Ebola and Travel

[2B]

I would usually be putting together European trip plans now and getting DW to buy in. Spain had been on the list this year. With it becoming obvious, ebola will move into Europe to some extent, is anyone besides me delaying decision making until the situation becomes more clear?

I think our handling of the Dallas incident was done poorly. Hopefully, the learning experience won't be too costly and no further cases will develop. I don't see Europe doing as good a job as we did in Dallas.

 

[pullmyfinger]

We have a trip to Germany and Switzerland already booked for next spring, nonrefundable tickets on Icelandair. If the tickets weren't already paid for I might think about cancelling. That's just me, I wouldn't say that out loud to anyone I know.

If it gets to the point that travelling to Europe from the US becomes hazardous then we are probably all hosed.

 

[W2R]

If it's not Ebola, it's enterovirus, other diseases, or even nasty colds... good thing I have zero desire to travel in the first place, or I'd be torn in two about it!

Honestly, if you get your immunizations before you go then that would cut back on the likelihood of catching SOME diseases. As for the others, like ebola or the common cold, just wash your hands a lot, don't touch other people, be careful about any unsafe food/drink preparation, implement any other generalized or specific good health practices you might think of, and hope for the best.

And be of good cheer! Ebola may be more common here than abroad by the time you get back, the way things are going. Or not.

P.S. - - if Spain is on your bucket list, please don't let this ebola scare stop you! None of us are getting any younger and if you really want to go, you owe it to yourself and you should go, IMO.

 

[audreyh1]

Well, since I already live in Texas, even though 650 miles south of Dallas, I'm pretty sure we'll still go back to Europe next year.

 

[Chuckanut]

Go to Spain. Just make sure you don't change planes anywhere in Texas.

 

[2B]

I'll comment on my own post. Right now the ebola situation is undefined. We don't know if it will become widespread or be easily contained. We don't know if an effective treatment and possibly even a vaccine will be quickly developed. I'm not abandoning the idea of going to Europe. I'm sitting back and waiting a bit.

Another issue is the cost of a trip. If European travel tanks out of ebola fears, there will be bargains to be had in all sorts of locations. In 2009 during the market drop, we saved a lot on a river cruise. It was 2 for 1 and not the scam pricing advertized by Viking.

 

[eytonxav]

Buy your hazmat suits now and go on your trip without fear.

 

[sheehs1]

2B I am being cautious and am staying off of international planes until we know more, which shouldn't be too much longer. But then I am a worry wart when it comes to things like this. Read the Washington Post article about "How Ebola sped out of control". The article is a good history of how things happened, who failed, an explanation of why the US is now involved and the potential exponential transmission.

How Ebola sped out of control | The Washington Post

 

[Easypick]

We have a Christmas Danube River cruise slated in December. Right now the plan is to go barring any sort of outbreak or travel advisory. We have a rail trip planned out for Europe next spring, but are holding off pulling the trigger just in case.

 

[Chuckanut]

I would think that the travel industry (hotels, airlines, travel agents, tour companies and all those who support them) would be putting huge pressure our the various governments to get on top of this problem not matter what the current cost. If it gets seriously out of control, the costs to the entire globe will be astronomical.

 

[tmm99]

This is not related to us booking flights and trips and all that, but I wonder how airline industries are going to cope about this? I wonder if they start wearing gloves and such, you think??

I have a trip scheduled in December going through one of the airports that will start screening. What would happen if I had a flu with a moderate fever? I wonder if the immigrations officers at the airport wuold be wearing latex gloves by then?

I don't mean to hijack the thread but am just thinking out loud.

 

[LOL!]

Do y'all remember SARS and how business travel slowed down for that infectious disease?

I am flying out of Texas to NY this weekend. I will meet many people from all over the world over the next 3 weeks. I did get my flu shot a couple weeks ago.

Oh, I also participate in a US government infectious diseases scientific working group. Is there anything I should know before I go?

 

[6miths]

Travel to Europe already booked for next summer. No worries with the exception of trying to figure out ever changing baggage allowances. Often have a week or two in East Africa during the winter months. If the opportunity arises this year, I'll be on my way.

 

[donheff]

I have a trip scheduled in December going through one of the airports that will start screening. What would happen if I had a flu with a moderate fever? I wonder if the immigrations officers at the airport wuold be wearing latex gloves by then?

