I don't think it's that humans are "feeble" but rather self-absorbed and unable to take in large amounts of data which conflicts with their comfort zone... we operate in a sea of denial, blaming the "stupid doctor" rather than look at the larger picture(s) and complex systems at work in the "real" world outside of our little bubbles, which in themselves are created by media/society/political/corporate forces that have conflicting agendas... We could easily tackle most of the major issues confronting us but our selfish, easily manipulated unempathetic short range minds get in the way.
 
Pandemics have been a hot issue in some circles for decades yet the CDC is a shell of what is needed, money grubbing biotech/pharma is locked in a $$$ grab while global risk/precautionary measures are ignored...Poor nations are saddled with a huge out of control situation in a globally connected world while half assed measures and meager resources exist and even those are not made available to stem the spread... we are walking a tightrope while everyone's watching Faux news and spewing nonsense 
 
Nature is sending us a population reduction bomb...and we're ill prepaired to defuse it...as it evolves, spreads, and winds it's way around the world...like bird flu and other biological lifeforms to follow.  Our hubris and self righteous finger pointing does nothing to come to grips with reality and that is a fatal flaw...
 
Limits to Growth, A time to Choose, Population Bomb....and many other "futurist" brainstorms ran these scenarios decades ago and the elite/corporate controlled media/politicians poo pooed them all... but most of what they warned about is unfolding before our eyes.  Many of my peers are gone while I'm still here watching their visions wrench into life.  I'm knee deep in longevity regimines, compelled to see how this simulation will evolve...Meanwhile, the amazing work of Howard Wilcox, Bill Heronomous, EF Schumaucher,  and even today's Amory Lovins is largely ignored when their visions would remake our place in the universe...
 
ebola... either a wake up call (ala, Hurricane Sandy, BP gulf disaster, Fukushima...none of those seem to have done it) or a final call... we're running out of time to wake up.

dubdisciple
I know it probably is shallow of me, but I start tuning rants out on either end of the political spectrum once they start using name calling variations of those they disagree with like "dumbocrats","faux news" .  That is usually the point where i realize I'm going to have to wade through too much rhetoric for what possible facts may exist in the statements.
 
*goes back to plague inc*

Me too. He left out "Rush Limbaugh," "George Soros" and "Those Fabulous Furry Koch Brothers." We did however get the obligatory links to verbose articles written by people who see everything as an opportunity to practice their word skills. I tend to avoid film and music reviews for the same reason.

Vast...it's all good. I probably agree with much of what you have to say. I generally like most of the people here. No apology needed. Besides, I try to avoid political talk here because of the the CoC.

You all just better hope that this is not just some nihilistic sicko like me playing a video game!

I'm telling ya...Greenland is the place to be! One seldomly used airport, low bird migration, low tourism and very little direct travel from places pandemics would likely start.  by the time anything reached pandemic levels it would not be difficult to shut off from rest of the world.  You might have to get used it eating narwhal sammiches and god forbid, instant coffee (bleh , yuck) but you would survive!

craigb
I hear Apple is coming out with their own proprietary strain to be called iBola.

No kidding...in the game i keep referring too, a company tries to introduce the iCure. An obvious tomngue and cheek poke at Apple.  there's an achievement to be unlocked regarding stopping it, but i have never gotten there yet.

sharke
I had Ebola cornflakes this morning. Should I be in quarantine? 

Boooooo hisssssssssss.  The kids have been telling that joke the last few weeks.

lol  I'm going to tell the next kid i know the guy who invented that joke and actually get him to believe it.

sharke
Tell him you also know the guy who coined the word "gullible." 

Sadly, if I made up a story of an internet source and pasted on facebook, they would believe it.

bitflipper
Have no idiot politicians gone on TV yet to demand shutting down all NYC airports? 

Not to show bias or judgment pro or con, but simply stating matter of factly.... Rightwing political pundits have been talking along those lines.  Not so much shutting the airports, but banning flights from West Africa.

