EBOLA Question about Ebola and KI

[Josie]

This may have been covered here and I tried to do a search, but just stick anything with ebola in search and see how many hits you get!! I tried to google it also and got no where. Either no one else is wanting to know or I'm using the wrong search words. So I apologize if this has already been covered.

Anyway, I was wanting to know what would be the best way to dispose of anything considered contaminated by ebola. Would one bury the items? And wouldn't that risk later contamination by someone digging them up? Or would you burn them? Would that be hot enough to destroy the virus or would it cause the virus to become sort of air born because it would be on all the ash that would be floating through the air?

Second question is in regards to KI and pets. Can you safely give your dogs and cats KI tablets in case of radiation exposure? If so, what would be the dosage?

 

[meandk0610]

This may have been covered here and I tried to do a search, but just stick anything with ebola in search and see how many hits you get!! I tried to google it also and got no where. Either no one else is wanting to know or I'm using the wrong search words. So I apologize if this has already been covered.

Anyway, I was wanting to know what would be the best way to dispose of anything considered contaminated by ebola. Would one bury the items? And wouldn't that risk later contamination by someone digging them up? Or would you burn them? Would that be hot enough to destroy the virus or would it cause the virus to become sort of air born because it would be on all the ash that would be floating through the air?

Second question is in regards to KI and pets. Can you safely give your dogs and cats KI tablets in case of radiation exposure? If so, what would be the dosage?

Good questions! I don't think I've ever seen it mentioned in the reports of burning houses and things in West Africa whether they are in a container/crematorium or in open air. I thought I read about them burning houses, but I'm not sure now that I think about it.

I also want to know about the pets and KI. Maybe we could get a dosage based on weight so that we can treat livestock as well?

 

[AshesInYourHair]

On the iodine question this might help:

http://www.mbah.state.ms.us/emergency_programs/ki_vets.htm

Should pets be given KI for radiological emergencies?

There are no guidelines for administration of KI for pets during an emergency. However, your clients may ask you to give KI to their pets if they have received it Potassium Iodide (KI) Treatment forAnimals Following a Nuclear Disaster because of a radiological exposure. Administration of KI should be determined by you with the owner. The following information is provided to assist you with that decision. This information is provided as guidance and recommendations only.

KI lessens the damage to the thyroid from radioactive iodine only. KI does not protect against other harmful radioactive rays released during a nuclear disaster.
Radiation is most harmful to young, actively growing animals.
KI must be given before or within 4 hours of exposure to be effective.
KI is an over-the-counter medication and you may want to stock it if there is demand in your area or special order it for the owner.
Do not give KI to your pet if it is sensitive to iodine.
Consider the age of the animal. Young animals have the highest risk of health problems from radioactive iodine and radioactive iodine causes long-term potential for thyroid cancer. Therefore, if the animal is elderly there is little chance the animal will get thyroid cancer in its lifetime (one estimate for humans was about 4 years) and elderly pets may have more problems with side effects from the KI.
Note: If a pet has been left on the property during an exposure and the owner is unable to retrieve it before 4 hours then KI will not be effective. If the pet is evacuated with the owner prior to exposure to radiation, there is no need for KI. It is our recommendation that KI only be considered for the pet if the owner has received it and the pet is with the owner.