Besides swatting conspiracy theories on the internet, real work on the ground is underway in my community. Our Medical Reserve Corps has a new training coming up on "Emerging Infectious Diseases".
I'm glad we are preparing. I'm sorry we have to.
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“A civilized society is based upon self restraint.” - Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
The people in Seattle who restrained, themselves when asked, practiced civility, to the potential embetterment of society. Emergencies and crisises require self-sacrifice. The example of the responsible response by the folks in Seattle who agreed to quarantine gives me hope we can keep Coronavirus victims to a minimum in America and a little more hope for our society as a whole. Thank you NYT for the excellent reporting.
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3000 health offices with different policies to handle an epidemic? 2000 will be competent. 500 will be exceptional. And 500 will be simply woeful and won't be able to prevent the spread
The US has had a month to watch - and criticise - China's efforts. Soon it will be your turn.
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This is Mother Nature's attempt to eradicate the Trumpian stupidity virus, which will wipe out America before any foreign bugs.
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"Was this all a government scheme to sell vaccines?"
When the Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor, is given by the President to a commercially successful purveyor of conspiracy fantasies and outright lies, we should not be surprised at such reactions to facts, to reality, as expressed by the corona virus person of interest in Washington.
As guilty as they are of immorally (and in some cases illegally) fostering such dangerous attitudes, President Trump, Rush Limbaugh, and, Alex Jones are not the cause of the problem. Rather, they are merely some of the people profitably pouring gasoline on fires set by the many folkswho loudly oppose all fantasies except those that reinforce their consciously and unconsciously held beliefs, whether hopes or fears.
It is not irrelevant that if you look at maps of anti-vaxxers, they tend to coincide with wealthier, more educated zip codes, not the poorer, less educated ones.
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It is a shame that the Trump admin, once in office, slashed the CDC budget, eliminated the budget that trains local drs and nurses (the "Global …", and decimated large portions of our ability to fight infectious disease. But, hey, hope the wealthy enjoy their tax cuts!
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This is going to require people to put aside their selfishness and make sacrifices for the greater good. If you think you MAY have it, isolate immediately and contact authorities. It also may be a good time to put off any trips to China. I have doubts as to whether many people have the fortitude to put out others above themselves. This is America, the land of me, me, me.
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@Matt There is no real way to contain it. It may not be as bad as they suspect or they may develop a vaccine, but it won't be contained. It has spread to too much of Asia and will continue to spread in countries nearer to China first and will get to Europe and the Americas soon enough.
I don't think it really is a threat to human existence. It is only the money affects that people are worried about, not the deaths. Most people are fine with spewing poisons on their neighbors. Why would they care about a virus that most people will survive.
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Outstanding work by Hollianne Bruce in taking immediate active steps to trace contacts and gather other needed information.. and NOT wait for the feds to get around to providing test results.
If we lose containment of this virus in the US... it will be because of an inept federal response... in spite of the best efforts of front line local health agencies.
Federal response so far, actually brings sad tears to my eyes here.
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"Was this all a government scheme to sell vaccines?"
When the Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor, is given by the President to a commercially successful purveyor of conspiracy fantasies and outright lies, we should not be surprised at such reactions to facts, to reality, as expressed by the corona virus person of interest in Washington.
As guilty as they are of immorally (and in some cases illegally) fostering such dangerous attitudes, President Trump, Rush Limbaugh, and, Alex Jones are not the cause of the problem. Rather, they are merely some of the people profitably pouring gasoline on fires set by the many folkswho loudly oppose all fantasies except those that reinforce their consciously and unconsciously held beliefs, whether hopes or fears.
It is not irrelevant that if you look at maps of anti-vaxxers, they tend to coincide with wealthier, more educated zip codes, not the poorer, less educated ones.
26
This is a well written article that helps us understand how viruses such as these are monitored at the local level. Appreciate the down to earth explanations.
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Thank you New York Times for this important story describing the important role local public health plays in identifying and containing outbreaks. They and their hospital counterparts are the heroes of the day!
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What I love about this story is that it illustrates the tremendous care and time that those in this field devote to strangers. It also shows the many weak spots where the system breaks down (that that woman chose to fly knowing she was supposed to stay put and monitor herself).
I'm sorry to say but this is a microcosm for how the proverbial "big one" will go down. No matter how tirelessly those trained in the field work, all it takes is a few people (the young man, a few days ago, who chose to go to a crowded fast food restaurant, the woman who chose to fly) to undo all of the exacting efforts and hard work by trained professionals to safeguard us.
Turns out you can't take the human out of the human. Call me cynical, but when the next great pandemic strikes, one akin to the flu of 1918, it's going to be an unmitigated disaster and will be precisely because terror, ignorance, selfishness, and pandemonium-- the four most potent vectors when it comes to spreading disease, the other horsemen on the hill--will be unleashed.
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I’d like to point out when China reported it was infectious during incubation it was dismissed out of hand. Then when Germany said it was so it was accepted as truth. Now when it turns out the German study was just plain wrong, rather than call it a lie. We’re saying it’s “flawed”. China does plenty wrong and plenty right, time for the double standard to be dropped or why should we expect any assistance from them? Because this virus required mutual trust to be resolved.
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Thanks also to the first U.S. coronavirus patient. He was cooperative, kept his cool, followed recommendations.
Get well soon!
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This unfortunately is a troubling example of what we may face down the road. The CDC and our Public Health system are being shredded by this faux administration; which is especially troubling in this time of pandemics, epidemics, and lack of antibiotic research and vaccine discoveries. Kudos!, to those in the Public Health Department in Snohomish County Washington. You demonstrated what healthcare is all about while facing down a lack and loss of federal funding, oversight, and leadership.
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Kudos to the public health workers who are doing everything they can to stop the spread of this disease.
Not sure about some of the members of the public though... I mean, you’re told you may be infected by a potential pandemic-causing virus and you STILL decide to fly on an airplane? I’m of the belief that the response to Coronavirus should not include the curtailing of individual liberties, but this person is seriously testing my belief!
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@Scott An individual's liberty ends when another's liberty begins. This should be as illegal as, if not more than, drunk driving.
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This was a great article on the un-sung hero’s of our communities. Thank you for all you do!
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The excellent response by dedicated public health workers in this case is a textbook example of how to manage cases as they arise. But this approach can work only if the number of cases are limited.
If you have dozens or more cases presenting simultaneously in any one city, like what happened in Wuhan, public health workers will get overwhelmed. Especially when a large number of cases will have only minor symptoms while being infectious, and may not even seek medical care.
That is why travel restrictions are an essential part of the initial response to this threat.
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As a young leukemia survivor, the novel coronavirus poses a great to us. Unfortunately our lives (including yours) are dependent on others, I can only hope others remember that.
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@Sami
I am often amazed at the selfishness and or ignorance of people who sneeze and cough in public without regard to others. It takes on far more significance when an outbreak like corona virus is in the mix. It's unconscionable to put others at risk especially our most vulnerable.
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@Nancy D You mean the ones who don't cover themselves, right? Because sneezing is involuntary, and you can't help but cough.
17
Thank goodness for those in the medical fields, epidemiologists, who do their best work as individuals bearing responsibility. Imagine if we have a widespread outbreak in the United States with a president who believes science is a hoax, the terror that will reign with Donald Trump.
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@John
He's already botched it by cutting $$$$$ to the CDC and the NIH. CDC should have been, at the very least, consulting with ALL local health departments weeks ago. What could go wrong with this administration at the helm, everything.
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