Zika -- Is the U.S. Behind the 8-Ball?

a reply to: Snarl

Florida sprays to kill mosquitoes on a regular basis and have for the entirety of my life (to the best of my knowledge) so 40+ years... hasn't made a dent in the population.

A little about the history.

What we know:

•At this time, animals do not appear to be involved in the spread of Zika virus.
•There is no evidence that Zika virus is spread to people from contact with animals.
•There have not been any reports of pets or other types of animals becoming sick with Zika virus. However, more research is needed to better understand Zika virus in animals.
•Animals in the United States are not at risk of becoming sick with Zika virus.

Zika in animals

Zika virus was first discovered in a monkey with a mild fever in the Zika Forest of Uganda in the 1940s. Nonhuman primates (apes and monkeys) have shown the ability to become infected with Zika virus; but, only a few naturally and experimentally infected monkeys and apes have had any signs of illness at all, and then it was only a mild, transient fever without any other symptoms. A small number of monkeys were reported to have Zika virus in one study done in 2016 in an area of Brazil with high numbers of human illness. More research is needed to better understand the potential for monkeys and apes to be reservoirs for Zika virus. The prevalence of Zika virus in monkeys and other nonhuman primates is currently unknown.

There is also limited evidence from one study done in Indonesia in the late 1970s that horses, cows, carabaos (water buffaloes), goats, ducks, and bats could become infected with Zika, but there is no evidence that they develop disease or pose a risk for Zika virus transmission to humans. There have not been any reports of pets or other types of animals becoming sick with Zika virus.

www.cdc.gov...

I was worried about cats and dogs, but so for, no cases have been reported. Apparently if some animals contract it, it doesn't make them noticeably sick.

a reply to: ladyinwaiting

You could have the zombie apocalypse spreading around the globe and those idiots (congress as a whole) will do nothing unless they can make money off it, or gain more power from it.

I disagree with the throw money at it approach... they have been doing that for a decade + with the VA and the problems are getting worse..

If the fed does not spell out in specifics what is to be done with the money it will be a waste.

eta: the only way this can be combated is for civil groups to do the leg work and build a plan and then bring it to congress to get the money... and its still a risk cause I would wager better than even odds Congress will still ignore it unless the civil group gives up control to a lobbyist group that funds said congress critters.

originally posted by: ladyinwaiting

originally posted by: DBCowboy
a reply to: ladyinwaiting

Point is, it's not a new disease.

Spending money seems to equate to caring.

This disease will be used by political entities to push agendas.

Both sides are, yes, but it doesn't negate the fact that it has to be done. If nothing else, mosquito repellant needs to be bought and distributed to those who can't afford it in high risk areas. That takes money. In some cases, money does equate to caring.

Government is already taxing us too much.

They spend it stupidly.

Why wait for Zika to do something for poorer communities?

Why haven't they always been helping poor families with repellent?

a reply to: MotherMayEye

Who recommended we not go? I have pointed it out several times on this thread! lol! Please read it this 'go round.

A group of 150 doctors, scientists and bioethicists have written a letter to the World Health Organization calling for the Rio Olympics to be postponed or moved because of concerns of the spread of the Zika virus.

The letter cites concerns about further spread of the virus and developing information about it in calling for the Games to be delayed or moved. The letter writers questioned whether the WHO is rejecting alternatives of when and where the Games should be held because of a conflict of interest with the International Olympic Committee.

“Currently, many athletes, delegations, and journalists are struggling with the decision of whether to participate in the Rio 2016 Games,” the letter states. “We agree with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommendation that workers should “Consider delaying travel to areas with active Zika virus transmission”. If that advice were followed uniformly, no athlete would have to choose between risking disease and participating in a competition that many have trained for their whole lives.”

www.usatoday.com...

Further there is article after article, and group of health care professionals one after the other, however, I am only posting ONE source for you. You can look at the others on your own. : )

a reply to: reldra

It's dangerous to women who are pregnant and the fetuses; saying it's more than dangerous is doom porn in itself.

Sure This Zika virus could become a disaster but then again SARS, Bird flu and swine flu were supposed to wipe us out but we are still here. The Spanish flu killed 18 million in a few years and as far as I know there are no deaths linked to Zika. Yes it is a threat to unborn babies but remember that Malaria is responsible for more than 20 million deaths worldwide.

However I believe Humanity has played a part in some way-our over reliance of antibiotics and other 'firewalls' has compromised our immunity and we are not the only species that has evolved.

As one who is living in a hot zone and has spoken with people that have contracted zika, chikungunya, and dengue...I'll say that I'm personally more concerned about the insecticides that they use than the viruses themselves..

a reply to: DBCowboy

Why haven't they always been helping poor families with repellent?

Apparently the whole point of my thread has been missed, dear Cowboy. I blame myself.

