January 8, 2015 Meeting of West Bay Rotary

Today's speaker was Cheryl Leichty, MD, MPH, Pen Bay Medicine and Infectious Diseases, introduced by Marty Martens.

She is a specialist in infectious disease and gave a talk on the Ebola virus. She shared the statistics on cases reported, confirmed and deaths and theory about the suspected carriers. Although bush -meat consumption was long suspected, recent stories are disproving that theory. She reviewed possibilities including primates and other forest creatures, and bats, which are a suspected animal reservoir for the virus.

She discussed the challenges of diagnosis and treatment in the western Africa countries where the disease has presented in epidemic proportions starting in 2014. She also reviewed the status of development of a vaccine, and the epidemic that continues in places like Liberia and Sierre Leone.

Buckets on the tables are for New Hope for Women.

Terry Bregy and Mark Masterson shared some jokes and puns. All had a good laugh.

Sandy shared a playoff pool. 100 chances will be sold for $10 each, and the funds raised will be dedicated to the Friends of Mt. Battie Tower which is seeking to raise $100,000 for current and future repairs. The pool will raise $750, with $250 for prizes. You may purchase tickets from Sandy. Prizes range from $50 (one for each of the first three quarters) and then the winner, $100.

The club raised over $6,000 through Christmas Tree, wreath and maple syrup sales.