Maybe they were just going through the list of diseases and this one jumped out at them? And no, I "didn't know all that" as you stated above, but I'm glad that you joined us here in Ebola-land because you have a wealth of information for the many people who will soon be joining this group.

Glenn Close's father was a doctor?

LOL Dan.... hey, we could save parts of Africa. Yeah KK, he was one of the first doctor's to visit the FIST Ebola outbreak. Gosh, I read the book twice and I can't remember the name..... it was excellent and heartbreaking. Now I'll have to go on a mission to find it.... not Ebola, the book!

I'm going to beat this problem with the help of DS.

I always thought Jacker looked like a monkey anyway.

I'm dead,but still with you in spiret.

That's positive Monty! Thanks for being here for us!

Actually, the U.S. outbreak was in Reston, VA, and it was U.S. AMRIID (Ft. Detrick) that burnt the laboratory to the ground; they tried to do it in the middle of the night but the story leaked to the Washington Post. The only reason that the whole D.C. area didn't get wiped out was because the virus mutated and altho it went airborne it didn't affect any humans, only the monkeys in the lab. It was a really, really close call, so now there are 2 strains of Ebola, "Ebola Zaire" and "Ebola Reston."

And when I first saw this "support group" I laughed too, because it's highly unlikely that anyone suffering from Ebola Zaire is going to be sitting at a computer seeking "support." It's got a 97% mortality rate and it kills very quickly.

But like Anne I'm interested in this too, I lived a few miles from Reston.

I was under the impression that after contracting Ebola, one lives for just a few days. Maybe this is a support group for those who have lost someone to Ebola?

'hot zone' is a frightening read!
well researched and very, very scary.

I"m sorry but this support group gave me the best laugh I have had all week. Oh lord, who thought this up? This is actually kind of depressing to families of victims of Ebola. Ebola is considered an "ELE - Extinction Level Event" by the CDC. No one survives Ebola. Marburg, yes. There are survivors of Marburg. But Ebola = 0 survivors. I'm so sorry, I research extinction level events, have all my life. And this one is at the top of the CDC's list.

Um, so I hope someone, anyone, reading this who might have lost family members can get past the jokes and the levity in this group? I hope, if you have lost family members you can find a home here and tell us off for making fun. We needed the laugh, but I don't think this isn't really funny to you. Persons from all over come here to DS, and Ebola outbreaks happen every year. CDC code red. Sorry, gang, I just think it's kind of not so funny now.

But as a person who hasn't lost anyone to Ebola, thanks for the initial laugh!

I had to check up on this support group too, couldn't believe my eyes.
Thanks for the chuckle, everyone.

I loved Hot Zone, but everyone at work said I was naive for believing it. Good to meet other Hot Zoners!
My DH and I were thinking of starting a business to sell "Ebola Farms Maple Syrup"
So what ya think?

Wow - no smartass comments on here for a long, long time. Not since the actual big Ebola outbreak in West Africa, not since the infected healthcare workers came back to the US for treatment and not since people on our own soil died of Ebola and SURVIVED Ebola too.

As of August 23rd 2015, 28,041 cases and 11,302 deaths had been reported worldwide, the vast majority of them in these same three countries: Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. Clearly it is a tragic, horrific disease that kills far too many - but not all. I think if you've made jokes about it here, you should clear your (hopefully) disturbed conscience by making a nice donation to Doctors Without Borders.

Just my humble opinion. Peace, Love and Good Health to you all.