially be preceded by a period of denial or calming action on the Government's part, for the purpose of buying time to position resources and to control traffic points prior to panic.

The key thing to remember about Ebola is that it can take as little as ONE nanoparticle sized Ebola viron contacting your body to infect you. Using hand sanitizer on exposed skin AFTER exposure is unlikely to prevent Ebola infection (as documented in the 1976 Lab case).

Assuming reports of an Ebola case with no direct ties to West Africa is made public, a wise risk mitigation action would be near fully time use of surgical gloves combined with frequent use of hand sanitizer on those gloves. Note that using hand sanitizer directly on skin could result in skin disruption / drying which could increase the risks of infection with Ebola if exposed.

Prior to such an outbreak and needed use of gloves, the proper use of Hibiclens (Chlorhexidine Gluconate) as a skin lotion could provide prophylactic protection against infection as it continues to invisibly kill enveloped viruses for hours after application. We believe Hibiclens offers a Darwinian advantage to those who know of its existence, use it properly, and have it on hand before it becomes unavailable. We believe Amazon is the most cost effective source for Hibiclens (CHG)

In that regard, a key item to note is that once things become public there will very little time to react in either gathering supplies or reuniting with loved ones before travel restrictions are imposed. Key to have on hand at that point are disposable medical gloves, and hand sanitizer to keep the gloves clean. One should expect protective disposable exam gloves to become unavailable. Currently such gloves are readily available at Sam's Club at half the price available elsewhere.

Sources:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1631428/pdf/brmedj00478-0011.pdf

South Carolina Is Directing Universities to Examine ALL West African Students & Faculty For Ebola Exposure

The South Carolina Department of Health has released guidance directing Colleges and Universities to examine all West African students and faculty for signs of current or previous Ebola infections.

Wisely the South Carolina health department is seeking to avoid the spread of sexually transmitted Ebola from people who may have been unknowingly exposed and recovered from Ebola.

Source:

http://www.scdhec.gov/Health/docs/University_Health_Ebola_Advisory.pdf

CDC's "Lesser Of Evils" Double Standard On Health Care Worker Protection Indicates They Expect a Large Ebola Outbreak In USA

CDC apparently has made a "lesser of evils" choice to direct Doctor's and healthcare workers to risk their lives using only  minimal Personal Protective Equipment [PPE] when treating Ebola patients. Prior to the outbreak, Ebola Biosafey Level 4 [BSL-4] regulations limited treatment of Ebola patients to only 22 hospital beds across the country which had the required BSL-4 treatment rooms and 'space suits'.

Those regulations meant that if a non BSL-4 hospital had been exposed to an Ebola patient, the hospital would have to shutdown the affect areas until they could be sterilized. It also meant that Doctors and healthcare workers exposed would be held under quarantine. Obviously, that methodology is not sustainable for a large Ebola outbreak as the medical system would collapse.

Our analysis indicates that the CDC sees a real risk of the medical system collapsing from the adherence to strict Ebola BSL-4 regulations. And as such, it is better to risk the collapse of the medical system from an actual spate of healthcare worker Ebola infections at BSL1 facilities than it is to risk Ebola patients having no access to medical oversight.

In short, CDC's guidance that Ebola Biosafety Level 4 [BSL-4] Space Suits aren't required for non-CDC personnel is because the risk of Ebola's spread is INITIALLY better reduced by getting Ebola victims into BSL-1 facilities as opposed to leaving them with unfettered access to the public.


While it appears that most medical personnel don't have a clue why the CDC would make such a double standard in healthcare worker protection given that the cost of failure is death, it was very obvious on CDC's August 5th teleconference "What U.S. Hospitals Need to Know to Prepare for Ebola Virus Disease" that multiple represented Hospitals and Doctors understand that there is a clear double standard in  CDC's Personnel Protective Equipment requirements: see the question below from B. Russell to the CDC.

"Barbara Russell:.... I had that concern about that double standard. It’s very hard to convince emergency room staff and others that we just have to wear a gown, and gloves and mask.
And then we see on TV with them in all their suits head to toe in this room where they say they’re going to burn everything that comes out of it.
So is there anything that can be done to correct what Emory is doing and what is Emory wearing when they go in the rooms?"

