[malandrew]

    " We are about to assist thousands and thousands of people 
    to die an excruciating death at home without even the most 
    mild of pain relief."

I simply don't understand this. Why isn't humane assisted suicide an option considered in this scenario? If I were one of the people who was going to be left to die an excruciating death, all I would want is one syringe with a super potent does of heroin... i.e. enough to slip into a warm coma and then shut down my breathing and nervous system. How hard can it be to repurpose seized drug shipments for such a purpose if shit is truly hitting the fan.

The longer the host stays alive, the longer the virus has to multiply in the host and get caretakers sick.

[d0mine]

50% survive.

[malandrew]

The number I've seen is 30% and I've haven't seen anything written on the quality of life afterwards...

But either way, a 50% survival rate under circumstances where I am more likely to infect those I love the longer I'm alive makes it a much easier choice. At an R0 of 2, I'm statistically likely to take one other life, who will go on to take one other life etc. At an R0 of greater than 2, I'm going to result of many more people. Only at an R0 less than 2 is it even reasonable to consider trying your chances to stay alive.

[d0mine]

50% is for the current outbreak in West Africa.

Total Cases: 9937 Total Deaths: 4877

http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/2014-west-africa/inde...