Sometime in the early 80s, I read Doctor and Author Robin Cooks book Coma. From there it was Virus and every other book I could get my hands on which he authored. I was fascinated with contagious diseases. The kinds people had to wear spacesuits to study! So when Virus became the movie Outbreak in the 90s, I was totally enthralled. When the internet became available, I became a total surfer geek reading anything I could find on the stuff. The CDCs website was a virtual Disney Land for me! Throughout the years, Ive maintained interest in deadly, contagious diseases. Ive continued reading and learning about them. No, Im no expert by far. But I know a heck of a lot more than the average Joe. Ive followed the news and researched articles (most not very well publicized) on numerous outbreaks of ebola in Africa that go back to the 1970s. Man, thats one gnarly disease! So imagine my -um, Im not sure I want to call it excitement, because a lot of people are dying, but my super keen interest in this most recent outbreak. Historically, the outbreaks have usually -with or without our help, burned themselves out because they occurred in such out-of-the-way places with very low populations. Even though the virus has such a long dormancy, the victims were so far away from others, they hadnt the means of travel to get them there fast enough to spread the virus. Thus, the contagion was usually self contained or contained very easily. Now, it seems the tide has turned. Not only have there been more victims of the virus in this one incident than any other, but it appears as if hopes of a successful containment have been lost. No. I am not speaking of the two Americans who were flown back to the state of Georgia in the US. I am speaking of American Patrick Sawyer, who flew across 6 West African countries on an international flight from Liberia to Lagos, Nigeria, a city with a population of 21 million. This man wandered for who knows how long until he ended up at a hospital where he died. He was going to visit family before he returned home to Minnesota. A few days ago, I began reading numerous articles posted by media and individuals alike. And I was rabid in my research of what exactly is going on. At first, I was mortified that our government was allowing people infected with this deadly virus, for which there is no cure, to enter our country. But then, after reading about the man who flew into Lagos, I realized something. My fear that the virus might escape the CDC or Emory wasnt really the problem. It dawned on me that our government brought back the two Americans so that our researchers can feverishly work on them... to develop a vaccine. Yes, saving their lives world be grand. But, if that man in West Africa had flown on an international flight and infected who knows how many people in a ginormous city of millions, I realized it was no longer a matter of if the disease erupted in America. It was a matter of when it erupted. So now I completely understand why our government made that decision. They too know its going to hit home. And that brings me in to my next subject. Ebola meanies. What are those you say? Well, during my social media surfing, Ive seen an astounding number of people who are just rude. They dont think theres anything to worry about. Jolly for them! As for me and a whole lot of other folks, were scared. And rightly so. There are very few experts on Ebola. Many of them have never (until now) seen a real, live case. And many of them are now sick or dead. So forgive me if I choose to be safe and believe what I myself have researched over what those who havent a clue have been told my the media. I digress. Sorry. To those meanies, Ive written a response. Here it is: Its not the CDC or Emory Im worried about. No. Really. Read on. If a person, who is infected with Ebola but asymptomatic, flies to your town, goes to work, goes home, and carries on as usual, no one -including him, would know he was infected. And he would not be contagious during that time. But when he became symptomatic -coughing, fever, aches, he would be contagious. Most likely, hed think he had a cold or the flu until it progressed enough to cause him to seek medical care. Now, during the time between when he became mildly ill but contagious and the time he felt bad enough to go to the doctor, how many people do you think he came in physical contact with? How many times did he wipe his face and nose? Cough? Sneeze? Did his vomit splash on anyone? How many hands did he shake? Pens did he share -especially the one he signed in at the doctors with? Was he sweaty when he bumped into someone whose skin was exposed, had a paper cut, mosquito bite, etc? Did you drink after him? Kiss him? Feel his head to see if he had a fever? Did you eat after him? Did you use a pen he chewed on? Did that piece of paper or tissue you touched have his phlegm on it? Did he sneeze on you? When you fell and scraped your skin while working out, did his sweat drip on you? Did you just scratch your mouth or rub your eye after handling the credit card he gave you? Did you know he was holding it with his teeth in his mouth just before he handed it to you? Did you notice the sweaty guy who was sitting in that chair? The one that kept rubbing his runny nose with his hands and then drumming on the armrest? The same armrest your toddler is now chewing on? Is that gleaming substance your sweet babys saliva? Or is it that sick guys snot? Those who feel so confident that youd have to lick a patient or wallow in body fluids to get the disease, would you sit at the dinner table with someone who had it? How close would be TOO close? You like to tell those who are scared of the disease its no big deal. But you are likely parroting what has been relayed by government entities via the media to keep people calm. The government KNOWS this is coming. Quit being so ugly to people who are rightfully scared of this abominable disease. Its better to be safe than sorry. You cant be too prepared in this case. Tuberculosis from illegals crossing the borders is worse? Bull. Theres a treatment for that. Anthrax? Theres a treatment for that. Yep. Smallpox too. But Ebola? With Ebola, if you are a family of 6, its likely that a minimum of three will die, possibly -and likely, 5. There is no cure. Working toward a cure will not ensure one is found. And if one is developed, it could be months before its available to the public. You think we common folk will be the first to get it? No. Theres typically a 90% kill rate. I hear this strain is only killing 50-90% though. Gamble much? And before you say it wont be set loose from the CDC, maybe it wont. BUT a man already flew across 6-7 countries in Africa to Lagos, Nigeria. He was sick and contagious while there. He wandered for who knows how long before he made it to a hospital and died. There are 21 million people in that city. I bet Ebola has already found its way out of Africa and is traveling around the world as I type, alive and well, in too many living beings who arent even aware that theyre sick. And just how many people do you think theyll expose? What? There are checkpoints to stop it? Well, I wouldnt bet on that. Human greed will muck that up. Some poor sap will happily take a few dollars/hundreds/thousands to look the other way. Have you kissed your loved ones today? Oh lets not forget! If that mosquito bites the infected guy on the other side of the block and bites you within just a minute or so? Guess what? So, all you who are so sure that this will not become a runaway train, how many people will you come in contact within one day?
Posted on: Sun, 03 Aug 2014 02:21:46 +0000
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