In the end we are left with one of two options concerning CDC's PPE guidance:

1) either we must believe that the CDC is willing to risk the lives of medical personnel out of sheer incompetence, or

2) that the CDC must risk the lives of medical personnel because its a lesser of evils which serves to reduce the speed, but likely not the size of the Ebola outbreak.

Sources:

What U.S. Hospitals Need to Know to Prepare for Ebola Virus Disease

Nebraska biocontainment unit prepared for the worst

Max Alert! Ebola Bodily Fluids Readily Weaponizable Using An Ultrasonic Humidifier

US Licensing LIVE Rabies Based EBOLA Vaccine, Preps Pandemic Quarantine Stations & Injury Fund

Max Alert! Ebola Bodily Fluids Readily Weaponizable Using An Ultrasonic Humidifier

Q: What is the difference between and Ultrasonic Humidifier and a Weapon of Mass Infection?
A:  The addition of Human Ebola infected bodily fluids to the humidifier's tank


Now, if one is to believe the Centers for Disease Control [CDC], the public has nothing to fear from Inhalation Ebola. Unsurprisingly, the CDC tells hospitals and airline crews the exact opposite and warns them about the dangers of aerosolized Ebola.


Unfortunately, we are now in a situation where any terrorist in Africa can expose a person to Ebola and fly them undetected to the western world prior to any illness becoming observable. From that point on wards, it is only a matter of harvesting the right bodily fluids and aerosolizing those fluids with an ultrasonic humidifier in a location suitable for mass dispersal.

Be aware that the potential time frame between the Government's public message changing from "Everything is fine" to "Shut up and do what you are told" may be surprisingly short.

Sources:

ALERT! CDC Warns Hospitals On EBOLA "CONTAMINATED AIR" and Directs use of "Airborne Infection Isolation Room"s

Inhalation Ebola: Governments Ready For World War Ebola

ALERT! CDC Sees AIRBORNE EBOLA Transmission, Issues Guidance For Aircraft Flight Crews, Cleaning & Cargo Crews

US Government Showing Major Concern For A Devastating ZERO DAY Pandemic Exploit

ALERT! CDC Warns Hospitals On EBOLA "CONTAMINATED AIR" and Directs use of "Airborne Infection Isolation Room"s

Update 8/4

Adding Ebola infected bodily fluids to an ultrasonic humidifier is close to all it takes to weaponize Ebola into a bioweapon of mass destruction

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpI00_JDhZ8

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The Centers For Disease Controls (CDC) released EBOLA guidance to US Hospitals which specifically warns on exposure to "Contaminated Air", and includes strict advice to avoid Aerosol Generating Procedures [AGP]

Avoid AGPs for Ebola HF patients. If performing AGPs, use a combination of measures to reduce exposures from aerosol-generating procedures when performed on Ebola HF patients. Visitors should not be present during aerosol-generating procedures. Limiting the number of HCP present during the procedure to only those essential for patient-care and support. Conduct the procedures in a private room and ideally in an Airborne Infection Isolation Room (AIIR) when feasible. Room doors should be kept closed during the procedure except when entering or leaving the room, and entry and exit should be minimized during and shortly after the procedure. HCP should wear gloves, a gown, disposable shoe covers, and either a face shield that fully covers the front and sides of the face or goggles, and respiratory protection that is at least as protective as a NIOSH certified fit-tested N95 filtering facepiece respirator or higher (e.g., powered air purifying respiratory or elastomeric respirator) during aerosol generating procedures. Conduct environmental surface cleaning following procedures (see section below on environmental infection control). If re-usable equipment or PPE (e.g. Powered air purifying respirator, elastomeric respirator, etc.) are used, they should be cleaned and disinfected according to manufacturer instructions and hospital policies. Collection and handling of soiled re-usable respirators must be done by trained individuals using PPE as described above for routine patient care

This new Ebola guidance from the CDC matches its recently issued guidance to aircraft crews that focuses on suspected Ebola cases spreading Ebola by actions as minimal as "talking". CDC's guidance even warns against using compressed air to clean aircraft as it will result in the airborne spread of Ebola.


Despite all these Ebola inhalation warnings to hospitals and airline crews the CDC prefers the public to believe that Ebola cannot be transmitted through the air, as indicated in a new Q&A on Ebola

"Can Ebola be transmitted through the air?

No. Ebola is not a respiratory disease like the flu, so it is not transmitted through the air."

