Ebola

[charliep]

I don't think there is an issue with quarantining sick people or put in levels of defense/protocols for someone who has been in a region where ebola outbreak is still active.

[parsley]

I agree, Charliep. It's a responsible, effective, and economical measure to prevent spreading a disease.

I spent a week in a Red Deer in September, and another week near Red Deer in October. Too bad it isn' t when you will be 'boothing', Charliep, or I'd offer to take you out for nice well-deserved dinner. With wine. Pars

[charliep]

You'll have to come out to WBGA annual meeting again.

[hedgehog]

Kippers are the favoured food for quarantined people, as they slide under the door easily.

[parsley]

Hedgehog, I haven't see you for awhile on AV! Scandinavians will eat any kind of fish. Particularly raw fish. lol. And the English, well... Pars

[parsley]

I'd love to Charliep; they could use another seat filled, and I've been amiss. Pars

[grassfarmer]

Wee bit rich in a nation populated by immigrants to decide there should be no more or numbers strictly curtailed.
Maybe you should reflect with gratitude that similar thinking did not prevent your ancestors moving here.

[parsley]

Canada has tolerated an accelerated influx of immigrants over the past few decades. Too many, too fast. Many refugees have not been properly screened. Many are from countries which have no intention of assimilating into our culture; instead they view Canada as a satellite enclave of the country they left. As well, there are so any immigrants, there are burgeoning enrolments in the school systems, which few provinces can afford to cope with. There is also an undercurrent of resentment of being 'swamped' , which needs to be acknowledged and dealt with. Ten years ago, immigrants were wholeheartedly welcomed; today, many Canadians, especially in cities, are welcome-weary.tje health care,welfare, and education systems in particular.

Many countries don't accept any immigrants at all, or very few. Why do you expect Canada to open our doors wider than other countries? How many immigrants does rich Saudi Arabia accept? Be fair about the comparisons.

We must learn to live within our means. Bringing over the families of the immigrants often includes aging parents with health problems. They cost money. Canada needs to grow gradually so that our immigration system is sound, and serves Canada first with communities living together instead of each ethnic community defining their own very separated communities, apart and isolated

When you look at the chaos and disease and crime and language problems and terrorists and drug problems that Obama has purposely and forcibly introduced into the USA, with his open border scheme, surely we have learned something about the concept of so-called 'open-border' politics.

That should cause you to break out into your acute-conniption-syndrome, grassy. Pars

[Hopperbin]

Our country would be in big doodoo if some of them immigrants with money decided to exit the premissess along with their money. Not all are poor and taking low paying jobs. Just saying what if another part of the world is better so they pack up and leave as fast as they came. Not likely to happen but something to think about. In 300 years when oil is not king. People may want to go somewhere else that has a better welfare package. And they may actually slam the door shut unless you have enough money. Canada's worst nightmare. But lets look at today. Lovely wheather.

[samhill]

Well Grass, my ancestors, like many others, came here when there were no social services, no OAS, no CPP, no hydro, et al. Similar to others, they helped build this country. As Pars indicates, there was a need for more people. My question is simply is there a need now, and if there is, what is it?
The country was founded on laws and ethics which have evolved and changed. But I would go further than Pars, and refuse not only those from countries with Sharia laws, but anyone who believes in Sharia law.
There is no need to allow citizenship just because you emigrate here. As an example, many Belgians are now leaving Belgium b/c immigrants have taken control and are changing laws and customs. I would like Canada to remain similar in its diversity as it has been. But I see no need to allow immigration just so housing developers make more money and businesses can lower wages while taxes increase to pay for increased social program funding.
If I feel my country does not provide adequately for my family, then I should strive to make it better and be proud of it. Apparently some think you should just look around for a better country and go there.
Maybe you have not dealt with a large business where not a word of English or French is spoken,and you feel like a complete outsider, or dealt with people who handle your private and personal information, while discussing it in front of you in a foreign language. I have no idea of your personal experiences, but I've had many that were discomfiting and I believe I am right when I say we have reached a point where citizenship should not be granted without having lived and worked here for at least 7 years.

[hedgehog]

Parsley, Nice to hear from you.

[oneoff]

Vigorous contact tracing and the isolation of each of those exposed individuals for 21 days has been shown to be the ONLY way to prevent an exponential explosion of upwards of 50 to 300 and more potential new cases (per initial case). Even though less than a handful of those dozens upon dozens do develop the disease.

During the infectious period...which initially mimics commonly known diseases that cause body temperature increases and are certainly common world wide....there is a dangerous time period for exposing many many more persons.

And it only takes one missed individual or unexpected exposure to perpetuate the disease that turns into additional cycles.

That warning has been given since the very beginning; but many choose to DENY, DENY, DENY

From my experience; most people will behave as though there is absolutely no problem and believe the situation is under control....and requires no action on their part.

That is not true; even if you live in Nigeria or Senegal. And it becomes exponentially less true once the number of cases reaches more than a handful. However; there are instances that show prompt action; embraced by communities and countries through quarantine and limiting exposure can effectively contain outbreaks and stop that particular viscious cycle.

Otherwise tracing resources and health care workers required can quickly become overwhelmed by sheer numbers.

The resources required only become less when new cases start to diminish (or new developments such as an effective vaccine actually become available for use and are proven effective.) And there is no time to count on vaccines administered on a world wide basis. To ramp up to that universal stage can not happen ....in time.

The US experience so far has been a learning experience about the outcome of arrogance of "best health care systems" and disrespect for a virus that is truly deadly.

This disease has been apparently beaten at least a couple times before. But like triffid or polio or TB or smallpox; it will always be with us; in one form or another; and at minislule or possibly epidemic levels.

In somebodies lab; or hidden in some wild animal reservoir or a few other potential sources that no one has had the foresight to yet recognize.

All I'm saying is that anyone (with public influence or power) who has been unable or unwilling to speak about the potential dangers in initial cycles of this disease should be held accountable. Sugar coating bad situations is not a cure.

And its evident that institutions such as the World Health Organization have not and are not getting the relatively paltry resouces that would have been money well spent.

You see..."their" problem can/will very soon become everyone else's problem.
Back in reality it might be a simple case of


speculating that helping transport some very sick person to an ebola clinic and having seen them turned away... would be a compelling scenario to get yourself somewhere else that may have more adequate treatment facilities.

[ColevilleH2S]

A University prof. from Calgary and a CBC journalist linked Ebola and ISIS to Global warming yesterday morning. I've never screamed so loud at my radio.

Got a problem? Blame it on CO2.

[farmaholic]

Coleville, how could they possibly link and blame global warming on Chad Owens #2 of the Toronto Argonauts? ;-)

[parsley]

Very thoughtful commentary , oneoff, which prompted me to think that perhaps the best defense we have against contagious outbreaks is pre-planning at the local level.

Regina arms in able to control even operating room infections. Hygiene is becoming shockingly lax in all care-facilities. And the attitude and will for improvement is similar to that in a herd of cattle. Hotel tooms and city apartments have become onfested with bedbugs. Aids still runs rampant in some cultures.

Locals know and understand their community, so are perhaps best at providing them with ebola information and service, such as baby clinics already do. Do you think this is a possibility? The alternate is handling ebola in Sask's two city health centres already overrun with drunks, junkies, seniors occupying sick beds as care beds, and the mentally ill.

We already have community disaster planning. Could ebola become a facet of it? After all, ebola could also b/c warfare. Comments? Pars