Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Ebola Coverage Intensifies As News Becomes More Ominous; Bay Area Media Angle; Are Any Of You Freaked Out?

 The Ebola situation is now a crisis--or is it?

Frankly, I think I speak for a lot of people: we have heard and seen a lot but are we in panic-mode?

Yes, to some degree.

Even the people who cover this story are not immune to freaking out a bit, and the latest news will only add to the anxiety.


This much is certain: as a news story, Ebola has turned from mild in-thought-process into the general conversation of the day. And that's normal given the spate of news and potential news on the horizon.

Bay Area news outlets have provided basic coverage --most of it from network field reports. And the few local radio talk shows here have pretty much ignored it. Inevitably, an Ebola case is sure to break out here. I don't know for a fact of course but given the nature of the disease, again, it's inevitable.

How will it be covered? Are local outlets prepared to give us the information and coverage we desire? Time will tell. This is all very slightly unnerving at this point.

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51 comments:

  1. Ahh the multicultural open border utopia that the Democrats have preached for so many years has brought us Ebola and a "virus" that's sickening our children and leaving them paralyzed (it's the Honduran flu jackasses, but keep calling it a mystery virus to do what your party does best, lie) brought in by thousands of children that came for the Democratic voter registration "dream". I'm not even mentioning the other new diseases we had wiped out that are reemerging like TB.

    If you like your Ebola you can keep your Ebola. Haven't seen Pelosi washing the children's feet lately....gee, I wonder why?

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    1. Meanwhile, Senor 9:59 AM, your cherished Republican party has filibustered the appointment of a Surgeon General (he was too hard on guns so the NRA said "No, way!"), they have drastically cut the budget of the NIH and CDC, leaving us unprepared and several years behind in the development of an Ebola vaccine. But, sure, let's blame it all on Obama and elect more Republicans to lead us into the promised land of ignorance and weakened public health protections.

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    2. So, Mr. 9:59, you think ebola came across the Mexican border? And it's Obama's fault that someone lied to the airline in Africa? Boy, are you a moron.

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  2. What a stupid, hateful post from 9:59 anon! FYI idiot, the Ebola virus came from central Africa, not Central America. But don't let the facts get in the way of your own short-sided, small-minded prejudices. It's much easier to blame someone who isn't involved. This is a health crisis and is not the result of something the Democrats or illegal immigrants did. So stop spreading your lies and misinformation.

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    1. 10:41, my liberal friend, he was far more correct than you'll ever admit. Open borders, your party refusing to stop flights from infected nations from coming here while nations like France, Spain and Saudi Arabia did so months ago. On and on, the chickens are coming home to roost. Just wait until Ebola spreads throughout South America and Mexico and we have floods at the border. What will your defense be then?

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    2. 10:41 Its "undocumented" immigrants now. Haven't you read the DNC talking points the last 2 years?

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    3. Well said. The small minded wild eyed repubs will find any way to make any issue the fault of Obama and Pelosi. Even that right wing hack Chucky Freedman on KSCO yesterday called out other right wingers blaming the democrats for Ebola.

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    4. Now is the time to CLOSE the borders, not open them to all comers. ISIS operatives are trying to find a way in, we have possible ebola cases coming in, and ILLEGAL immigrants shouldn't be here to begin with.

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    5. Agree 100% with 2:27

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    6. Love it when conservatives like 11:00 suggest we do just what Spain and France are doing! Countries that in any other circumstance they would classify as socialist. So...who are the socialists now? And Saudi Arabia? Yes! Let's be like them. What a great idea. No...

      “Give me your tired, your poor,
      Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
      The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
      Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
      I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”

      That's the USA I believe in!

      - Brian

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    7. Me, too....except when we're under attack.

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    8. Brian you ignorant slut.

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    9. Very true, @ 11:00AM...But don't forget "Bedbugs," too! American never had the serious issues that we now have with Bedbugs, until we started letting in foreign nationals into our Country.

