Monday, October 20, 2014

Well it looks as if Ebola refuses to be the media's boogeyman this Halloween season.

Despite attempts by virtually ALL of the cable news outlets Ebola is simply not living up to the hype.

Courtesy of WFAA:  

Louise Troh, whose fiance Thomas Eric Duncan,became the first person in the U.S. to be diagnosed with Ebola, says she and her family are showing no signs of the deadly disease after a 21-day quarantine. 

Duncan died on October 8. 

Since then, two nurses who had cared for him at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas have contracted the Ebola virus and are being treated at hospitals in Maryland and Atlanta.

The two nurses of course came into contact with Duncan at his MOST infectious and at least one of them is "doing quite well."

So the fact that nobody on the plane arriving in America with Duncan, nor the family members who spent two days with him while he became increasingly ill, have contracted the disease speaks to the fact that it was never the "ISIS of biological agents" that some less than responsible news outlets painted it to be.

And in fact in some of the places where the disease DID get a real toehold there is already vast improvement. Such as Nigeria: 

The World Health Organization declared Nigeria Ebola free on Monday after a 42 day period with no new cases, a success story with lessons for countries still struggling to contain the deadly virus. "Nigeria is now free of Ebola," WHO representative Rui Gama Vaz told a news conference in the capital Abuja, prompting a round of applause from other officials. "This is a spectacular success story ... But we must be clear that we have only won a battle, the war will only end when West Africa is also declared free of Ebola. 

The first case in Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, was imported from Liberia, when a Liberian-American diplomat called Patrick Sawyer collapsed at the main international airport in Lagos on July 20. Because the country was ill prepared and had no screening procedures in place, Sawyer was able to infect several people, including several health workers in the hospital where he was taken. 

Ebola has killed 4,546 people across Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, the three worst-affected countries. Nigeria had 20 cases in total, of which eight died.

Gee with this now downgraded from world ending viral infection, to manageable health concern, I wonder what the media will use next to attack the President and terrify the American people?

Well I guess we still have ISIS right?

Boo, everybody, boo.

31 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:13 AM

    The media hype on Ebola is fucking ridiculous and irresponsible. I think it serves as a great wake up call to the fact that most US hospitals and nursing staff are not properly familiar with the protocols should they need to be ramped up in a hurry. So, this is a good thing. I know my hospital is being very proactive in training, as we are a recognized US care site. This is all good.
    I am getting telephone calls from current families of patients in treatment for another serious disease, saying they want to transfer their care, as our hospital is a recognized care site if needed.......I WANT to say to these poor unfortunates : "Yes, please go get treated for your current disease someplace else, that is not as good as us, because if the gene pool ends with the patient, this is a good thing" lol!!
    Fucking ridiculous.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:28 AM

      I agree the hype is ridiculous. Liberia only needs 79,940 body bags and 989,985 protective suits. Shouldn't be too hard to supply that.

      http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/10/15/liberia-needs-79940-more-body-bags/

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:05 PM

      Can you really really really compare the living conditions in LIBERIA with those in the US?
      Get a grip. Seriously.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous9:30 AM

    Fox’s Gasparino: ‘A Little Hysteria Went a Long Way’ on Ebola Response

    http://www.mediaite.com/tv/foxs-gasparino-a-little-hysteria-went-a-long-way-on-ebola-response/

    Elementary School Throws Ebola Tantrum over Two Kids from Rwanda

    http://www.mediaite.com/tv/elementary-school-throws-ebola-tantrum-over-two-kids-from-rwanda/

    Todd Challenges GOP Senator: Should NRA Have Veto over Surgeon General Nominee?

    http://www.mediaite.com/tv/todd-challenges-gop-senator-should-nra-have-veto-over-surgeon-general-nominee/

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous9:33 AM

    Republicans Busted For Hyping Ebola While Blocking Obama Surgeon General Nominee

    http://www.politicususa.com/2014/10/19/republicans-busted-hyping-ebola-blocking-obama-surgeon-general-nominee.html

    Obama White House Forced To Waste Precious Time Calming Media Created Ebola Hysteria

    http://www.politicususa.com/2014/10/19/obama-white-house-forced-waste-precious-time-calming-media-created-ebola-hysteria.html

    The Republican Refusal to Deal with Reality Runs Deep

    http://www.politicususa.com/2014/10/20/republican-refusal-deal-reality-runs-deep.html

    Who’s Responsible For The Media’s Ebola Malpractice? We Are

    http://www.politicususa.com/2014/10/18/responsible-medias-ebola-malpractice.html

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous9:34 AM

    WHO: Nigeria Is Officially Ebola-Free

    http://www.mediaite.com/online/who-nigeria-is-officially-ebola-free/

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous9:36 AM

    Family of Dallas Nurse with Ebola Speaks: She Didn’t Recklessly Endanger Anyone

    http://www.mediaite.com/online/family-of-dallas-nurse-with-ebola-speaks-she-didnt-recklessly-endanger-anyone/

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous10:17 AM

    America's media today is nothing more than about spreading fear. It doesn't matter what the subject is and there have been many!

