Ebola - Can We Make an Engineering Contribution?

Yes agree, and I also support them.
I guess I was thinking of low cost and quick to install tech stuff, like simple clean housing and continuously sterilizing water systems.

Firestone Did What Governments Have Not: Stopped Ebola ...

It takes resources and the ability to marshal these resources.

At one point, the government had a monopoly on these, but with companies that have grown to epic proportions, and the the bottom line at stake, they are very efficient.

On the Katrina disaster WalMART comes to mind, that had both of these in place, and were able to react promptly for this.

While FEMA, (Federal Emergency Management Agency) the government agency that was suppose to handle emergency's or disaster, was so bloated and inefficenet as well as complacent failed miserably.

Where they no longer and was not required to care or be held responsible, where their only responsibility was, making sure their budget was spent on nonessential items so their budgets was not cut. Only to become stalled when faced with an emergency or disaster.

Now to address you question of what we can do, with the timeframe of the spread of the is virus, one is behind the eight ball so to speak.

I have to say the best way is managing it by first having an actual across all borders plan in place,

That would first consist of containment. And then treatment.

Not sure how engineering is going to fix the problems with the West African Governments (or lack thereof). Without coordinated support to get supply ships to the docks, and then distributed to where they are needed, it's going to be a long time before this is under control.

Dealing with the native customs alone is a challenge in itself.

Not to mention infrastructure (the lack of).

The United States 101st airborne ^{(thankless and despised world wide)} being deployed there now, is probably the best alternative.

To a vast degree the medical improvements that have come in human health over the past century would not have occurred without engineers. A discovery in a medical lab - often done using research tools designed and built by engineers - would remain 'just' a discovery without engineers to design, build, and operate the bio-pharmaceutical factories that produce the drugs and vaccines in the quantities needed to treat large populations of people.

So I'm not sure about the 'we' part but yes, engineers are crucial in fighting diseases such as Ebola.

All good contributions in their way, but small slip ups in the isolation processes and ebola has made the jump and spread further. Here are a couple of engineering solutions ... what are you adding?
1. A simple step by step smart phone app, that talks carers through the procedures of simple stuff like safe protective clothing removal and corrective action if there is an accidental glitch.
2. Portable unclean/clean changing stations for carers.
3. Fast acting barriers that absorb the ebola virus and secure it.
In coverage we often see bagged bodies and protective clothing etc being thrown into a hole. Does anyone know what the half life is of the ebola? Can it 'escape' from its burial site even by subsurface water leaching? More and clear info is needed as a start point.

From TheEngineer.co.uk ....

Engineers are urgently required to help relieve the Ebola crisis in the West African countries of Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Ebola viral disease (EVD) is a severe and often fatal illness that in Liberia alone has infected approximately 3,600 people and killed over 2,000 during the current outbreak. According to the World Health Organisation, it is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads among people through human-to-human transmission.

Carmen Paradiso, global advisor on water and sanitation for the International Medical Corps told The Engineer that the crisis requires engineers that can assist with the design, construction, maintenance and operation of health facilities, plus proposed isolation units in areas where there is a lack of treatment centres.

Read more: http://www.theengineer.co.uk/news/engineers-have-important-role-in-helping-to-combat-ebola/1019321.article#ixzz3G1wK2jmk

There is no Ebola in Sierra Leone...

Ahem, yes there is. Maybe you'd prefer the view of a 13 year old in Sierra Leone.

oops - sorry ---

Guess I was off my meds... I think I was trying to reference the containment in Senegal...

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-29436851

Oct 7 2014 update ......

Oct 7 2014 / Center for Disease Control statement
What is the current situation?

An outbreak of Ebola has been ongoing in Sierra Leone since May 2014. Outbreaks are also occurring in Guinea and Liberia; these outbreaks of Ebola are the largest and most complex in history. A small number of cases have also been reported in Lagos and Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Affected districts in Sierra Leone include Bo, Bombali, Bonthe, Kailahun, Kambia, Kenema, Kono, Moyamba, Port Loko, Pujehun, Tonkolili, Western Area Rural, and Western Area Urban (including the capital of Freetown). Civil unrest and violence against aid workers have been reported in West Africa as a result of the outbreak. The public health infrastructure in Sierra Leone is being severely strained as the outbreak grows.

Sierra Leone's government has recently instituted enhanced measures to combat the spread of Ebola, many of which will likely make travel to, from, and within the country difficult.

The actual publishing of that report is almost a week old. The rapid spread of this disease should not be addressed so finitely

I believe we can agree that it is a serious and dynamic issue. Containment is a good first step, but then there is the critical backing support of those 'inside ' the fence, both immediate and long term to resolve the situation. Ideas?

but then there is the critical backing support of those 'inside ' the fence,

Here is the problem, in an epidemic situation decisions have to be made that are not reassuring for people 'inside' the fence. Where if there are no other choices, a Utilitarianism form of ethics may have to take place of sacrificing the few for the many.

This is where the health care workers I do not want to be in their place, but I am glad we have them that risk being inside the fence.

Driving into work this morning, I heard that Russian just developed a vaccine to treat ebola, and they will have enough of this within three (3) months. But I did not verify it.

I like to also add, this nurse that was infected by the ebola virus, by monitoring herself, she did what she could to contain it. Its just too bad, the politics of the situation is fast to blame her, and not their own policies.

And that is a danger and our weakness.

Three Russian Ebola vaccines ready within six months ...

news.yahoo.com/three-russian-ebola-vaccines-ready-within-six-months-...3 days ago - From Yahoo News: Moscow (AFP) - Russia expects to produce three Ebola vaccines within the next six months, Health Minister Veronika ...

A questioning West will no doubt 'watch this space with fingers crossed'.

It makes a change from our Australian Prime Minister who wants to shirtfront Putin when he visits Australia with the G20 meeting. This is over the loss of Australians on MH17 with Russian supplied weapons.

OK, back on the ground ... I guess we all need to find out more about ebola, how its spread can be stopped, and desperate situations reversed. I do not know, but is something as simple as extended exposure to sun enough to 'sizzle' the virus?
From the limited coverage I have heard and seen, I wonder how close it is to chemical weapons so what might counter such weapons might reduce the ebola effects.

The relative speed of having not just one but three possible ebola vaccines makes me wonder how much biological weapons research into ebola has Russia already performed? I guess some isolated immunologists might be in a secret location...