Blah blah blah, ebola is not a threat…

[TeeYiYi]

…Blah blah blah, GRIDS/AIDS can only affect 'teh gheys'...

TYY

[uppityperson]

1. Who is saying it is not a threat? Of course it is but no need to be paranoid about it

It is a communicable disease but you don't need to go all plastic sheeting duct tape tuna and powdered milk under the bed.

[TeeYiYi]

3. You know what…uppityperson?,...

...I actually like you.

That aside, I watched my friends drop like flies from GRIDS/AIDS in the early eighties. I'm talking about pre-1983; as in 1980 on...

This ebola epidemic is like Déjà Vu all over again and not in a good way. I hope it all turns out to be media propaganda and hyperbole but I have my doubts; and those doubts are firmly based in historical relevancy.

I almost lost my life in a car accident in 1985. I refused to sign off on a blood transfusion for an 11+ hour, life saving surgery; and, by lying and telling the doctor that I was a Jehovah's Witness, I lived to tell the tale.

Following the surgery, the doctor told my father to pray to whatever god he prays to... This was in Mormon Utah... My father didn't have a clue what he was talking about.

That year, 1985, turned out to be the worst and most scandalous year for that particular hospital regarding deaths due to AIDS tainted blood.

TYY

[JI7]

6. didn't Reagan refuse to even acknowledge aids ? this isn'thappening with Ebola

people know and recognize it and know anyone can get it .

[uppityperson]

7. I am hoping for information, not rumor, fear mongering to sell media time

To be clear, am not calling you any mongering but the media feeding frenzy is severely If it bleeds, it leads, omg omg omg stay tuned omg.

There is cause for concern to be sure. There is also not cause for that plastic sheeting tuna and dried milk omgness.

Combine the extremes with media, with who can we really trust issues, throw in a game of Telephone, add instant internet and it is a mess.

Ebola has been around for quiite a while. Rapid transportation is increasing.

Aside from this word salad that I hope makes a bit of sense since am typing as I think, there is a hUGE difference in knowledge of contagious diseases and health care and culture between the 3 W African countries and the USA, but still hospitals here manage to fuck up.

Next up, fearing, hating, hurting people with dark skin because they might have The Ebola?

Ebola is fast, HIV is not (duh to my obviousness). Do you see it similar in downplaying the issue? That is the serious question in this incoherent wordy rambling.

[Rex]

4. And of course NOBODY is doing that.

Why can't people speculate? Why does it drive you crazy?

[uppityperson]

8. Yes, people are doing that. I have read a lot of fearful misinformation about it.

Speculate away, but calling to quarantine a continent, suggesting people stock up on food and other supplies asap, fearing catching ebola from someone who is not contagious, it goes beyond sense.

[Rex]

10. I agree with that, but haven't seen that on DU.

Yes I've already seen the hysteria of shutting down flights etc..

DU is known for speculation, hysteria...not so much imo.

[uppityperson]

11. I have, though to be fair, one "doctor" was banned last night after spouting nonsense

Quarantine Africa, cancel vacation in California, fears of catching ebola from casual or no contact, inaccuracies of how it is spread and even symptoms.


I have also seen several Duers very patiently explaining over and over and doing research to share truths vs rumors.

[Rex]

12. True misinformation is very dangrous.

But I think as a group, DU handles these things very well and by and large without the hysteria of shutting down nations.

If DU was so bad, that 'doctor' fella would still be posting here imo.

[JI7]

13. there were people angry at Dr Brantly and Nancy Writebol being brought back to the US

when they got ebola.

[uppityperson]

14. Because that would spread it here?

[JI7]

15. i guess, there were a few threads on here about it

at the time.

and hospital treating them were getting hate mail

[JI7]

19. check out this thread

the op was wrong about a 3rd patient

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025320180

[still_one]

16. If proper precautions are taken. The problem is the Texas case is a complete breakdown of those

precautions, and I am referring to the fact that they quarenteed the family in an environment that may not be safe. In addition, the hospital should have not released the person from the hospital to go back home until they were sure there was no risk.

These are supposed to be "trained" medical professionals who are making these judgements

[MohRokTah]

2. "Gay Plague" in the 80s

Ebola will become the "Poor Plague" of the 21st centruty due to the Texas Donut Hole of Medicaid coverage.

[ZombieHorde]

5. Ebola is a serious problem for many people,

but the media is being silly, in some people's opinion. The goal of the coverage doesn't seem to be to inform. Maybe we're just overly critical, and we're being unfair to the msm, or maybe they're just trying to make more money.

…Blah blah blah, GRIDS/AIDS can only affect 'teh gheys'...

Does anyone else remember the after school specials on AIDS? Someone in school, or wherever, would be missing one day, and everyone would learn they were gone because they contracted HIV. People would get scared. "My wittle Bobby sat next to that kid at lunch!" By the end of the movie everyone would learn that they wouldn't get HIV as long as they avoided fucking the AIDS kid. The basic message was don't be a dick to people with HIV. It was good propaganda. Cheesy, but good.

[uppityperson]

9. Exactly, thank you.

I never saw those specials, but dealt with people dropping me as a friend because I worked with people hIV+ and how did I know I didn't catch it from listening to theie lungs with a stethescope (omg did you disinfect it!)

[Puzzledtraveller]

17. i'm cornfused!

[riderinthestorm]

18. If this becomes widespread I'm guessing it will be because of the lack of insurance

Thomas Duncan's hospital bill will easily be millions of dollars. There's going to be a lot of poor people who won't go. They'll die on the street or at home rather than rack that kind of debt on a 50/50 chance they're going to die anyway.

Or live with millions of dollars in debt.