Has Earth reached a Population Tipping Point?

[Alchenar]

Literally every day more people die of malaria just in Nigeria than have died total in this Ebola outbreak.

Ebola is nasty and the current outbreak is sad, but in the grand scheme of things it's nothing at all to be concerned about. There's only a media fuss about it because when a Westerner gets malaria they get a course of cheap pills and recover, but when they get Ebola there's no cure.

[Capt. Harlock]

Literally every day more people die of malaria just in Nigeria than have died total in this Ebola outbreak.

I believe you're thinking of the global total for malaria, not just in Nigeria. Multiply the current outbreak toll (about 4,000) by the number of days in a year.

Something else to consider is that the death toll from this Ebola outbreak is very likely under-counted at this point. Many of the victims are in remote areas, and some families who don't want to be shunned or quarantined are probably secretly burying bodies.

[bairdlander2]

WHO says within 2 months 10,000 people a week will contract the Ebola virus.

[Max 86]

and another hospital worker in Dallas has tested positive.

[Jeffrey H.]

And the 3rd person, (the second health care worker infected) had recently treated an ebola patient, started running a fever and did what ? GOT ON A PLANE FULL OF PEOPLE ! BRILLIANT !

I'm shaking my head in disbelief. Honestly it's beginning to look like some strange script from a movie. Has it all been intentional to this point ?

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Jeffrey H.

And the 3rd person, (the second health care worker infected) had recently treated an ebola patient, started running a fever and did what ? GOT ON A PLANE FULL OF PEOPLE ! BRILLIANT !

I'm shaking my head in disbelief. Honestly it's beginning to look like some strange script from a movie. Has it all been intentional to this point ?

warspite1

Is that right? Wow, I mean...wow. Isn't that attempted murder?

[Orm]

It all is more or less as expected. People do not behave rationally under such circumstances. [:(]

[Jeffrey H.]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Jeffrey H.

And the 3rd person, (the second health care worker infected) had recently treated an ebola patient, started running a fever and did what ? GOT ON A PLANE FULL OF PEOPLE ! BRILLIANT !

I'm shaking my head in disbelief. Honestly it's beginning to look like some strange script from a movie. Has it all been intentional to this point ?

warspite1

Is that right? Wow, I mean...wow. Isn't that attempted murder?

It is true, and it gets worse. I have heard that this person called into a health authority before boarding the plane and was advised that it was ok to go on.

It's all just spot on topic really, has it happened ? Is there a group of people behind the scenes guiding the herd into this ? How else could all of this be explained ?

It really is a struggle to now believe that it's anything but intentional. Either that or it's exacly on topic, we have reached it, (the tipping point) and we are now going to fall right into a horrible time of epidemic.

[histgamer]

ORIGINAL: Jeffrey H.

Latest news on the nurse who treated the first Dallas victim is telling. The virus is able to get around even very cautious protections. The useless hack CDC director blames the victim. Sick.

To be fair it sounds like no one really knew what protocols to follow when treating him, CDC blamed the nurse the nurses union came out and said they were not told how to handle the patient and were given very poor recommendations for protective gear... in all likely-hood its a comedy of errors not a new form of Ebola.

What I don't understand is why the hospital in Atlanta that has the proper facilities to deal with infectious disease which the Dallas hospital does not has not become the hub where all Ebola patients in the US are sent, why have 3 or 4 different places some without sufficient training and equipment, that makes no sense. Also if it gets out it limits your geographical impact and is more easily isolated.

Regarding the fever and the flight, the nurse acted rationally and reported it the CDC told her it was fine because he fever was not deemed high enough to be considered Ebola or a risk for Ebola, they are now considering lowering the threshold but its not like protocol was violated rather perhaps just poor protocol.

[rhondabrwn]

ORIGINAL: flanyboy

ORIGINAL: Jeffrey H.

Latest news on the nurse who treated the first Dallas victim is telling. The virus is able to get around even very cautious protections. The useless hack CDC director blames the victim. Sick.

To be fair it sounds like no one really knew what protocols to follow when treating him, CDC blamed the nurse the nurses union came out and said they were not told how to handle the patient and were given very poor recommendations for protective gear... in all likely-hood its a comedy of errors not a new form of Ebola.

