Where's the petri dish thread?

[Shirley]

Congo government says it’s ‘on alert’ over mystery flu-like disease that killed dozens

https://apnews.com/article/congo-myster ... d47ad48de4

I should probably defer to our resident infectious disease expert, Randy, but imo the list of possibilities is long, and it'll be interesting to see what it turns out to be.

Africa truly does seem to be the world's Petri dish, for a whole lot of reasons. The article mentions that a # of people died due to the lack of available blood transfusions, which implies it's a hemorrhagic disease, i.e., one that causes excessive bleeding. If it turns out to be one of the many known Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers, it'll be good to know what it is, but unfortunately, most of the VHF's have no treatment or vaccine, and require specialized labs to make the diagnosis and specialized treatment facilities for the afflicted to keep the care-givers and the public safe.

The only way to stop the spread is to immediately isolate those who become sick. And since people don't like to be "isolated" and kept away from their families and communities, they're incentivized to resist seeking help until they're so far along they can't wait any longer, exposing and potentially infecting more and more people over time.

From ousdahl's article: ...“First diagnostics are leading us to think it is a respiratory disease,” Kaseya said. “But we need to wait for the laboratory results.” He added that there are many things that are still unknown about the disease — including whether it is infectious and how it is transmitted.

I think he misspoke. I think we can assume it's "infectious"*, until proven otherwise. I think what he means is, whether it's contagious, and how it's transmitted, as in thru the air, only by direct contact with body fluids, etc.

*Infectious diseases are caused by microscopic germs (such as bacteria or viruses) that get into the body and cause problems. Some — but not all — infectious diseases spread directly from one person to another. Infectious diseases that spread from person to person are said to be contagious.

Fun Fact: The link I provided shows that for a number of the VHF's, the vectors** are bats.


**vector: A carrier of a disease-causing agent

[KUTradition]

I think he misspoke. I think we can assume it's "infectious"*, until proven otherwise. I think what he means is, whether it's contagious, and how it's transmitted, as in thru the air, only by direct contact with body fluids, etc.

isn’t this infectious disease 101?

if you wait for validation, you’re already too late

[Shirley]

I think he misspoke. I think we can assume it's "infectious"*, until proven otherwise. I think what he means is, whether it's contagious, and how it's transmitted, as in thru the air, only by direct contact with body fluids, etc.

isn’t this infectious disease 101?

if you wait for validation, you’re already too late

He's up to his ass so high in alligators, I have to cut him some slack. What an incredible load of challenges to overcome in the effort to provide millions of poverty-stricken, illiterate people, with any hint of public health, under those conditions.

[Shirley]

I think he misspoke. I think we can assume it's "infectious"*, until proven otherwise. I think what he means is, whether it's contagious, and how it's transmitted, as in thru the air, only by direct contact with body fluids, etc.

isn’t this infectious disease 101?

if you wait for validation, you’re already too late

He's up to his ass so high in alligators, I have to cut him some slack. What an incredible load of challenges to overcome in the effort to provide millions of poverty-stricken, illiterate people, with any hint of public health, under those conditions.

ETA: Just occurred to me that, as a public official, he might be saying less than he knows in order to avoid causing the citizens in the area to panic should the cause be grim, and make the situation worse. Perhaps he wants to wait another day or two in order to begin building the response, which will require enlisting international help, so that when he announces the cause, he can simultaneously include the plan, "and here's what we're going to do about it, A, B and C".

Just speculating, but he's definitely wearing two hats.

[Shirley]

[Shirley]

Thank goodness we have a champion of science and selfless advocate for public health assuming the presidency soon:

The U.S. has recorded its first human death from bird flu, a grim milestone that comes as at least 67 cases have been recorded in the country.

[JKLivin]

Thank goodness we have a champion of science and selfless advocate for public health assuming the presidency soon:

The U.S. has recorded its first human death from bird flu, a grim milestone that comes as at least 67 cases have been recorded in the country.

Be patient. There will be lockdowns and a crashed economy, oh, right about the 21st of this month.

https://www.indiatimes.com/trending/soc ... 47601.html

[KUTradition]

Thank goodness we have a champion of science and selfless advocate for public health assuming the presidency soon:

The U.S. has recorded its first human death from bird flu, a grim milestone that comes as at least 67 cases have been recorded in the country.

Be patient. There will be lockdowns and a crashed economy, oh, right about the 21st of this month.

https://www.indiatimes.com/trending/soc ... 47601.html

run on tin foil, aisle nine!

