On 17 May 1995, Candace Krepel wrote:
> William S. Kushner (wrkushne at mailbox.syr.edu) wrote:
> : Can anyone define "casual" contact for this virus. I don't understand
> : how all those health workers came down with this disease especially
> : since most were other than doctors and therefore not directly
> : involved with operations.
>> If the patients are hemorrhaging from various orifices, anyone involved in
> their care who is *not* using universal precautions would be at risk. I am
> not sure that latex gloves, goggles, protective gowns, etc. are available in
> Zaire.
>> Candy Krepel
> Surgical Microbiology Research Lab, Medical College of Wisconsin
>ckrepel at post.its.mcw.edu>>Recently I was fortunate enough to attend a lecture given by Karl
Johnson, who is one of the virologists who investigated the '76(?) Zaire
outbreak of Ebola hemmorhagic fever, in addition to being a very
captivating speaker. Anyway, Dr. Johnson emphasized that when they
arrived in Zaire, the hospital where many of the patients were treated
possessed 2 syringes. These syringes were used all day long, patient to
patient and then were boiled at night to be used again the next day. I am
not sure how conditions have changed, if any, in Zaire in the last 19
years but it is my guess that "universal precautions" and the equiptment
used for them may be a luxury of more prosperous nations.
