THE ELDERLY LOSES OUT ON SOCIAL SECURITY COST-OF-LIVING (COLA) AGAIN.
THE KUHNS REPORT
LAS VEGAS
Hello America, and how is the world treating you?
Preliminary figures suggest that the cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA will e less than two (2%) percent com e January 2015. The government says gasoline prices are down from a year ago and so is the cost of clothing. Prices of meat, fish and eggs are up nearly nine(9%) percent.
Folks, those of us who depend on social security are feeling the squeeze and the idiotic small, tiny increase year after year. We people on social security continually lose that increase not only in the short-term, but we lose the compounding over time.
For the middle-class, for people who DO NOT qualify for low-income programs, they have to dip into their savings (if they have any) or they are borrowing against their homes to get by.
Congress enacted automatic increases for Social Security beneficiaries back in 1975, when inflation was high and there was a lot of pressure to raise benefits. For the first 35 years, the COLA was less than two(2%) percent ONLY three times. In fact, if the COLA is less than two(2%) percent next year, (2015), it would be the FIFTH time in six years,
Folks, the elderly seniors are being dinged over and over again. They may get a small, pittance of and increase but generally the cost of their Medicare share goes up and in most cases the person doesn't see any increase to spend. It is eaten up in the government's automatic raise for health care. So the small, tiny increase which will probably be (1.7%) is "zeroed" out, leaving the person with no increase at all.
I want to remind all you elderly people out there on social security that Congress, Federal employees, and public sector workers have seen annual cost-of-living increases each year ranging from THREE (3%) percent, FOUR, FIVE and SIX percent. Some have even received up to a TEN (10%) percent cost-of-living increase. So, tell me that's fair? It isn't. The (lawmakers, federal employees, and public employees) have clearly look out for their own well- being and retirement but in essence tell the elderly senior citizen ( let them eat cake) while they gorge at the government pigs trough.
I would suggest the elderly people and all of those dependent on social security benefits take to the streets demanding at least a THREE (3%) percent guarantee annual cost-of-living increase. It can be done by Congress if they want to do . They just have to rewrite parts of a law. If it's good enough for the Congress, federal employees and public employees to receive 3,4,5,6 and even ten percent cost-of living increases each year, it should be good enough for the elderly seniors depending on the benefit.
Finally, I would submit that EVERY person in America, including (Congress people, federal employees, public sector employees) have to be enrolled in the social security program. Their employers and themselves should have pay into the social security system just like all of us PRIVATE sector people holding down jobs. Their retirement expectations should be no different than what we in the private sector expect to receive when we retire.
As it stands now the social security COLA's are chained into the Consumer Price Index (CPI) . Many Democrats and advocates of older Americans have put a thumbs down on the CPI indexing for a Social Security COLA. They want a more generous COLA, that they say would reflect price increases faced by older American who clearly spend more of their income on health care. I totally agree with those Democrats and advocates of the elderly who want to see the social security COLA increased. That said, Congress should get of it's duff and find a way to calculate the COLA for social security increases that deal with reality. We need Congress men and women to stop looking out for themselves and think about the older Americans in this country and do what is right-- increase the annual COLA's other than depending on the CPI calculation. I would suggest that congress make sure older Americans receiving social security benefit COLA's see at least a THREE (3%) increase each and every year, at a minimum. That is fair.
You can bet that if all of the Congress people, federal employees and public employees were paying into the social security system like the rest of us common folk the fund would be more than stable and secure. Further, you can bet that if those lawmakers, federal employees and public employees had to depend on the social security benefits on retirement, (like the rest of us), not on the public dole, the social security fund would never be in trouble because those government people would have some skin in the game and wouldn't let it go for broke - -no matter what. - And, that's my opinion. Make your own decisions. You decide.
Bradley W. Kuhns, Ph.D., O.M.D.
____________________________
Dr. Kuhns can be reached by email at:
bradleykuhns@gmail.com
Monday, October 20, 2014
Saturday, October 18, 2014
TRAVEL BANS, ISOLATION & QUARANTINE IS THE ONLY WAY TO STOP EBOLA.
THE KUHNS REPORT
LAS VEGAS
Hello America, and how is the world treating you?