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  3. I'm sure old, white men are TERRIFIED.

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    1. I am so proud of you. To be the first in your family to graduate high school and be able to coherently read and write english must bring great pride to your displaced parents!

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    2. I have an MBA from USF, make great money. I'm white but the sooner you old dinosaurs die off, the better. You give us all a bad name. My parents are just fine, thanks for asking.

      Thanks,
      Chris M. in Tiburon (Go Dons!)

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    3. I'm willing to bet money "Chris" has an Asian wife.

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    4. I don't. I never understood that whole thing, but to each their own. I liked Latinas.

      My wife is white (brunette, green eyes, freckles and an ass you can bounce a quarter off of). We met at Beauty Bar in the Mission 12 years ago. Married for almost 6 years.

      I interned at a TV station in school so I know some of the people Rich mentions in this blog. What brought me here was his coverage of KTVU and the Asiana Affair. What turns me off are the racist, right-wing, looney, old, white cowards who post their bile on here. You are are pathetic souls, but you know it. You are just angry that your world is changing. I laugh at you people, shit, I probably work with some of you, at least people like you.

      When you die, just know that the only people who will give a shit are your immediate family and nobody else.

      Chris

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    5. Yes, when it comes to the issue of illegal immigration, racist remarks usually appear. But, I hope you and others understand that much of it comes from frustration. The truth is we know that many of the immigrants are bringing in diseases. We know that many immigrants put a drain on our welfare system. We know that many immigrants do not speak English and have no desire to learn it. And to make things worse, many of those immigrants are not even supposed to be in the country. And what makes things even worse, is that our elected representatives do virtually nothing about it since the problems usually don't affect them. So, I hope you understand.

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    6. Disease is spreading thanks to upper middle class white anti vaxers. Keep up. Childhood disease is up in upscale communities. What you said is a straight up lie.

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    7. 1. Do you feel the same way about ALL immigrants, or just the brown ones?

      2. You do know that the Obama Administration is on track to deport "remove" as many people as Bush (though increased border security and an improved Mexican economy may keep those numbers down), right?

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  4. I've been thinking about this topic too. A health official came on the Daily Show last week and smugly told Jon Stewart it wasn't a problem at all. I'd agree that most of us probably have a greater chance of being hit by a car than catching Ebola. However, I do think that health officials may have underestimated its contagious status and that most health care professionals, i.e., nurses and doctors, aren't prepared to treat the virus.

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    1. Yes, and not only that cases like this increase exponentially...that's what "going viral" is all about.

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    2. I want to add that an effective defense is the way to offset this kind of growth. It's war. Unfortunately, when several thousand around the world have the virus, then the genie is out of the bottle and we'll probably never get rid of it completely. I believe our best hope is for immunization of some kind.

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    3. screw you Shill...


      advocating the very thing which will kill eventually. You should know the reason why many folks in Liberia are attacking health workers from the west is because they believe its the health workers infecting the populace. They have good reason to believe so...not that you care.


      Also, some folks in India are suing Bill Gates for tainted vaccines. Ghastly lawsuit...mainly because of the underhanded way it was distributed. At least in India and elsewhere in the world, they fight when Eugenicist freaks hand out 'cures' that maim and kill.

      Not that the teleprompting reading government propagandist that peruse this sight will tell the truth of anything regarding this likely weaponized form of what's being called Ebola.

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  5. I only worry when I see Nancy Snyderman standing behind me in line at "In N Out Burger". And she's sweaty.

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    1. Stan, why are you standing in line brother? Use the drive-thru and you only have to worry about the workers coughing on your double double.

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    2. I'm a Christian Caucasian and I'm terrified my dog might get Ebola.

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  6. I'm not panicking but then I'm not white. White people are terrified that (fill in fav pejorative term for the Prez) is going to infect all the white people shortly before he sends in someone to cut off their head. Frankly, I'm enjoying the thoroughly ignorant reaction.