I have no problem with the idea of a quarantine for people coming back from working with Ebola patients in Africa. I don't think it's hysteria and I dispute the claims of experts that there is "no problem" since carriers aren't contagious until they're showing symptoms. Nobody seems to be addressing the issue of what happens if someone becomes symptomatic whilst out in public. They're not going to magically disappear and reappear in a hospital isolation unit. 
 
Ebola hasn't been a problem in the US so far because we've managed to track and contain it. The problem arises when someone contracts it completely unawares and thinks their symptoms are just plain vanilla flu. What would have happened if Dr. Spencer's symptoms had started while he was out on the town? He was already feeling sluggish. If he'd started sweating a little on the subway, wiped his brow then touched a pole....then someone else comes along and touches that pole and scratches the corner of their eye...oy. Then a couple of weeks later that person, completely unaware that he's a carrier, starts feeling a little off. Meh, it's flu season. Figures he'll struggle into work anyway. Feels progressively worse throughout the day. Develops a fever, spreads a little sweat around the office and on his way home...what's the big deal right? It's only flu. This is how epidemics start and why it's so important to track and contain carriers. It's already ravaging much of West Africa, but small villages are one thing. Once it starts spreading in a city like New York among people who have no idea they have it, all bets are off. 
 
Until one of the "experts" can explain to me how it's not a problem when someone's symptoms come on in public, then I'll concede that quarantine isn't needed for Doctors Without Borders participants. Some of these people have no sense. It has now emerged that Dr. Spencer lied through his teeth initially, when asked if he'd been anywhere prior to calling the emergency services. It was only when they checked his Metrocard and his credit card bills that he was forced to admit that he'd been skipping merrily all over town. And his symptoms could have started at any time. 

I'm totally ok with banning flights from west Africa...until a good system is in place.

 
I don't have a problem with that either, Clint.  I also don't have an issue quarantining people who have been in direct contact with ebola patients until they are confirmed to not have the dissease.  That's just common sense to me.  I don't need to be affiliated with either the right or left to look at common sense.  This dissease has about a 50% (or less) survival rate if not caught early and I feel it is reckless to not take that into consideration and gamble with other peoples lives. 
 
No panic here, still doing every day routines....and it was at my back door step.

Now we have this nurse Kaci Hickox wh was in NJ and now in Maine refusing to remain in quarantine in Maine.
What a self centered, arrogant, uncaring person. If it were up to me I would black ball her from working in healthcare. I would certainly not let her care for me nor would I go to a doctor who employed her.
 
These people act as if they "care" but it looks to me like they just want something on their resume. They certainly don't care about people here. The "doctor" in NYC certainly didn't care about the people who own the bowling alley, the nurse from Texas didn't care about the bridal shop in Ohio, and this nurse in Maine doesn't care about any people or business she might hurt if she becomes sick. I'm sorry, but I do not see any evidence of caring for anyone but self.
 
Julien

In my opinion, 21 days of quarantine is a relatively small price to pay to minimize the chances for spreading a pandemic. I understand that such a quarantine could be an economic hardship for many who would be unable to work, but the impact of spreading the disease is far worse. I heard the nurse say that the quarantine period doesn't make medical/scientific sense and is politically motivated. I've also heard (but haven't verified) that 21 days may not be long enough. Governments have limited options for containing an outbreak. In my opinion, a quarantine is preferable to extermination.

Good idea MGH... the same with illegal invaders coming across our southern border. Bullets are so much cheaper and more effective that fences. We should take whatever measures necessary to stop the actions of irresponsible or criminal people.
The problem with the possibility is different than flu (in case you have not noticed). If a person becomes infected and is out and about because they do not self quarantine, it affects many other people's lives and livelihood. There was the cruise ship that was denied the permit to dock in Mexico, the bowling alley that I don't know but I bet is suffering. People do not want to go where someone with ebola has been, it affects others in a very negative way. It is irresponsible and totally self centered.
 
Julien