President Obama selected a Czar to take charge of the Ebola situation. Wow! A czar. Didn't we go through this czar routine over and over again, especially with the DRUG CZAR's. Where did that get America? We lost the drug war decades ago. The czars didn't do a bit of good. Did they? Now an "Ebola czar" named Ron Klain, is Obama's point man. But folk, this guy has no medical or public health experience and background. He is nothing but a political appointee representing the White House.Klain was Obama's first choice for the position when I would think if Obama was that concerned about the health and welfare of the citizens of the United States he would have selected a person a least with infectious disease experience.
I suspect that this political friend of the White House is nothing more than Obama's way of dodging the bullet of being accountable for the Ebola crisis. This is just part of a dog and pony show by the White House.
Obama talks a good game but lacks the ability to take positive, responsible action in a crisis. He listens to a close group around him and in all likelihood goes with a majority consensus of the group meeting. The president came out and and said: " I have no philosophical objection" to imposing a travel ban on West Africa but after talking wit his health officials and security advisers he came up with the excuse that it would be less effective that the measures already in place -- and would be counterproductive. Are you kidding? There are other countries around the world implementing travel and visa bans on those from the West Africa. Again, the president is behind the curve and out of sync with other nations which will, in my opinion be a costly mistake.
Federal officials that are currently advising the president, said during a recent meeting that they place a special emphasis on the importance of stopping the virus in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea to "protect" Americans and the rest of the world from its spread. So Obama goes on TV and radio and says "we have to stop the Ebola at its source."
I agree . The fact that we have to stop the Ebola at it's source is necessary BUT that doesn't mean allowing infected people from these countries to travel will-nilly on airplanes and cruise ships to enter the United States. STOP it at the source, in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. That means ISOLATING the virus to those countries and dealing with it there. Until we have a resolution and solve the Ebola problem, we should NOT allow any traveler's from those infected countries into the United States.
People, it appears the president and his federal health officials talk out of both sides of their mouth. The Federal policy and protocol is FIRST- ISOLATE the infected patient. However, they refuse to isolate the patients from our borders. I suggest isolation is no different than isolating ONE patient here in the USA in a hospital versus isolating any and all traveler's from the countries spawning the disease. I suggest health officials and the president do as they say - -ISOLATE the disease at it's source , keeping it contained in those West Africa countries, treating it there. NOT HERE in the USA.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the United States was already taking the necessary steps to protect the public. He also said: " the chances for a widespread outbreak in the United States remain "exceedingly low" despite the shortcomings in the governments initial response." That should give Americans confidence? The government officials has been screwing up continually and they screwed up right out of the gate by allowing the first patient to be brought back to the United States.
I say that if a disease is to be treated at the source like Obama and his misfits claim, then they should not allow even one more person into the United States that is infected with Ebola. The borders of the United States is every Americans house and should be protected from someone walking into our house with a deadly disease. ISOLATE the infected people to their own house, and treat them there, their own country. That's their house. Further, I suggest that if the president and his posse of talking heads want to treat the Ebola virus "at the source" then send our expertise and expert doctors in to those countries, the infected peoples house and treat them right there, on the spot, containing the disease "at the source."
Already we had infected patient Duncan, then infected nurse, Pham, then infected nurse, 29-year-old Amber Joy Vinson and don't forget the other doctors the administration allowed back into the U.S. before infected patient Duncan passed the disease on in America.
We are told that the second nurse (who was allowed to monitor herself) contracted a fever and went to the hospital. She was "isolated" within 90 minutes. Folks, that's an hour and a half and we are to feel confident that the health workers are doing a good job taking that long to isolate someone with the fatal Ebola virus. It shouldn't have taken that long to get anyone in an isolation unit. Talk about falling down on the job, Christ, they sure did. A lot of people could have been exposed and infected in 90 minutes.
It's very nice that these federal health officials go on television and show some workers wearing gowns, wearing rubber gloves and covering their sleeves and then taping the gloves but hey!!!! Does that make you feel confident? I don't. These show- and- tells are for a play on television and is supposed to impress the American public that we are safe and that health care workers are being particularly careful.
With all this show- and- tell and assurances from the White House and federal health officials I would offer that this circus is nothing but (PC) "political correctness." As I predicted in an earlier blog the infected people in the West Africa countries could quickly reach 10,000 or more a-week and as this administration would have it, it's okay. They keep harping, "let these people come to the U.S. but how many infected people do we have to have come into the U.S. before we are "the source?!"
Folks, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that if we keep allowing infected people to travel freely to our country we will soon have an epidemic here too. Common sense, folks. Using visa bans and banning air and cruise ship travel to our country will certainly prevent more infected people invading our shores. So, this stupid argument from Obama and his know-it-all crew that air travel bans won't work is unwarranted.
