Now that the deadly Ebola virus has come to the United States...

[Cali_Democrat]

In times like these, it's important to remember who stands in the way of fighting Ebola:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1104866

GOP House guts White House’s request for funds to fight and contain Ebola
By David Ferguson
Tuesday, September 9, 2014 14:44 EDT

House Republicans have gutted a White House-sponsored bill that would direct funding to the fight to contain the hemorrhagic fever Ebola, which is raging out of control in multiple African countries.

The Hill blog reported that a source familiar with the budget negotiations confirmed that House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY) will agree to provide only $40 million of the $88 million the Obama administration asked for in its 2015 budget.

Twenty-five million dollars of the $40 million would go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and $15 to the Biological Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) in order to speed up production of an experimental anti-Ebola drug.

The Obama administration originally asked for $58 million for BARDA, a division of the Department of Health and Human Services. The agency is tasked with coordinating the nation’s response to public health crises, including medical testing, vaccines, drug development and other products and services associated with “public health and medical consequences of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) accidents, incidents and attacks, pandemic influenza, and emerging infectious diseases.”

[jwirr]

1. We need to see this as a success. They caught it before the person left the airport. That is what is

supposed to happen.

When my daughter and son-in-law visited Mexico there was an epidemic. Before they left Mexico they were tested for it and when the plane landed in Texas they were tested again. They were lucky enough that they did not get infected.

[kelly1mm]

4. Actualy, no they did not catch it at the airport. The guy was roming around for 4 days with

symptoms and even sought medical attention during that time and was released. Only on his second trip to the hospital did he get admitted/quarantined.

[jwirr]

7. Oops. Sorry - at least that is the way it is supposed to happen. Maybe for this disease they need an

isolation period.

[LisaL]

8. It didn't happen at all as it was supposed to.

Which is pretty pathetic.
How could they let symptomatic Ebola patient go without being admitted to the hospital?
Worse than in Nigeria.
Even if they didn't know he had Ebola, why didn't they take his traveling history into account?
Did he not tell them he was from Liberia?

[jwirr]

26. Yes. You wonder if they just did not believe that it could happen or may they did not believe it was

so serious.

[morningfog]

5. It was successfully quarantined, there are no other

People believe to be infected.

[LisaL]

6. If you really believe that, I have a nice bridge for sale.

This person became infectious when he started showing symptoms.
But he was not admitted to the hospital. Instead for several days he was let go, potentially infecting who knows who during this time.

[morningfog]

9. Time will tell.

They are not contagious with early symptoms and it is only transmitted through contact with bodily fluids of the contagious person.

[LisaL]

10. They are contagious when they start showing symptoms.

Which this guy was showing for days, without being admitted to the hospital.

[morningfog]

36. They are contagious when they are puking, shitting and bleeding. Not when they just have a fever.

They are most contagious when they are about to die.

[janlyn]

39. According to WHO,

a person is infectious from the beginning of symptoms.

[Warren DeMontague]

12. Right. You can make that statement in 3 weeks.

Not now.

[Warren DeMontague]

11. They didn't "catch it before the person left the airport"- they've been here since Sept. 20

Today is Sept. 30. This person left Ground Zero of the Ebola Outbreak on the 19th, started "not feeling well" on the 24th and "sought treatment" (and who wants to put money down that despite feeling sick he wasn't screaming from the rooftops "HEY by the way I just came from Ebolaland&quot ... it wasn't until the 28th that he was put into "strict isolation".

A man in Dallas, who is not a health care worker, has tested positive for the virus, the agency says. The man flew to the U.S. from Liberia, arriving on Sept. 20, NPR has learned, and wasn't sick on the flight, and had no symptoms when he arrived.

He first developed symptoms on Wednesday, Sept. 24, according to the CDC, and first sought care on Friday. On Sunday, he was placed in isolation at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Health officials have already started searching for people who may have come into close contact with the man; Ebola is only spread via direct contact with body fluids, and isn't contagious until symptoms appear.

Do the math.

It is worth remembering that ONE GUY flying into Nigeria killed 20 people there, and they were only barely able to keep it contained. From that one guy.