    The hysteia in the press is just pitiful. I remember back in the 1980's when the crew at KGO-TV wouldn't mike a person with HIV (not aids) who was about to go on the air. We may be a developed country but, damn, some of you are truly a dumb bunch of ignorant asses.

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    1. 1:34 What a moronic, racist comment. In the 80s not much was known about HIV/AIDS and they were unsure how it was transmitted and what it was all about. Of course they would take precautions. Ebola has been around since the 1970s, they've had decades of experience with this virus and quite a bit more knowledge. Apple's to oranges. Keeping with your racist tone is this where I say enjoy your government handouts paid for by the working whites you so despise? You're welcome, don't forget my Christmas card this year.

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    2. I assure you that I likely paid more in taxes last year than you took home.

      Plenty was known about HIV in the 1980's namely it was transmitted by bodily fluids. But bigots like you thought you knew more than the medical profession.

      You are so pathetic thinking everybody who doesn't look like you is on welfare. Pal, there are black people in the Oakland Hills, in Ladera Heights, in Shaker Heights, in Atlanta, in NYC who could buy and sell your butt a few times over.

      Enjoy walking around in your haz mat suit.

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    3. This is the second time in the last week I've seen someone use their income to validate their opinion. I don't get how A leads to B as far as knowledge unless it's an inference to being more educated. Personally, I think it's a low blow and reeks of condescension. Which you'd think an educated person would know better.

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    4. The bigot told me to enjoy my govt handout. No one accuses me of being a welfare recipient when I have worked my ass off for decades and built a very good life for myself. You bigots are shameless. Make accusations then expect the accused to not respond. You can't stand that we just won't stay in our "place." The majority in this country trumpet their net worth based on merit every day as evidence of their inherent superiority but the rest of us are supposed to shut up when accused of being lazy and shiftless? Get outta here.

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  7. Not "freaked out," but when I saw those CDC officials originally so confident almost to the point of smugness I thought of some ship builders about a hundred years ago who scoffed at the idea that their giant new vessel could ever sink.

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    1. The sad thing is when it DID sink, the builder was the first one to jump on a lifeboat. He was also the only person who got a private cabin on the rescue ship Carpathia.

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  8. Rich, Did you hear Tom Sullivan mention you by name on his show today? It was in reference to this post.

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  9. Not freaked out yet but I'm sure the day will come as the germ spirals out of control.

    Nothing this administration does or does not do no longer surprises me. This is what you get when you elect an inexperienced Kenyan narcissist who's agenda is to destroy what was once the greatest country.

    The news "experts" are pathetic, they love to carry bho's water.

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  10. I heard Rich Lieberman mentioned by Tom Sullivan as well... referencing a tweet Rich sent out.

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  11. Last Friday I had to stop by my doctor's office in San Francisco. He's at one of the larger medical centers on the northern side of the City. As I walked into his nurses station I noticed multiple signs regarding ebola, directed at both patients and staff. There were signs describing symptoms and what to do and detailed instructions for dealing with people who may be infected. I asked the head nurse "are you serious?"

    The answer was disturbing.

    She explained that the hospital has put staff through emergency training and are preparing for multiple admissions of patients with ebola. The attitude is that it is just a matter of time before a slew of infected people are admitted in San Francisco. The reason that SF will be hit hard is that it is not only a port city but a hub of immigration both legal and otherwise. The 21 day incubation period means that an infected person travelling by ship is not symptomatic today and if they board tomorrow from an Asian port they will arrive and start to exhibit symptoms after they have been in contact with people here in SF. The airports are another issue.

    I've read the comments by people who feel that this is the fault of Obama and his administration. I'm not sure where else to point the finger. Why send troops with no medical qualifications into the hot zone? Why continue to allow travelers from Africa into the USA? Why has nothing been done in YEARS to secure our borders? I'd like to think that this is all because of arrogance and inexperience but after watching the actions of Obama and Holder regarding the Fergusson incident it's hard not to believe that race isn't a motivator. Hussein and his liberal storm troopers are happy to sit back and watch as white Americans get a taste of what his countrymen are facing. Of course as soon as somebody points a finger at the anointed one he or she is a racist conspiracy theory spouting loony. I'd rather be alive and a loony than bleeding out of every orifice. Anyway until this blows over I'm staying away from KFC and Popeyes.

