I think the governors decision is both wise and prudent, that the - TopicsExpress



          

I think the governors decision is both wise and prudent, that the simple precaution for asymptomatic health care workers returning from Africa, should be that they are quarantined in their homes for 21 days. This not only eliminates lapses in protocol where the virus might still survive and be transmittable (ie. gear, personal items, souvenirs, etc.) but ensures that human error will be less accountable for further transmission. I also think other governors should follow suit if such implementation are not in place already. This frees up hospitals and staff for more serious work and patients, and allows the cognoscence and diligence of the international health-care workers to continue right here at home and function on a similar basis. As long as the governor is considering radical measures and brilliant strokes of his pen, why not start by extending bear season for at least three months outside the regular season and perhaps instituting hunts outside of traditional seasons all year round and not just for bears, but for racoons, feral hogs, coyotes, coydogs and coywolves as well as tempering bat populations where it will not adversely effect those populations as they are vital for the environment. I say this not as an alarmist but based on the fact NJ (Fort Lee for instance, just miles from NYC and walkable over the GWB) is home to some of the most concentrated bear populations in the Tristate area. An extended hunt by at least three months, should have been a no brainer immediately after the Rutgers student was recently mauled to death just tens of miles from NYC proper. What do bears have to do with ebola? There are two factors that help speed the transmission of the ebola virus, the amount of infected human beings with active symptoms coming in direct contact with new hosts (animals and fellow homosapiens alike) as well as animal to animal propagation that ends up eventually having human contact, either through meat consumption or as was just recently demonstrated on the PBS special, MEET THE COYWOLF. These invisible and evassive neighbours living right along side many suburban and urban backyards, often steal both childrens and other dogs toys, taking these items back to their dens. Who is to say this incredibly smart opportunist hunter and scavenger, is not ahead of the curve, and in place on the ground based on strong indications within the environment already (perhaps undetectable to our faculties) and that these behaviors are in exact keeping with their propagation right before the H1N1 global epidemic that removed 1/3 of the earths population. The Coywolf came into notoriety at the turn of the Century, right around the time, or rather just in time for the onset of the outbreak of H1N1. The Coywolf is an opportunist at heart and a good predictor of unbalance within the ecosystem, it also possesses immunities to such pathnogens that humans do not have. For instance a Coywolf may get ebola and not die but it is still infectious as a carrier of the disease, yet able to continue more or less, to function normally. Like the beaver who gnaws through part of a tree and then lets the wind do the rest, the Coywolf and its behaviour of removing domesticated dogs toys as well as childrens toys, are behaviours it may have learned during the 1920s. That by taking these toys and possibly returning them or having the family dog retrieve them back in return (like a favourite burried bone,) ensures that the wind will do the rest as the disease propagates within our ranks while this scavenger waits for the pickings on the ground. Boy were they good for this robust opportunist and adaptable predator during the H1N1 epidemic; as they really got a taste for human meat, I kid you not. In other words, they are demonstrating learned behaviour from the past that helped them succeed within their difficult environment and the expectations and future forecasts of this cunning animal for the payoff of such adaptations in the future, seems to be good; if we are follow their lead as a strong indicator for future disasters. So in closing, racoons who have occupied the urban landscape for decades now and is also a cunning and highly adaptable opportunist-hunter-scavenger, poses the exact same risk as Coywolves and bears do. So while its great from ones luxury condo window to have such rustic nature/country so close as these things root through trash cans, climb through windows and nest in ones garage, but they can also be carriers of the ebola virus, bringing it right to your doorstep. I mean when we are hypothetically all out of the way, they can just go for the fridge like a honey badger, right? No more trash for them. Like the bears of Yellowstone National Park who have shown learned and adaptable behaviours in regards to human interactions, passing them down to other generations as culture, such as opening car doors to retrieve picnic baskets, the racoon whose numbers have recently exploded in many major cities; may too be ahead of the curve and taking position early, as well as being vital for any such diseases transmission and propagation (a virus is a living thing remember, requires a host and is part of nature.) Our crowded urban centers and impact on the environment create much of the inbalance that these animals then are simply preparing to take advantage of. In other words, they are just doing their jobs. In short, governors need to consider culling, wild hogs (as their numbers are prolific throughout many states), coywolves (in particular in and around urban and suburban centers), racoons, bears (where populations continue to interact with human settlements and not just problem bears) as well as tempering bat populations where they pose the greatest risk and such impacts will not displace them from the environment. In conjunction cities and townships will have to make concerted pushes on bringing down rat populations in parallel. Taking these conduits and facilitators and pairing them back, reduces the chances of such future outbreaks catching like wildfire. Just further Pause for Thought...
Posted on: Mon, 27 Oct 2014 10:00:12 +0000

Trending Topics



Recently Viewed Topics




© 2015