I'm sorry but the bullshit about how "heavens, we can't restrict travel from these countries" and the imbecilic "exit screenings" (which essentially amount to someone checking a form "do you have ebola? Yes/No&quot is going to get people killed in this country. We can get humanitarian aid in, but for the time being there is no reason to be allowing travel FROM those hotspots.

It's stupid, and now we have put a whole bunch of people- mostly health care workers, but who knows who else- in danger because of it.

[morningfog]

14. I agree on restricting travel from the 3 nations.

He may have infected others, but I do think it will stop there. I also dont think we'll see any deaths here.

[Warren DeMontague]

29. I hope you're right.

At this point the travel stuff just seems like common sense. Senegal has opened a humanitarian flight pathway, so aid can get in that way.

[morningfog]

2. They should be ashamed. They cost lives in Africa.

But it is nothing to be afraid of in the US.

[Warren DeMontague]

13. Tell that to the 20 people Patrick Sawyer infected in Nigeria.

[morningfog]

23. US=\= Nigeria.

We'll keep it contained and the infected alive.

[LisaL]

24. This guy went to the hospital and the hospital send him home the first time.

Shows just how effective our healthcare is.

[Warren DeMontague]

27. We'll see, wont we.

But no one can make claims about it being contained around this case, for at least 3 weeks.

And if I was one of the health workers who saw this guy on the 24th, and he didn't make it expressly clear he had JUST come from Liberia? I'd be PISSED.

[LisaL]

28. Weren't they supposed to ask about his travel history?

Did they?

[Warren DeMontague]

30. Good question.

Seems like someone fucked up, between the 24th and 28th.

[drray23]

3. they have no shame

And given how gullible their electorate is, i am sure they will turn that into a debate on border security. Never mind the person came in via airplane and was not an illegal alien.
I can see it coming for sure. The rw propaganda machine is going to blame it on the president and the gop voters will believe it.

[Louisiana1976]

32. Excellent points. And welcome to DU.

[customerserviceguy]

34. This may be the October surprise of this election year

If the Republicons can associate Ebola=Africa=Obama, then they have a potential fear campaign that will make the Cold War seem like a mere philosophical disagreement.

[Bluenorthwest]

15. Over 20,000 Americans had died of AIDS before the US President even said the word out loud

The larger society paid absolutely no attention. At least this virus is getting attention from the first.

[Texasgal]

22. Good point.

Very good.

[BrotherIvan]

33. ^^This!^^

If they can close their eyes and shout about being persecuted, people won't care. They will do the same thing they did with AIDS and marginalize and demonize those who are infected. Because our country doesn't know how to deal with anything civilly anymore.

[noiretextatique]

16. the asshole party strikes again

this is beyond absurd now. they don't give a shit about ANY american, or any person for that matter.

[Dreamer Tatum]

17. A couple of weeks ago people were howling that ebola poses no risk at all.

Now it does.

Make up your minds.

[Mnemosyne]

18. K&R nt

[hunter]

20. Some immediate members of my family will be on the front lines.

That's just the way they roll.

When riding with my wife or my sister in a car there is always the risk they'll be the first medical people on the scene of a bloody accident.

It's part of their regular work too and they serve rougher sorts of communities. I've seen dead people and compound fractures I'd otherwise have passed.

Our kids make uneasy jokes about it.

[DrBulldog]

21. Can't wait until ...

... the first Republican becomes infected with ebola.

[customerserviceguy]

35. Long before that happens

It's going to be inner-city people who come into contact with someone fresh off of a plane from Africa, and whoever they spread it to.

Be careful of what you wish for.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

37. That almost sounds like you're are wishing for that

And I'm sure you don't. I would never wish that on any one. Well, maybe select republicans, but it would be a very small number.

[blkmusclmachine]

25. That would require the DEMS actually campaigning against the GOP, but I'm not sure that that's in

the DEMS' DNA.

But "bi-partisanship" sure is...

[alp227]

31. GOPola nt

[grahamhgreen]

38. We spend 2 billion/week in Fghanistan for comparison.