<p>^^ Did the monkeys die???</p>
<p>yes. Lots of monkeys died (this was a primate quarantine facility so there were lots of monkeys in close proximity), the rest were sacrificed, and at least two humans caught the virus from the monkeys (although no humans died.)</p>
<p>For a while, the researchers at USAMRID though the virus WAS Ebola, but it turned out to be something related but not as deadly. Deadly enough to the monkeys, though… </p>
<p>I thought it was a strain of Ebola, but not one that infected humans (at least not that made human’s sick, the two people who eventually tested positive never showed any symptoms). I think… I have to say it has been a while since I read it, so maybe I am not right, though.</p>
<p>“Anyone find it a bit creepy that this whole ebola thing is happening now just as The Last Ship and The Strain are airing their first seasons? A bit too close to life imitates art…”</p>
<p>Hmm, I sense a plot here. Hollywood producers plant Ebola virus to raise ticket sales…</p>
<p>Maybe I’m mis-remembering, too. I thought it was a mutant form of Ebola (now called “Reston virus”?) but not technically Ebola. At least two people were infected with the virus in Virginia but it was a relatively harmless.</p>
<p>I should be done with the book soon, though… </p>
<p>I read the Hot Zone twenty years ago.
It is not covered in the press much, & it certainly was a case of out of sight , out of mind.
I didn’t worry about it when my daughter went to rural Africa, as I hadn’t heard anything about it.</p>
<p>I am wondering however, if those who are worried about an Ebola outbreak in the US, are NOT worried about climate change and think that glaciers melting, seas rising and mass extinctions are expected fluctuations.</p>
<p>One exists. </p>
<p>The other does not. </p>
<p>What’s there to worry about?</p>
<p>I can’t believe that anyone actually pays attention to Donald Trump. Really???</p>
<p>Either this strain of Ebola is less deadly than Ebola Zaire, or the medical care is vastly better, given a mortality rate of 60% vs 90%. It would appear that the death toll is higher because it has made its way into population centers, instead of rapidly killing off the available hosts in an isolated village.</p>
<p>I just reread The Hot Zone recently. Great book. Yeah, I’d rather die of measles, I think.</p>
<p>No, the reston monkey outbreak was a strain called Ebola Reston- it was harmless to humans though. EDIT: The name has been changed since to Reston EbolaVirus, but it is one of the 5 identified strains. The current outbreak is Ebola Zaire or is strongly related based on current testing.</p>
<p>" I am wondering however, if those who are worried about an Ebola outbreak in the US, are NOT worried about climate change and think that glaciers melting, seas rising and mass extinctions are expected fluctuations."</p>
<p>May have something to do with the fear of miserable, painful death within a week being more of an imminent threat. As opposed to a generation from now, the seas rising half an inch. Plus, if this summer is indicative of global warming, I’m liking it, aren’t you? I wonder how many people are going to be helped by an increase in temperature. Except…I guess it’s climate change, so higher or lower is change, so we can attribute any difference to climate change. Actually, we’ve had less hurricanes over the last few years, but that’s change, right? Is it good or bad? Is change always bad? Hey, isn’t somebody attributing earthquakes to climate change? And Guam is in danger of tipping over—no that’s not climate change.</p>
<p>I’m just messing with you EK. But I am enjoying the summer.
:D</p>
<p>So basically we got lucky before that the outbreaks were naturally quarantined? This is not making me feel less worried.</p>
<p>Ha! That’s it - I knew that “Reston” was part of the virus name, I just forgot the “Ebola” part!</p>
<p>Plus, if this summer is indicative of global warming, I’m liking it, aren’t you</p>
<p>Given the hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland and grasslands destroyed by fire in Washington state alone which includes peoples homes and livelihoods, & it isn’t out yet, I would say, no I am not liking it.
You might have missed that my daughter lives and works in the Okanagan now, and it is a tremendous hardship.
Some have been without power since mid July.
Many have lost their homes & livestock.</p>
<p><a href=“http://m.nwpr.org/?utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F#mobile/49726”>http://m.nwpr.org/?utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F#mobile/49726</a></p>
<p>Okay, EK, I forgot about that, I apologize for being insensitive. I hope your daughter is doing well. But do you really think that the forest fires are all caused by climate change?</p>
<p>And I suspect before that happened, you were enjoying the summer.</p>
<p>We flew over those fires today. The smoke extends all the way to Montana. Plus, my own state has a huge drought. So no, I’m not liking it.</p>
<p>I always enjoy summers. Except when it is above 77 degrees.
Yes I do think the extreme dryness which has contributed to larger and more damaging fires is exacerbated by climate change.
I’ll see if Cliff Mass can break it down in more user friendly terms.</p>
<p><a href=“Wildland Fire | Climate Change Resource Center”>http://www.fs.usda.gov/ccrc/topics/wildfire</a></p>
<p>I am not crazy about heat. But our mold and moss problems have disappeared. Our roof has stopped leaking, and I’m so tired of rain until August. My husband doesn’t mutter about wanting to move anymore, he is always smiling. So my wet, Washington world is better, and it is for most of the people around here. Everyone is outside enjoying it, to the point that the parks, trails and bike paths are crowded.</p>
<p>Though I hope for rain for the fires, in Washington, Oregon, and California. But few can begrudge us PNWers the joy of finally drying out and getting some vitamin D.</p>
<p>@emeraldkity4, some folks like to pick and choose which science they believe depending on what is convenient (and sometimes profitable) for them. Yes, @scholarme, that is exactly right, we got lucky before. Honestly… this could be worse. If something like this could be spread airborne like influenza, it would be a much larger risk.</p>
<p>People like to attribute any negative climate issues to the generic term “climate change”. However, it is often more realistically attributed to localized weather events. For example, it was expected that El Nina would bring hotter weather in the late summer in the northwest this year. This is not a surprise and an unexpected event, unfortunately. We will be crying when La Nina comes around, and some will be talking about climate change. But it’s just the same weather phenomena that we suffer through, year after year.</p>
<p>Anyone remember the epic CA drought of 1976-1977? I was spending the summer of 76 on a farm in Germany - it was also an ‘epic’ drought there. So, sounds rather cyclical. </p>
<p>As far as the raging fires…let’s lay part of the blame on the movement to stop reasonable logging and forest maintenance. There is way to much fuel buildup. When something catches it runs. Fires are actually natures way of cleaning herself. Redwoods for example, can not reseed unless the seed casing is heated. The ash resulting from a forest fire is a nutrient for other vegetation. So, while a PITA for us little humans, it’s just natures house cleaning.</p>