I also believe that these laser temperature guns and questionnaires is a farce. People will :lie" on the questionnaire (infected patient Duncan did). Those tactics are just another way to placate the American public into believing everyone is safe.
We all need a passport or some type of travel papers to go from country to country. Is the USA to wishy-washy to ask other countries to flag those people that have visited and/or lived in the West Africa countries in question? It would be no big task to have that done. They should be flagged and prohibited from entering the United States. The people from those countries could be held in quarantine for the 21 day symptom appearance time period.
And, finally, as I suggested before - - the "Q" word. Lets quarantine the infected people. We are not dealing with the common cold, we are dealing with a "death" sentence. Like I mentioned in an earlier blog I had occasion to go to the Leper Colony in Hawaii in the early 1950's, I can attest that what we consider isolation, was not isolation at the colony. The infected people lived in great housing quarters, they had most all of the conveniences, even drove cars. Many drove the Henry J. Kaiser automobile, which was popular in the early 50's. The Leper Colony was a living, breathing community. All the residents were Lepers and they did not consider themselves isolated. My point, even isolation can be made to be enjoyable. Now, 60- years later the world has many conveniences that make life much better than it was in the 50's. The age of the computer, iPhones, Internet are just some of the things available. Large screen TV's, spas, movies, restaurants, High Def, super large screens for a a person to Skype a call around the world is available. So, in quarantine an infected Ebola person can have all the toys at their disposal to communicate world-wide, enjoy restaurants and social activities in ONE LOCATION without exposing their fatal disease to the general public.
Again, as I've suggested in prior correspondence -- ONE LOCATION, ONE FACILITY, manned and staffed by an expert team of health care workers to treat infected Ebola patients.. - And , that's my opinion. Make your own decisions. You decide.
Bradley W. Kuhns, Ph.D., O.M.D.
____________________________
Dr. Kuhns can be reached by email at:
bradleykuhns@gmail.com
THE KUHNS REPORT
LAS VEGAS
Hello America, and how is the world treating you?
President Obama selected a Czar to take charge of the Ebola situation. Wow! A czar. Didn't we go through this czar routine over and over again, especially with the DRUG CZAR's. Where did that get America? We lost the drug war decades ago. The czars didn't do a bit of good. Did they? Now an "Ebola czar" named Ron Klain, is Obama's point man. But folk, this guy has no medical or public health experience and background. He is nothing but a political appointee representing the White House.Klain was Obama's first choice for the position when I would think if Obama was that concerned about the health and welfare of the citizens of the United States he would have selected a person a least with infectious disease experience.
I suspect that this political friend of the White House is nothing more than Obama's way of dodging the bullet of being accountable for the Ebola crisis. This is just part of a dog and pony show by the White House.
Obama talks a good game but lacks the ability to take positive, responsible action in a crisis. He listens to a close group around him and in all likelihood goes with a majority consensus of the group meeting. The president came out and and said: " I have no philosophical objection" to imposing a travel ban on West Africa but after talking wit his health officials and security advisers he came up with the excuse that it would be less effective that the measures already in place -- and would be counterproductive. Are you kidding? There are other countries around the world implementing travel and visa bans on those from the West Africa. Again, the president is behind the curve and out of sync with other nations which will, in my opinion be a costly mistake.
Federal officials that are currently advising the president, said during a recent meeting that they place a special emphasis on the importance of stopping the virus in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea to "protect" Americans and the rest of the world from its spread. So Obama goes on TV and radio and says "we have to stop the Ebola at its source."
I agree . The fact that we have to stop the Ebola at it's source is necessary BUT that doesn't mean allowing infected people from these countries to travel will-nilly on airplanes and cruise ships to enter the United States. STOP it at the source, in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. That means ISOLATING the virus to those countries and dealing with it there. Until we have a resolution and solve the Ebola problem, we should NOT allow any traveler's from those infected countries into the United States.
People, it appears the president and his federal health officials talk out of both sides of their mouth. The Federal policy and protocol is FIRST- ISOLATE the infected patient. However, they refuse to isolate the patients from our borders. I suggest isolation is no different than isolating ONE patient here in the USA in a hospital versus isolating any and all traveler's from the countries spawning the disease. I suggest health officials and the president do as they say - -ISOLATE the disease at it's source , keeping it contained in those West Africa countries, treating it there. NOT HERE in the USA.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the United States was already taking the necessary steps to protect the public. He also said: " the chances for a widespread outbreak in the United States remain "exceedingly low" despite the shortcomings in the governments initial response." That should give Americans confidence? The government officials has been screwing up continually and they screwed up right out of the gate by allowing the first patient to be brought back to the United States.
