I don't post here much but I'll just say that Jeff ( Bugsy)) is a great guy and a great vintage representative in Upstate NY. Our political beliefs are far apart but he indulges me and has always been accepting of my opinion.

Sure we have a back and forth at times but we usually just settle it with a cold brew.

Jeff - members like you need to stop showing yourself out of places on S2KI.

I enjoy lurking here and it is because of the mature discussion here.

My personal opinion, I trust the government. What else can I trust if not the elected reps of the people.

 

That's a good one.

 

I think the biggest threat to this country is how we talk to each other.

 

As much as this surprises even me ( and ) , I have to agree with you. You have a solid point there. It's easily in the top 5. maybe even top 3.

 

Not that it would make you feel any better, but a lot more people in both of those cities will suffer from flu, and a lot more people will die from that. How many "civilian" deaths has there been from people who haven't been to Africa? That's right....exactly none.

As for fright-wing, I said that because there are networks who depend on keeping people afraid/scared/uneasy (both right and left), ergo, fright-wing. Fleft-wing just wouldn't make it. I am not asking you to stick you head in the sand, i'm asking you to take a realistic look at the possibilities and perhaps, you might notice that flu is a much more realistic threat than Ebola. Lately, even measles is a bigger threat.

You didn't disturb anyone, you have your right to an opinion just like everyone else. Sometimes pinions are based on hearsay and sometimes on solid facts.

 

The entire country has been put in an "us" versus "them" mood and there doesn't seem to be an answer for it.

 

Back on topic.

 

My step-daughter imported a horse from the Netherlands a few years back [although not from Africa it was quarantined for a period of time] and transports horses occasionally back and forth to shows between Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York.

I'd forgotten what she had to go through with these animals when she did this until she sent us the following letter.
Kind of puts a perspective on where our priorities lie and/or the level of threat posed by ebola.
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A Veterinarian's thoughts about Ebola

Editor, Lewiston Morning Tribune:

If I wish to import a horse into the United States from Liberia or any African country other than Morocco, the horse needs to undergo a 60 day quarantine period at a USDA approved quarantine facility prior to mingling with the general population of horses in this country. Africa has a disease called African Horse Sickness that does not exist in the US; this is the way we have kept it out of this country. African Horse Sickness does not cause disease in people, only horses; our government has determined that it would be devastating to the US horse industry if it were to come here.

The United States (and virtually all other countries) require a myriad of tests and often quarantine prior to bringing in a foreign animal.

I can’t legally cross state lines in the United States with a horse or cow without a health certificate signed by a USDA accredited veterinarian stating that the animal has been inspected and found free of infectious disease. In most cases blood tests are also required. In fact I can’t legally cross the Snake River and ride my horse in Idaho without a health certificate and a negative blood test for Equine Infectious Anemia.

I’m not complaining; the United States of America, the States of Idaho and Washington as well as the other 48 states take the health of our livestock very seriously, and we have a very good record at keeping foreign animal diseases out of our country. I am happy to do my part to maintain biosecurity in our animal population.

If I am a resident of Liberia incubating Ebola, to enter the United States all I need to do is present a valid visa, and lie when asked if I have been exposed to Ebola. Within hours (no quarantine required) I can be walking the streets of any city in the United States.

I feel very fortunate to live in a country that values our animals so highly.

David A. Rustebakke, DVM

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I don't see anything wrong with quarantine. It is the standard practice for infectious diseases without a cure. Prior to vaccines and anti biotics, it was standard practice for smallpox,typhoid, and cholera to name a few. Ebola has now been let out of the box. Fortunately, viruses tend to decrease in lethality quickly over time. The more lethal the virus the fewer folk it infects. So, the less lethal forms of the virus tend to predominate. The only thing that bothers me is the apparent logical fallacy being purported on the public. There remains aspects of the disease transmission modern medicine does not understand while the "experts" purport to know everything. (logical fallacy of appeal to authority) I think this is why we are seeing patients being funneled into the research hospitals where the medical community is scrambling to fill their knowledge gaps.

What makes me nervous is they are not saying how long the virus can exist in the environment, what temperature range and blood ph does it thrive in. What are the long term effects of the disease? (how can they know when previous outbreaks were extremely small and most died) What animals can be infected and be carriers? I am not worried about mutation since mutation will lead to less lethality.

 

Man is this issue heating up now. Federal Government, the States and the military all have different procedures for quarantine. Plus I understand the Fed is considering bringing victims to the US for treatment here rather than treating them there. Lots of balls in play on this one.