What I don't understand is why the hospital in Atlanta that has the proper facilities to deal with infectious disease which the Dallas hospital does not has not become the hub where all Ebola patients in the US are sent, why have 3 or 4 different places some without sufficient training and equipment, that makes no sense. Also if it gets out it limits your geographical impact and is more easily isolated.

Regarding the fever and the flight, the nurse acted rationally and reported it the CDC told her it was fine because he fever was not deemed high enough to be considered Ebola or a risk for Ebola, they are now considering lowering the threshold but its not like protocol was violated rather perhaps just poor protocol.

This is worth watching, best explanation of Ebola and how it works and spreads that I have seen. At the end it touches on the points you made about how the first case was handled in Texas. It's Maddow and I know some of you can't stand her, but this is totally non-political and very well done.

Better to Know

[Jamm]

Nobody panic

[Jeffrey H.]

Well, my company has created a travel ban on a few West African countries, (Nigeria excluded). Now the CDC has created a "travel ban light". I have yet to hear any specifics of the strain of Ebola but I have heard a "Ebola 2014" label being talked about. The media in the US has cooled off on the story, some news of passengers from West Africa being sick on planes and getting pulled aside for monitoring.

[gradenko2k]

http://www.vox.com/2014/10/18/6994413/r ... s-outbreak

Travel bans have am arguably negative, at the minimum neutral, effect on stopping outbreaks because it makes it more difficult to track down an infected person and people they had contact with because they're not going to be listed as coming from an area with a travel ban (because how could they?), while at the same time making it more difficult to ship in aid to the area if the ban is being legally followed.

[Jeffrey H.]

And here we go again. Now it's in New Yawk City.

[Jeffrey H.]

The media are in full blitz mode now after all its hitting home for them.

[parusski]

ORIGINAL: Jamm

Nobody panic

LOL, just what the government is now doing.

[rhondabrwn]

Well, I can guarantee that no one flying into New York or New Jersey is going to admit that they were working with Ebola patients, if they even admit to having been in East Africa. Others will route themselves through Europe and cover their tracks completely.

This isn't the way to keep things under control.

But hey, let PANIC RULE! It's good politics.

[gradenko2k]

Well, I can guarantee that no one flying into New York or New Jersey is going to admit that they were working with Ebola patients, if they even admit to having been in East Africa. Others will route themselves through Europe and cover their tracks completely.

Agreed. That's precisely why travel bans don't work.

[Orm]

bump

[Chijohnaok2]

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/27/nyreg ... .html?_r=0

Under Pressure, Cuomo Says Ebola Quarantines Can Be Spent at Home

Facing fierce resistance from the White House and medical experts to a strict new mandatory quarantine policy, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said on Sunday night that medical workers who had contact with Ebola patients in West Africa but did not show symptoms of the disease would be allowed to remain at home and would receive compensation for lost income.

Mr. Cuomo’s decision capped a frenzied weekend of behind-the-scenes pleas from administration officials, who urged him and Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey to reconsider the mandatory quarantine they had announced on Friday. Aides to President Obama also asked other governors and mayors to follow a policy based on science, seeking to stem a steady movement toward more stringent measures in recent days at the state level.

AND

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ebola-outbr ... -in-italy/

U.S. soldiers returning from Liberia are being placed in isolation in Vicenza, Italy out of concern for the Ebola virus, CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports.

The soldiers being monitored include Maj. Gen. Darryl Williams who was the commander of the U.S. Army in Africa but turned over duties to the 101st Airborne Division over the weekend, Martin reports. There are currently 11 soldiers in isolation.

They apparently were met by Carabinieri in full hazmat suits. If the policy remains in effect, everyone returning from Liberia - several hundred - will be placed in isolation for 21 days. Thirty are expected in today, Martin reports.

So we are being told by the government that mandatory quarantines for those returning from having treated confirmed ebola patients should be reconsidered, and then that same government is placing US soldiers who are returning from the hot zone (but who were not involved in treating ebola patients) that they will be placed in isolation for 21 days.

[&:]