[KUTradition]

what’s really sad, is that if psych really cared about reality (rather than just pearl clutching in defense of the orange one), he’d know that these warnings aren’t new to trump being elected

this is what learning from history, something psych seems uncomfortable with, looks like

[TDub]

what’s really sad, is that if psych really cared about reality (rather than just pearl clutching in defense of the orange one), he’d know that these warnings aren’t new to trump being elected

this is what learning from history, something psych seems uncomfortable with, looks like

I mean, ok, sure...but aren't we overreacting a bit when this can all just be cured by raw milk and a UV light bulb stuck up your ass? pssht

[TDub]

by the way, somewhat related, I'm in a local farm to table group....the amount of new people rushing into the group asking how to get raw milk the last month or so is borderline insane.

[KUTradition]

what’s really sad, is that if psych really cared about reality (rather than just pearl clutching in defense of the orange one), he’d know that these warnings aren’t new to trump being elected

this is what learning from history, something psych seems uncomfortable with, looks like

I mean, ok, sure...but aren't we overreacting a bit when this can all just be cured by raw milk and a UV light bulb stuck up your ass? pssht

i’ve got my UV enema ready, so i’m good

[KUTradition]

by the way, somewhat related, I'm in a local farm to table group....the amount of new people rushing into the group asking how to get raw milk the last month or so is borderline insane.

pasteurization, imo, is absolute net benefit for public health

that said, i spent a few early years where my only milk intake was fresh goat milk, and i think i'm better for it

fads will be fads…people will likely get sick, and the fad will die (kinda like the anti-vaxxers)

[TDub]

by the way, somewhat related, I'm in a local farm to table group....the amount of new people rushing into the group asking how to get raw milk the last month or so is borderline insane.

pasteurization, imo, is absolute net benefit for public health

that said, i spent a few early years where my only milk intake was fresh goat milk, and i think i'm better for it

fads will be fads…people will likely get sick, and the fad will die (kinda like the anti-vaxxers)

for sure, im.not entirely against fresh milk.


the crazy thing to me is the new rush on it all because a person says something. It's just...wild.

[Shirley]

Thank goodness we have a champion of science and selfless advocate for public health assuming the presidency soon:

The U.S. has recorded its first human death from bird flu, a grim milestone that comes as at least 67 cases have been recorded in the country.

Be patient. There will be lockdowns and a crashed economy, oh, right about the 21st of this month.

https://www.indiatimes.com/trending/soc ... 47601.html

I'm sorry you find the world such a scary place, Psych. And, I'm sure that makes your life a much harder struggle. And while we all know that life isn't fair, if there's one thing we also know, with certainty, it's that there's gotta be someone else for you to blame.

I can't open my computer without being bombarded with predictions from experts in all sorts of businesses and fields, because that's the sort of thing they do as we pass from one year to the next. But in your oh-so-huge mind, one particular predictor is part of a conspiracy intent on doing you, and the nation harm.

It must really, really suck, to be you.

In the meantime, I'll ask her to add it to the list:

[MICHHAWK]

what do i care if some tie dye wearing granola eating dreadlock sporting hippie drinks raw milk. they can suck it straight off the teet for all i care.

me, i prefer my 6 dollar bottle of almond milk.

[JKLivin]

Thank goodness we have a champion of science and selfless advocate for public health assuming the presidency soon:

The U.S. has recorded its first human death from bird flu, a grim milestone that comes as at least 67 cases have been recorded in the country.

Be patient. There will be lockdowns and a crashed economy, oh, right about the 21st of this month.

https://www.indiatimes.com/trending/soc ... 47601.html

I'm sorry you find the world such a scary place, Psych. And, I'm sure that makes your life a much harder struggle. And while we all know that life isn't fair, if there's one thing we also know, with certainty, it's that there's gotta be someone else for you to blame.

I can't open my computer without being bombarded with predictions from experts in all sorts of businesses and fields, because that's the sort of thing they do as we pass from one year to the next. But in your oh-so-huge mind, one particular predictor is part of a conspiracy intent on doing you, and the nation harm.

It must really, really suck, to be you.

In the meantime, I'll ask her to add it to the list:

I understand the nature of predictions. I do find it telling that Hotez slipped up and added the specific date, which, coincidentally, I’m sure, is the day after Trump takes office.

[TDub]

what do i care if some tie dye wearing granola eating dreadlock sporting hippie drinks raw milk. they can suck it straight off the teet for all i care.

me, i prefer my 6 dollar bottle of almond milk.

umm yea, its not the granola hippies at this point. Which, is neither here nor there, really.

Also...big nut milk fan huh?

[KUTradition]

https://www.axios.com/2025/01/22/virus- ... quad-demic

[Overlander]

Let's put our faith in Supreme Leader, and his "no it isn't" approach.