Gov't booklet does little to save citizens
Mike Harris-Peyton
Issue date: 7/27/07 Section: Ed-Op
The only reason anthrax is even on here is because, thanks to our buddies in the former Soviet Union, anthrax is cheap and plentiful.
Let's just skip the boring stuff and go to highly-contagious diseases.
The pamphlet mentions smallpox and viral hemorrhagic fevers. Smallpox really ought to have an entire pamphlet on its own, considering that (again, thanks to the former Soviet Union) it's not particularly difficult to procure. No U.S. citizen younger than 40 is inoculated (except people in the military and higher government); since the natural disease is extinct and the vaccine only really works for a few years, no one is immune anymore. Smallpox spreads quickly and has a high mortality rate. Yet, the pamphlet tells you to contact your health provider, and to get a vaccine within three days. In the event of a smallpox outbreak or a smallpox biological attack, your traditional health providers, along with hospital staff, will be one of the groups hardest hit by the disease, because they're treating a number of infected people.
Basically, Containing smallpox is like herding cats on crystal meth. There is not nearly enough vaccine to contain even a small outbreak of smallpox, in this country or any other. Not to say that you shouldn't seek the vaccine or contact your doctor, but in both cases, you'll probably die before you get to the front of the line.
Moving right along, viral hemorrhagic fevers (like Ebola) are difficult to treat and, like a cold, involve waiting for the virus to run its course. This is the only spot where the pamphlet is useful; it tells you that very little can be done. It suggests "isolation for infected persons" and "supportive care." If you've got any VHF, you are already dead. Stay away from other people, and avoid contaminating them.
Next on the chart are chemical agents. This section is repetitive, because their advice for all chemical agents states: "Leave the affected area. Immediately remove clothing, place in a plastic bag and shower or wash. Seek medical care if exposed."
Let's just skip the boring stuff and go to highly-contagious diseases.
The pamphlet mentions smallpox and viral hemorrhagic fevers. Smallpox really ought to have an entire pamphlet on its own, considering that (again, thanks to the former Soviet Union) it's not particularly difficult to procure. No U.S. citizen younger than 40 is inoculated (except people in the military and higher government); since the natural disease is extinct and the vaccine only really works for a few years, no one is immune anymore. Smallpox spreads quickly and has a high mortality rate. Yet, the pamphlet tells you to contact your health provider, and to get a vaccine within three days. In the event of a smallpox outbreak or a smallpox biological attack, your traditional health providers, along with hospital staff, will be one of the groups hardest hit by the disease, because they're treating a number of infected people.
Basically, Containing smallpox is like herding cats on crystal meth. There is not nearly enough vaccine to contain even a small outbreak of smallpox, in this country or any other. Not to say that you shouldn't seek the vaccine or contact your doctor, but in both cases, you'll probably die before you get to the front of the line.
Moving right along, viral hemorrhagic fevers (like Ebola) are difficult to treat and, like a cold, involve waiting for the virus to run its course. This is the only spot where the pamphlet is useful; it tells you that very little can be done. It suggests "isolation for infected persons" and "supportive care." If you've got any VHF, you are already dead. Stay away from other people, and avoid contaminating them.
Next on the chart are chemical agents. This section is repetitive, because their advice for all chemical agents states: "Leave the affected area. Immediately remove clothing, place in a plastic bag and shower or wash. Seek medical care if exposed."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 2
Stunned Reader
posted 12/29/07 @ 7:03 PM EST
Wow... Your thoughts allude to the fact that you know very little about people.
1) The government knew a desk wont save you. But in times like that, having a plan (stupid as it may be) works for crowd control and keeps panic to a minimum. (Continued…)
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