    I stopped watching cable and the only news I do watch is my city's nightly and some of that I don't even like!

    Americans are idiots to follow their crap! CNN, FOX, MSNBC, etc.

    Use the internet and then research whatever it is that you might question to get the FACTS!

    Thank God we have a calm POTUS! I voted for him both times and am happy I did!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:26 PM

      +10000. Yup, he always always ends up as the only thinking adult in a country full of squealing children.

      Delete
    2. Caroll Thompson12:34 PM

      And remember that winter is coming 10:17 and the media has taken to naming storms and hyping the weather. Two inches of snow is coming, the world is ending, etc.... I just can't take it anymore. And they wonder why the cable news numbers are down.

      Oh yes, but none of the cable news programs will talk about global warming. I still have tomatoes on the vine in late October in Maine. Just saying......

      Delete
  7. LoveAndKnishesFromBrooklyn10:23 AM

    I find it absolutely fascinating that this latest Big Thing occurred just a few weeks before the elections. You could sit back and watch as the media built on hype and fear--gee whiz, it was almost like a carefully-planned attack on the CDC, the President, and of course, the pesky Gubmint. Now that Mr. Duncan's family, friends and those who came into any kind of contact with him are in the clear (including four or five kids...hey, America, panic--it's !!!KIDS!!!), I'm wondering what Next Big Thing the Koch Machine will spit out. ISIS, Putin and the "New Cold War" terrified the Usual Knuckleheads and benefited the paid trolls; but the majority didn't fall for those tired storylines, no matter how awful they were. I'm caught between morbid interest, some fear and a lotta SMH-nitude at what could be in the wings for those desperate, overgrown tantrum-throwers who'll cheat to win, or throw the game board across the room. Maybe just two more weeks of dangling shiny media headlines such as "The GOP will absolutely, positively get the House and Senate, folks, so don't bother to vote on Wednesday, November 5th" will be enough to keep voters away in droves, and elections handed to the whiny TP toddlers. Or maybe we'll all get wise and JUST. VOTE....on the 4th. I know! ;)

    BTW: Where was Governor "Oops" during the turmoil in Dallas? In Europe the entire time? Did Saint Sarah ever send her bestest prayers to the Ebola victims? I may have missed it. Was wondering since the two original Ebola patients who came to the US were doctors involved with her buddy Franklin Graham's Samaritan's Purse organization, and many of the SP missionaries are still in Africa. Just askin'.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:07 PM

      Please don't wonder too hard or loudly....it could be a false flag attack they are cooking up.

      Delete
  8. Caroll Thompson10:28 AM

    Benghazi, Benghazi, Benghazi........ Yes, the Ebola hype was just the Chicken Little's of the world telling us the sky is falling. Those same chickens apparently are also afraid of 20,000 men calling themselves ISIS. It's a good thing these Republicans were not born when we stormed the beaches off of Normandy, eh?

    But the article below takes the cake for the Ebola scare. In the State of Maine, a teacher who traveled to Dallas (not the hospital in Dallas, just Dallas) for a conference is now on administrative leave for 21 days to ensure she does not have Ebola.

    http://www.pressherald.com/2014/10/17/fearing-ebola-strong-elementary-teacher-on-leave-after-traveling-to-dallas/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:46 AM

      If people are so panicked over three people with a disease in a country of over 300 million, how would they react if we truly DID have an epidemic?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:22 PM

      They would not react well, 11:46. Just imagine if we even had Liberia's numbers. There's be a panic. The next ebola could be as transmissible as seasonal flu, or chickenpox or other kids diseases, and so complex that it takes a long time to develop a treatment. Then we're genuinely fucked, and we'll all be hairs-on-fire uncontrollably panicked. Surgeon general or not.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous10:48 AM

    Alaskan liberals and progressives, you better get your asses out there and VOTE this year, it's gonna make a huge difference and could mean the difference of democracy or theocracy in this country.

    A Tiny Alaskan Island Halfway To Russia Could Decide Control Of The Senate

    ...When you remember that Begich won his 2008 election by less than 4,000 votes, it is no exaggeration to say that those 300 votes in St. Paul Island could swing this year's race -- and by extension, Senate control. Early voting starts Monday in Alaska, including in St. Paul, and there are 130 new early voting locations across the state; the election will be officially underway.