Here is the answer to your question:

FUNDING

Which needs to be approved by a Republican Congress.

a reply to: ladyinwaiting

Ah, I had not seen that.

What you have posted is a response to the Director General of the WHO who gave her blessing, in May, for the Olympics to go on as scheduled.

So we were both right.

Has the WHO reconsidered its position yet?

originally posted by: ladyinwaiting
a reply to: DBCowboy

Why haven't they always been helping poor families with repellent?

Apparently the whole point of my thread has been missed, dear Cowboy. I blame myself.

Here is the answer to your question:

FUNDING

Which needs to be approved by a Republican Congress.

Oh Bullsh#t.

Why didn't the democrat-run congress help years ago for other mosquito borne diseases?

They've always had money to actually help people.

They just don't do it because; A) they don't care, and B) they want to keep the money.

a reply to: DBCowboy

Its easier to blame the "other side" than admit the people you support are just as culpable to the abuses... corruption and incompetence.

We have become so obsessed with "winning" that we have lost sight of doing the right thing..

a reply to: Irishhaf

Dept. Of Agriculture budget for 2015 was 23 BILLION dollars.

Nuff said.

a reply to: DBCowboy

I agree Money has rarely been an actual problem with our Country..

Rampant incompetence and massive levels of red tape, and creating positions so bob doesn't get fired before he maxes his pay scale...

I dont know what the answer is... but throwing money at it wont fix the problem... it has rarely fixed any problem in America without a solid plan and an active engaged voting populace... which we certainly dont have today.

a reply to: DBCowboy

I'm curious about your expectations as to why they should plan for a virus that had not yet entered the country?

originally posted by: DBCowboy
a reply to: ladyinwaiting

We already have labs, we already have people. We already have staff and scientists working on it.

This is a 2-stage attempt by the government..


Stage 1, monetize a disease. Placing a dollar figure on it equates to "caring" about it.

Stage 2, get government involved into reproductive choices that parents may have. Expect to see a "Department of Reproduction" soon.

I would imagine that Department being placed under the Executive Branch like all of these:

The Office of Solicitor General

The Federal Bureau of Investigation

The Drug Enforcement Agency

The Bureau of Prisons

Immigration and Naturalization

United States Marshal Service

Office of Justice Program

United States Parole Commission

United States National Central Bureau

The Office of the Pardon Attorney

Executive Office of the United States Attorney

Criminal Division

Civil Division

Anti-Trust Division

Civil Rights Division

Tax Division

Environmental and Natural Resource Division

Community Relations Services

Foreign Claim Settlement Division

Executive Office of United States Trustees

Executive Office for Immigration Review

Justice Management Division

Office of Legal Counsel

Office of Policy Development

Office of Legislative Affairs

Office of Public Affairs

Office of Liaison Services

Office of Intelligence and Policy Review

Office of International Affairs

Office of the Inspector General

Office of Professional Responsibility; and

Interpol -- (Note: Interpol is a private corporation, yet it comes under (in this country) the Executive branch of government.)

Most of these are in conflict with Constitutional provisions mind you. Seems like corporations are not the only ones seeking a consolidation of power and monopoly.

originally posted by: angeldoll
a reply to: DBCowboy

I'm curious about your expectations as to why they should plan for a virus that had not yet entered the country?

As it was so "nicely" pointed out to me, Zika has probably always been in the US and has not been brought by anyone.

Should we crap ourselves when any virus gets highlighted by the media?

a reply to: DBCowboy

I think the concern is the microcephaly, mental retardation it is causing. People want their babies to be healthy. Without that I doubt there would be so much distress about it.

originally posted by: angeldoll
a reply to: DBCowboy

I think the concern is the microcephaly, mental retardation it is causing. People want their babies to be healthy. Without that I doubt there would be so much distress about it.

That should always be a concern.

not something new emerging because of a Zika scare.

Read some of marg's posts on it.

originally posted by: angeldoll
a reply to: DBCowboy

I think the concern is the microcephaly, mental retardation it is causing. People want their babies to be healthy. Without that I doubt there would be so much distress about it.

There's no better way to whip up a panic than giving pregnant women something else to worry about.

originally posted by: MotherMayEye

originally posted by: angeldoll
a reply to: DBCowboy

I think the concern is the microcephaly, mental retardation it is causing. People want their babies to be healthy. Without that I doubt there would be so much distress about it.

There's no better way to whip up a panic than giving pregnant women something else to worry about.

What a silly thing to say, you think I'm trying to "whip up a panic" , or the government is? I think you give us all far more dramatic tendencies than we deserve. I would assume you know the threat is real, but for some reason have decided to make this post. I wanted to ask a question of an adult, one that maybe has seen the reports of the microcephalic children being born in South America.