Read more at Zero Hedge."I hereby declare a public health emergency for the State, pursuant to the Connecticut General Statutes Section 19a-131a, for the duration of the epidemic. Specifically, in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes Section 19a-131b, I authorize the Commissioner of Public Health to Order the isolation or quarantine, under conditions prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Health, of any individual or group of individuals whom the Commissioner reasonably believes to have been exposed to, infected with, or otherwise at risk of passing the Ebola virus."
I've been following the Ebola epidemic closely, as well as the spread of Enterovirus D68 and the Dengue Fever outbreak in Asia. My fear is that there could be hundreds, or even thousands, of cases in America before the media acknowledges there is an epidemic. Protect yourself friends. The best way to stop an epidemic is to lock down the population; we could all be stuck in our homes for as long as 3 weeks. Stock up food, water, and medications to last this duration, as well as bleach for disinfecting surfaces if someone in your family gets sick.
Ebola is normally self-limiting, as is Dengue, and I expect these strains will follow suit. However, it never hurts to be prepared.
The Enterovirus is more worrisome, as it targets children and mimics polio in some cases. Five kids have died, and more have experienced paralysis. Adults have an easier time handling the virus.
Widespread bouts of disease may be the "new normal" until we get a president that's serious about protecting the health of Americans. Unfortunately, the CDC has become another NASA; poorly led, badly staffed, and lacking direction and vision. Don't depend on any government entity to protect you and your family.
lady red, thanks for posting this - I've started to get a bit concerned for the last week or so.
ReplyDeleteZero Hedge had a good post mid week excerpting a Barclay's client letter where they spelled out the risks they saw. (Investment banks don't get paranoid without good reason).
I agreed with their basic analysis that, actually, the West needs to fight ebola "over there" in Africa to avoid having to fight it (constantly) "over here". Once ebola becomes endemic in Africa - in other words, once it spreads beyond eradication - then cases will pop up all over the developed world regularly. Incidents like the Dallas case will happen all the time and be expensive and risky to contain. At best.
Walling off west Africa from the developed world would be one solution, but whatever the merit to that, it's unlikely to happen.
Right now though, I'm more worried about ebola panic than I am about ebola per se.
The good news is that the people are finally waking up to how incompetent the government is, and how it has so many priorities above basic things like public health.
The bad news is that people are going to wake up screaming, and there could well be runs on supplies, etc. That itself is sufficient reason to stock up.
There is already a run on supplies such as hazmat gear, masks, gloves, and other protective items. That part is okay. The fun starts when the pantry runs low.
DeleteThe people who clean up planes, offices, hospitals, etc have already balked at going to work. Nurses are balking too. Next could be workers who deal with large crowds of people, such as grocery store checkers.
We have much more to fear from panic than from Ebola.
Good analysis, lady red. I agree that the president - as usual - is incapable of leading during this health crisis. Ebola is hands down the scariest virus out there. Few levels of our government seem prepared. The presser by Friedan the other day wasn't real helpful. He never adequately answered direct questions, he obfuscates like a life-long politician.
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