Ebola Unlikely Here But It Has Arrived
Oct 1, 2014 General
Barack Obama said that it was unlikely we would see Ebola cases here but we now have, so now it is likely and many people are in danger.
This is not fear mongering because there is a real possibility that a lot of people were infected. A man returned from a funeral in Liberia. He had contact with a lot of people along the way and he presented to a hospital with an illness. He was initially sent home and returned when he got worse. During the period between visits he had contact with a lot of people.
Now a second person has presented with symptoms. This is all taking place in Dallas and so far the issue concerns family and close contacts. How many people have all of these folks had contact with? A virus spreads through contact and the more people who are in contact with the infected person the more infections we will have. This is how the seasonal flu spreads (though the method of transmission is different between those viruses).
“Let me be real frank to the Dallas County residents: The fact that we have one confirmed case, there may be another case that is a close associate with this particular patient,” he said. “So this is real. There should be a concern, but it’s contained to the specific family members and close friends at this moment.”
The director continued to assure residents that the public isn’t at risk because health officials have the virus contained. USA Today
The virus is only contained with regard to the original carrier. Since a second person has symptoms there is a real possibility that many have been infected. Given that this guy flew on a plane full of people and given that he has had contact with many folks who in turn have had contact with others it is unwise to say the virus is contained.
This is a disaster in the making and our government is responsible. Why do we allow people to return here from affected areas without quarantining them?
We are ill prepared for this because our so called leaders are more interested in catering to special interest groups like the illegal alien crowd which has resulted in huge numbers of people (with varying diseases) entering this country and being dispersed throughout it.
Why do you think there are so many reports of children with Respiratory illnesses across this country?
Be prepared for a nightmare if this mess results in an outbreak.
Cave canem!
Never surrender, never submit.
Make Sure The TSA Agents Change Gloves
Nov 23, 2010 Political
The TSA has been busy fondling people who want to travel by air. People either need to be virtually strip searched or they will get groped and the government does not seem to want to change. People are upset and they want to do something so tomorrow is opt-out day. People are asked to opt out of the strip search radiation machine and instead get the enhanced pat down. If people do this the expected result is huge lines and delays at airports and, equally important, overworking the TSA agents.
I agree with the opt-out day and think it will send a huge message but there are a few things that should be taken into consideration.
First, if you are traveling by air and are going tomorrow then you should arrive at the airport a lot earlier than you usually would. If enough people opt-out there will be long lines and if you are not there extra early you will miss your flight.
More importantly, make sure the TSA agents change their gloves before they pat you down. You should watch them get a fresh pair of gloves from the box (not their pockets) and put them on before they pat you down. The agents are keeping the same pair of gloves on and touching multiple passengers which means that the chance to spread infection is very high. If they put their gloved hands on something infectious they can then transfer that substance to any number of people.
Make them change their gloves. They cannot say no or you refuse to be touched. Do not allow them to possibly infect you because they are unwilling to change their gloves.
This is important to remember each time you fly and are subjected to them putting their hands on you but it is particularly important tomorrow. If a huge number of people opt-out and cause long pat down lines then the TSA will be required to change gloves tens of thousands of times causing them further delay and aggravation.
But the important thing is you make sure you are protected from infection. Causing grief to the molesters is just an added benefit of being vigilant.
Cave Canem!
Never surrender, never submit.
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Where Is OSHA For Border Patrol Agents?
May 1, 2009 Political
I have stated several times that I think the whole swine flu issue is being blown out of proportion but that does not mean there is no threat of getting sick from the virus especially if one visits Mexico or has contact with someone who did. There is still a need to protect ourselves and the most efficient way of doing this is to wash our hands often.
Another method, for those who have constant contact, is to wear masks. The masks, if properly worn, prevent airborne droplets from being inspired and causing infection.
However, Janet Napolitano and the DHS have decided that border patrol agents who are in contact with people crossing the Mexican/American border every day are not allowed to wear masks and if they do they will face disciplinary action. An ABC News 10 report indicates that border patrol agents have requested to wear a mask while performing her duties and this request was denied. Over 80 agents asked to wear the masks but they were told they may not. ABC News 10 reports they have copies of the denied requests and those copies indicate that the agents may not wear the masks because of how it looks and because of the potential for public panic.
The DHS is putting politics ahead of the safety of the workers.
The DHS denies that it ever told agents that they may not wear the masks which directly contradicts the report from ABC News 10 and the memos presented in the report. DHS states that the science does not indicate that wearing the masks is appropriate.
Employers are required to provide respiratory protective equipment when required by the work environment (OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134):
A respirator shall be provided to each employee when such equipment is necessary to protect the health of such employee. The employer shall provide the respirators which are applicable and suitable for the purpose intended. The employer shall be responsible for the establishment and maintenance of a respiratory protection program, which shall include the requirements outlined in paragraph (c) of this section. The program shall cover each employee required by this section to use a respirator.
The employer must provide it when the equipment is necessary to protect the health of the employee. DHS is getting around this by stating that the science does not support the wear of a mask (which is a respirator under the standard).
Has the DHS done any air monitoring to determine the potential for contamination? The outbreak started in Mexico and that country has been the hardest hit. People in Mexico are wearing masks to prevent spread of the disease and a lot of them cross the border each day. In the absence of monitoring data the atmosphere becomes and unknown and it makes sense to protect workers from the potential of exposure to a flu that will take them from their duties.
Does it make sense to make a politically correct decision and risk a large number of workers becoming ill and therefore unable to do their jobs?
The masks are inexpensive and the Mexicans are already wearing them so it is not like they don’t know what is going on. The idea that DHS is creating an atmosphere where its workers are potentially exposed to a virus that leads to illness is unconscionable. The CDC discusses the use of masks in settings where contact with potentially infected persons cannot be avoided (such as on the border with the country where it originated):
When crowded settings or close contact with others cannot be avoided, the use of facemasks1 or respirators2 in areas where transmission of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus has been confirmed should be considered as follows:
1. Whenever possible, rather than relying on the use of facemasks or respirators, close contact with people who might be ill and being in crowded settings should be avoided.
2. Facemasks should be considered for use by individuals who enter crowded settings, both to protect their nose and mouth from other people’s coughs and to reduce the wearers’ likelihood of coughing on others; the time spent in crowded settings should be as short as possible.
3. Respirators should be considered for use by individuals for whom close contact with an infectious person is unavoidable. This can include selected individuals who must care for a sick person (e.g., family member with a respiratory infection) at home.
The masks might help even if the science does not indicate they should be used. More importantly, the employees want to wear them. If wearing them will give them peace of mind and allow them to do their jobs more efficiently, why not let them?
There is no reason and no excuse for denying employees a method to protect themselves from infection.
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Tags: border patrol, dhs, infection, masks, swine flu