Unless you are going to West Africa they won't be screening you. That is, they won't be screening you unless things change significantly and the location you travel to has become high risk. As for latex gloves all the TSA screeners wear them now when they paw thru your bags.

 

[tmm99]

Unless you are going to West Africa they won't be screening you.

Oh, that makes more sense. Thanks.

 

[travelover]

Oh, that makes more sense. Thanks.

Yea, Africa is a big country.

 

[EastWest Gal]

If it's not Ebola, it's enterovirus, other diseases, or even nasty colds... good thing I have zero desire to travel in the first place, or I'd be torn in two about it!

Although the D68 enterovirus is more severe this year, there isn't an epidemic. The 24 hr news cycle blows it out of proportion. So far it has mostly affected children. The virus was discovered when I was 2 yrs old. It's likely most of us are immune. It probably caused one of our colds when we were younger.

I get tired of the news distorting the risks. It 's a the disease of the month.

Most travel should be ok but we 'll see if the epidemic can be contained.



Sent from my iPhone using Early Retirement Forum

 

[Senator]

I probably would no go to Europe, Ebola or not. But if I was going to Europe, Ebola would not stop me. Ebola is not the problem in Africa, it is the poverty, customs and lack of sanitation that makes it as bad as it is.

We will see if in Dallas any more cases arise. Several people were in the same apartment as a Ebola victim, at least a few should catch it. I am guessing none will.

We have better sanitation here in the USA, and do not leave Ebola stricken bodies lying around.

 

[tmm99]

Yea, Africa is a big country.

Is that you, George??

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

Hey, 2B,
Don't worry about it.
From what I have read about the mode of transmission, it is unlikely to become a pandemic. Transmission seems to be by direct contact.
Spain! I wish....
Cheers,
Ed
20 weeks to go!

 

[brewer12345]

My extreme lack of interest in airline travel is only heightened by this sort of thing. I think I will spend my free time this fall and winter in the woods carrying a firearm...

 

[steelyman]

I'd be concerned if were still working. As it is, I do have to make a flight, but I will stay clear of your woods!

Road warriors: stay safe.

 

[2B]

Hey, 2B,
Don't worry about it.
From what I have read about the mode of transmission, it is unlikely to become a pandemic. Transmission seems to be by direct contact.
Spain! I wish....
Cheers,
Ed
20 weeks to go!

The media has successfully predicted at least 27 of the last 0 pandemics.

This goes all the way back in my memory to apples being grown with a pesticide in South America. There was someone that wanted to discourage importing apples from SA and they mentioned to the press that this pesticide (Alar ) had some questions about its safety. Apples rotted on the docks. All apple sales collapsed after the wild press reports. It turned out there is nothing wrong about using the pesticide that was questioned. So, it's safe to assume that the risk of ebola is probably less than the media coverage it is getting. Of course, that may have been what they said in the 14th century when a ship full of corpses washed up on Sicily (had the media been around at the time).

In many regards, I'm leaning towards the possibility of travel bargains more than my belief in widespread infection sweeping the world. Unfortunately, I don't know for sure so deferring travel gives the opportunity for travel bargains to develop along with more real data on the true situation. Last minute travel is not now and won't be a problem for me.

It looks like we've coordinated not only our graduation date but retirement dates many decades apart. I'm giving 2 weeks notice on 5 January 2015 but I'm willing to do a few extra weeks for project transition. I know what you're doing so the 20 weeks is probably a very hard date which would be in late January. That's almost perfect timing. Strange.

I'm taking as much PTO as I can get away with without making it too obvious. After today I have 30 "in office" days to go.....

Ed -- send me an email or PM on JCB's dinner, status.

 

[utrecht]

I'd like to see a comparison to the odds of getting Ebola while traveling to the odds of dying in a plane crash while traveling. You can bet the odds of dying in a plane crash (which are very low) are astronomically higher than the odds of getting Ebola. I know Ebola is a scary disease but this fear is getting out of hand. One single person in the US has gotten Ebola and that was the person with regular direct contact with an infected persons bodily fluids. Get a grip people!! Live your lives

 

[rodi]

I posted this on the Ebola in Texas thread - but perhaps it's more relevant here. Overseas tickets are pricey. Now that there is screening, and the potential to being bumped from a plane - are airlines going to offer passengers refunds or ticket credits if a passenger admits to being peripherally exposed to ebola or is running a fever? Right now there is a big disincentive to be truthful in the screening questions - you lose the money you spent on the ticket... which could be several thousand dollars.