    "I tell people that this election literally could come down to 300 votes on St. Paul Island that could save the Senate. I tell people that," said Briggs, 58, a Washington state native who moved to St. Paul for a fishing job. "Pointing out the horrible turnout in 2010 compared to 2012 really opens people's eyes, though. 'You're kidding!'"

    Even as the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee pours $60 million into the data-driven Bannock Street project, designed to get Democratic voters to the polls instead of skipping the midterms as they characteristically have, Begich's operation stands out, perhaps in large part because of the degree of difficulty in what is by far the biggest state geographically.

    As the Washington Post reported earlier this month, the Begich campaign has 16 field offices and 90 paid staffers. They also have hundreds of volunteers like Briggs, who range from Barrow, the northernmost city in the United States, to Savoonga, another tiny village on St. Lawrence Island, about 400 miles north of St. Paul in the Bering Sea.

    "We've contacted every potential voter in rural Alaska. Every voter in Alaska who might not be politically active, but thinks Mark Begich is a good guy has been contacted by our field operation," Max Croes, Begich's communications director, told TPM. "It has been a crazy undertaking. It's never been done before."

    http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/mark-begich-campaign-st-paul-island-alaska

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:24 AM

      Outstanding information. I've already voted for Senator Mark Begich via absentee ballot - felt good mailing it off! Every vote counts!!!

      Delete
  10. Anonymous10:56 AM

    at least they'll always have Bengahzi....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Even if they can't find it on a map.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous10:58 AM

    Obama obviously stirred up the whole ebola hoohah as a distraction from Benghazi questions he doesn't want to have to answer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:28 AM

      Oh look!!
      An outbreak of Crazybola right here!!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:15 PM

      Excellent incorporation of hoohah into the conversation!

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:24 PM

      The word "hoohah" give this away as satire.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous2:13 PM

      12:24 -
      I suspect you're correct but it's just so damned hard to tell these days!

      Delete
  12. Anonymous11:41 AM

    Damn. And here Fox thought they had 22 hours' worth of programming from now until the election covered (the other two spent, of course, on the evilness of our poseur in the White House.) Now what, RW? Back to Benghazi? IRS? NFL? The non-war on women? Come on. We know you and Reince and the Kochs have something cooking.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous1:10 PM

    Move along folks...nothing to see here. Back to your regularly scheduled broadcast...Benghazi, Bengazhi, Bengazhi!

    Sheesh

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous1:11 PM

    We tune in to the Canadian station in St. Catherine-Niagara Falls overnight. For weeks, they've been talking about how Canada was rushing to test their ebola vaccine, & just as soon as it cleared the basic tests, they were going to offer it to the WHO. Didn't hear word one in the US press until yesterday, when the vaccine was ready. Guess they didn't want to remind us about how much further ahead Canada & their socialized medicine is.

    We also heard an interview with a young local doctor in Liberia who was fighting ebola with everything he had. Literally. When regular meds didn't work, he started using AIDS meds. Of the 16 patients he treated, 14 survived. Using a medication off label is NOT unusual--but again from the US media--crickets...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anita Winecooler5:06 PM

      My niece is studying to be a dentist and she's in Liberia doing her practice under the supervision of certified dentists, she said the same exact thing.
      The ONLY way to get it is by coming in direct contact with body fluids. The wards are pressure washed with bleach and water twice daily, their housing is the same but pressure washed three times. It's the same fear folks had when AIDS first started.
      Is she scared? Yes, a little, but no one who works there has been evacuated and no one, so far, has contracted Ebola. Two had flu symptoms but they got tested and had the flu. She also spoke of off label use of two drugs usually prescribed for aids, but they're side effects are too strong to used prophylactic-ally.

      Delete
  15. Anita Winecooler4:55 PM

    It can't possibly be true! What WILL Fox and CNN yack about? My crazy evangelical aunt "Believes" because she was told by her minister, that Ebola is God's punishment for Obama's presidency legalizing grass, gay marriage and no turn on red signs. I tried logic (more people die from the flu (and there's a vaccine) than have died from Ebola in the United States. For some reason, as if my miracle, she stops hearing when I speak, unless I speak softly about female sexuality and orgasm, then she calls me an evil godless atheist who needs to be saved to enter the kingdom of oz, or is that God. meh whatever.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous7:20 PM

    It's still not under control in Liberia which unfortunately means the surrounding countries are at risk until the last case is over, and 30 days have gone by without any new infections. That scenario is still months away. But the news out of Nigeria and Sierra Leone is encouraging.
    ~Caunck~

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous5:39 AM

      correction--I meant Senegal. Ebola is still making tracks in Sierra Leone.
      ~Canuck~

      Delete

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