Ebola in America

I think the biggest issue is getting the health care "professionals" to take the isolation issue seriously. One of the techs handling patient zero's specimens is on a cruise ship right now...

A cruise that started before the isolation order went out.

This person is at very low risk for contracting Ebola. She handled slides using standard precautionary measures in place for any hospital sample. She did not have any direct contact with Mr. Dunczn.
 
The Ebola scare is following a classic pattern. Protective measures to limit the spread of the disease generate fear in the general public. Authorities respond by expanding the protective measures. This generates even more fear in the general public. So how do we stop this positive feedback loop?

That's not the loop we're seeing. The loop we're seeing is

1) Public gets scared.
2) Authorities announce protective measures, declare there's nothing to worry about.
3) Protective measures announced by authorities prove inadequate, authorities shown to be incompetent.
4) Public loses confidence in authorities.

And repeat.

How you stop this positive feedback is by being credible, demonstrating competence, and by taking steps that actually work.
 
The Ebola scare is following a classic pattern. Protective measures to limit the spread of the disease generate fear in the general public. Authorities respond by expanding the protective measures. This generates even more fear in the general public. So how do we stop this positive feedback loop?

Purel. Give the public something to buy, something to do. Much like fear of crime and getting a gun. The solution may not address the actual problem, but it cures the fear, which, as you mention, a problem by itself.
 
That's funny. You're asking for evidence about a possible future scenario. I'd accept your request if you had evidence of a time traveling machine.

Well I think Zig is asking for reasons to believe this is going to happen, based on prior experience/evidence.
 
If you listen to the press, Ebola is easier to catch than the flu. Somehow they missed the fact the none of the people living with Duncan before he was isolated managed to catch the disease. The two hospital staffers caught it when Duncan's disease had progressed to a later stage with a much higher risk of infection.

If Ebola was as easy to catch as the media would have you think. There would be almost no one left in Liberia by now.
 
If Ebola was as easy to catch as the media would have you think. There would be almost no one left in Liberia by now.
Typical of the media. I think what's been said, is that Ebola is easily transmitted if you do in fact come into direct contact with an infected person's bodily fluids. Apparently, even a small amount of fluid is enough and it doesn't require many organisms to infect someone. Of course the media interprets that as it being easier to catch than the flu. :oldroll:

My parents were once both infected with C. Diff at the same time. My mother picked it up in the hospital and my father got it from my mother. My poor brother got stuck taking care of them in their home for about two weeks. We were all certain that he would get it as well, but he never did.
 
Last edited:
A cruise that started before the isolation order went out.

This person is at very low risk for contracting Ebola. She handled slides using standard precautionary measures in place for any hospital sample. She did not have any direct contact with Mr. Dunczn.

I quit think that this is my point. The health pro's have, in the public's perception, a very cavalier attitude about contagion. Flying with a fever after known exposure, going on cruises, allowing non_protected folks to be in close proximity-even seemingly coming 8th contact with a diagnosed patient.
They need to show professionalism, not just talk it.
 
That's funny. You're asking for evidence about a possible future scenario. I'd accept your request if you had evidence of a time traveling machine.

Either evidence for the claim exists, or it does not. If no evidence for the claim exists, then the claim should not be made as part of an argument. If evidence for the claim does exist, then it should be presented. Why is that difficult for you to understand?
 
How you stop this positive feedback is by being credible, demonstrating competence, and by taking steps that actually work.
Right, like develop a vaccine.

A research program to develop a vaccine takes years, not weeks. There was an NIH funded program to do so that was making progress, but it was canceled due to budget cuts.
Exactly, incompetence at work. see above.
 
I hope I'm not repeating this (I checked back a few pages anyways), but I am starting to hear growing commentary on the right that Obama wants Ebola here.

:eek:

The argument goes that he is much more interested in become a world-leader, rather than just a US leader. Not blocking flights is his way of saying, hey, the US is no better than anyone else, or at least is more PC from a united nations perspective. Or worse, wiping out a few million americans would help in some of his other nefarious purposes.

The first I heard stuff like this was from a nutty radio caller. The host (conservative) immediately swatted them down. Today, on another conservative radio channel, I heard two hosts, one (not the main one) arguing for the first reasons above, even using the new Ebola czar appointment as evidence as Obama's strategy to not handle the situation well, and the second arguing against the crazy, though insisting that the Dems are trying to downplay it all so it does not become an election issue.

So, 2 data points, both drifting well beyond simple incompetence on Obama's part, but as an actual plan to damage the US.

I'll keep listening in, and see where this goes. Though if it does become another election strategy on right's part, it could very well backfire as more proof of the crazy.
 
President Obama names a Ebola Czar (Ron Klain). I know that sometimes a good manager does not have to have to really know the field he is overseeing but I am amazed that the president could not find a good candidate with a background in medicine, infectious diseases etc. I am surprised (maybe) that he doesn't see how what could easily be viewed as a political appointment might not be the smartest choice.
 
Last edited:
I hope I'm not repeating this (I checked back a few pages anyways), but I am starting to hear growing commentary on the right that Obama wants Ebola here.

Haven't you heard ? Obama is a secret Muslim, socialist anti-American immigrant who wants to destroy our way of life.
 
I hope I'm not repeating this (I checked back a few pages anyways), but I am starting to hear growing commentary on the right that Obama wants Ebola here.

:eek:

The argument goes that he is much more interested in become a world-leader, rather than just a US leader. Not blocking flights is his way of saying, hey, the US is no better than anyone else, or at least is more PC from a united nations perspective. Or worse, wiping out a few million americans would help in some of his other nefarious purposes.

The first I heard stuff like this was from a nutty radio caller. The host (conservative) immediately swatted them down. Today, on another conservative radio channel, I heard two hosts, one (not the main one) arguing for the first reasons above, even using the new Ebola czar appointment as evidence as Obama's strategy to not handle the situation well, and the second arguing against the crazy, though insisting that the Dems are trying to downplay it all so it does not become an election issue.

So, 2 data points, both drifting well beyond simple incompetence on Obama's part, but as an actual plan to damage the US.

I'll keep listening in, and see where this goes. Though if it does become another election strategy on right's part, it could very well backfire as more proof of the crazy.
People seem to love a good conspiracy theory.
 
So, 2 data points, both drifting well beyond simple incompetence on Obama's part, but as an actual plan to damage the US.
More like incompetence in the bureaucracy. You can't expect Obama to micromanage everything himself. If there is any blame at all here on Obama, it is in not getting the right bureaucrats into leadership and then supporting those said bureaucrats in an attempt to root out the incompetents. But hey, that's not exactly anything new here. Obama has failed just as every other politician has failed in that respect (although some worse than others). It's not exactly unique.
 
If you gt Ebola and survive, you become immune, right?

Those people would make for a great nursing team. Put it on your resume and charge double.

I'll just email that little tidbit to Barack.
 

Back
Top Bottom