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    1. Oh, please do stay away from KFC and Popeyes! The good people who eat there surely don't want an ignorant, racist fool such as yourself to foul the atmosphere. It's bad enough that your lunatic rants are published here.

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    2. Name the medical center or you are lying.

      The ebola problem in Texas is directly tied to the incompetent hospital that engaged in outrageous malpractice by turning away someone who met multiple critical markers for ebola. He had a fever of 103° and was sent home with tylenol and antibiotics. They knew he had just come from Liberia and didn't give a damn.

      Texas sent him away because he was uninsured.

      You are exactly the kind of fear mongering bigot that needs to sit down and STFU because all you do is spread hate through your lies.

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    3. He said that he said that she said that KFC & Popeyes are Hot Zones, and wer'e not talking about the cute cashier at the drive-in window with the Cleopatra Eyes, and her uniform open down to the third button. Not that kind of 'Hot Chick"

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    4. You are more likely to achieve clogged arteries and an infarct from KFC and Popeyes...than ebola..

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    5. @8:42

      "Name the medical center or you are lying."

      Neener - neener! You got me.

      It doesn't matter WHY patient zero was turned away from a Dallas hospital what matters is that an infected patient is in the USA to begin with. Of course you can't see the big picture through your liberal blinders.

      Ebola is perhaps the deadliest disease to EVER face mankind. Many countries including African countries have closed their borders or have restricted travel and are denying entry to any person from Liberia and other effected areas. How do you think the Chinese are responding to the outbreak? Are they opening their borders and willingly allowing infected persons to spread the disease in China? No. Double tap therapy - two to the head.

      Anyway, back to your fear laden accusation, you don't WANT to believe that the person sitting next to you coughing and having a bloody nose in that vegan café could have ebola and that no matter how gluten free you are microscopic particles will land on your ten bean wrap and infect you as you ingest your meal. Go ahead, bury your head in the sand. Name call and make baseless accusations, just try not to bleed on your fellow MUNI passengers.

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    6. well then 8:42...you'd better insist that Belgium deny entry to anyone from Liberia. Patient one flew from Brussels to Washington DC. You speak of "willingly allowing infected persons"...etc. How would you know someone is infected if they aren't symptomatic? You do realize that you can't test for ebola and get an answer until a person is symptomatic,yes?

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  12. Americans excel at only three things now:
    Bitching
    Following
    Panicking
    They get the TV, and TV news, they deserve.
    As for Ebola in the US: neither an "outbreak", at three cases, nor a "crisis", but that's irrelevant of course. Since no one involved knows what they're doing, just give it time...

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  13. I reposted something from my Facebook: More Americans have been dumped by Taylor Swift than been infected by the Ebola Virus. I think that put it somewhat in perspective.

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  14. Greetings from Texas, where the hysteria is growing by leaps and bounds...

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  15. Texas wants to be declared a disaster area so they can collect $$ from the feds. They are, in fact, a disaster area, not from Ebola but from their idiot governor's refusal to expand Medicaid so that tens of thousands of Texans can have health insurance. I think Texas has the biggest percentage of uninsured citizens in the whole country. That's a sure-fire way to let an epidemic rage out of control.

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    1. Texas is a backward developing country whose delusional governor thinks he's presidential material having shown not an ounce of leadership in this self proclaimed crisis. Health care workers and volunteers working under primitive conditions in Africa treating scores of ebola patients have a better record for not becoming infected than the bozos in countybama Dallas who turned a very sick man away because he was uninsured. Now they want a federal bailout after refusing to participate in ACA. Screw these ignorant, hypocritical jackasses.

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