Obviously the CDC's truth for some people is different from its truth for the public. In fact, the CDC warns Healthcare workers (in bold letters) that the Inhalation Ebola guidance is not for the public.

"This guidance is not intended to apply to persons outside of healthcare settings."

Sources:

 "Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Hospitalized Patients with Known or Suspected Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever in U.S. Hospitals"

http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/guinea/qa.html

Inhalation Ebola: Governments Ready For World War Ebola

Inhalation Ebola: Governments Ready For World War Ebola

Yes, Ebola can be spread by inhalation, and yes the Government is preparing for "Inhalation Ebola". Just yesterday the President issued an executive order which allows the CDC to use the guise of infectious pneumonia to quarantine people for Ebola. And today New York held its largest ever unannounced pandemic response drill. Such drills are an effective way to stage logistical pandemic supplies without alerting the public.

To understand the risk of inhaled Ebola and why these actions have been taken, consider that two American medical missionaries appear to have come down with EBOLA by spraying down their protective clothing with disinfectant. It seems that the disinfectant spray aerosolized the infectious contamination on their protective clothing. Now consider what it means for the spread of EBOLA when the people spraying the disinfectant on their protective clothing die from that action.

It seems that this information resulted in the CDC issuing guidance to aircraft crews that focuses on suspected Ebola cases spreading Ebola by actions as minimal as "talking". CDC's guidance even warns against using compressed air to clean aircraft as it will result in the airborne spread of Ebola.

Its this airborne potentiality which makes EBOLA basically untreatable and un-quarantineable in anything but a very few Level 4 Biosafety facilities. Its a situation which has the potential to bring the majority of Zombie Apocalypse vignettists into play.

The current situation is grave enough to scare the pants off even Pentagon Planners. In that regard, If you're easily frightened, or can act without first thinking,  now is a good time to stop reading this post as we explain the worst case "Red Team" scenario.

Worst Case:

The act of attempting to treat Ebola victims becomes impossible outside of anything but a level 4 safety facility as it becomes impossible to decontaminate protective clothing without facing a large risk of becoming infected with Ebola. (This appears to be the situation now in Africa as international teams evacuate)

The 2nd or 3rd appearances of Ebola in the USA result in large numbers of people placed in quarantine under the guise of a 'viral pneumonia'. Experts will make claims that Ebola is not "airborne" while taking ethical solace that 'Inhalation Ebola' doesn't meet their technical definition of "airborne" even though the outcomes are similar. Such subterfuges are undertaken to avoid panic and uncontrolled disease spread. If such quarantine fails to stop the spread then whole cities are quarantined and travel is shut down.

At this point, no person with Ebola can expect treatment; and anyone with a fever (and their direct associates) can be expected to be rounded up and placed in isolation with Ebola victims. From this point onward if the spread of the disease is not stopped and death rates remain over 50%, Governments enact Zombie Apocalypse type rules as any potential victims are too high risk to keep alive.

Of course none of this means that the worst case will happen with Ebola, it just means that Governments are making contingencies to do what they believe is required under the worst case; and that alone should scare the crap out of you.

Our take:

We don't expect Ebola to be Zombie Apocalyptic; our take is that the Powers-That-Be are currently more afraid of the damage from public panic than from the actual spread of the disease. Unfortunately this sets up a situation where the desire not to be truthful with the public places the public at risk and actually increases the probability of the worst case scenario playing out. 

What this situation means is that wise people will realize that Public Health communications could rapidly go from "Everything is okay" to "Shut up and do what you are told". One should not expect to be able to make effective last minute logistical action IF things go bad.

Sources:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/07/31/executive-order-revised-list-quarantinable-communicable-diseases

Health Department Conducts the Largest No-Notice Emergency Response Exercise in New York City History


 The scrub-down area where the disease was passed 

ALERT! CDC Sees AIRBORNE EBOLA Transmission, Issues Guidance For Aircraft Flight Crews, Cleaning & Cargo Crews

ALERT! Suspected US "EBOLA" Case Not Tested, As 60 Exposed Missionaries Evacuate to USA

EBOLA Detection Kits to National Guard Units In All 50 States

US Licensing LIVE Rabies Based EBOLA Vaccine, Preps Pandemic Quarantine Stations & Injury Fund

US Government Showing Major Concern For A Devastating ZERO DAY Pandemic Exploit

Until Gaëtan Dugas or Other Flying Rats Catch Ebola, The North American Risk Remains Low