I say that if a disease is to be treated at the source like Obama and his misfits claim, then they should not allow even one more person into the United States that is infected with Ebola. The borders of the United States is every Americans house and should be protected from someone walking into our house with a deadly disease. ISOLATE the infected people to their own house, and treat them there, their own country. That's their house. Further, I suggest that if the president and his posse of talking heads want to treat the Ebola virus "at the source" then send our expertise and expert doctors in to those countries, the infected peoples house and treat them right there, on the spot, containing the disease "at the source."
Already we had infected patient Duncan, then infected nurse, Pham, then infected nurse, 29-year-old Amber Joy Vinson and don't forget the other doctors the administration allowed back into the U.S. before infected patient Duncan passed the disease on in America.
We are told that the second nurse (who was allowed to monitor herself) contracted a fever and went to the hospital. She was "isolated" within 90 minutes. Folks, that's an hour and a half and we are to feel confident that the health workers are doing a good job taking that long to isolate someone with the fatal Ebola virus. It shouldn't have taken that long to get anyone in an isolation unit. Talk about falling down on the job, Christ, they sure did. A lot of people could have been exposed and infected in 90 minutes.
It's very nice that these federal health officials go on television and show some workers wearing gowns, wearing rubber gloves and covering their sleeves and then taping the gloves but hey!!!! Does that make you feel confident? I don't. These show- and- tells are for a play on television and is supposed to impress the American public that we are safe and that health care workers are being particularly careful.
With all this show- and- tell and assurances from the White House and federal health officials I would offer that this circus is nothing but (PC) "political correctness." As I predicted in an earlier blog the infected people in the West Africa countries could quickly reach 10,000 or more a-week and as this administration would have it, it's okay. They keep harping, "let these people come to the U.S. but how many infected people do we have to have come into the U.S. before we are "the source?!"
Folks, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that if we keep allowing infected people to travel freely to our country we will soon have an epidemic here too. Common sense, folks. Using visa bans and banning air and cruise ship travel to our country will certainly prevent more infected people invading our shores. So, this stupid argument from Obama and his know-it-all crew that air travel bans won't work is unwarranted.
I also believe that these laser temperature guns and questionnaires is a farce. People will :lie" on the questionnaire (infected patient Duncan did). Those tactics are just another way to placate the American public into believing everyone is safe.
We all need a passport or some type of travel papers to go from country to country. Is the USA to wishy-washy to ask other countries to flag those people that have visited and/or lived in the West Africa countries in question? It would be no big task to have that done. They should be flagged and prohibited from entering the United States. The people from those countries could be held in quarantine for the 21 day symptom appearance time period.
And, finally, as I suggested before - - the "Q" word. Lets quarantine the infected people. We are not dealing with the common cold, we are dealing with a "death" sentence. Like I mentioned in an earlier blog I had occasion to go to the Leper Colony in Hawaii in the early 1950's, I can attest that what we consider isolation, was not isolation at the colony. The infected people lived in great housing quarters, they had most all of the conveniences, even drove cars. Many drove the Henry J. Kaiser automobile, which was popular in the early 50's. The Leper Colony was a living, breathing community. All the residents were Lepers and they did not consider themselves isolated. My point, even isolation can be made to be enjoyable. Now, 60- years later the world has many conveniences that make life much better than it was in the 50's. The age of the computer, iPhones, Internet are just some of the things available. Large screen TV's, spas, movies, restaurants, High Def, super large screens for a a person to Skype a call around the world is available. So, in quarantine an infected Ebola person can have all the toys at their disposal to communicate world-wide, enjoy restaurants and social activities in ONE LOCATION without exposing their fatal disease to the general public.
Again, as I've suggested in prior correspondence -- ONE LOCATION, ONE FACILITY, manned and staffed by an expert team of health care workers to treat infected Ebola patients.. - And , that's my opinion. Make your own decisions. You decide.
Bradley W. Kuhns, Ph.D., O.M.D.
____________________________
Dr. Kuhns can be reached by email at:
bradleykuhns@gmail.com
Friday, October 17, 2014
ANOTHER IRRESPONSIBLE INFECTED EBOLA PATIENT RUNS AMOK.
THE KUHNS REPORT
LAS VEGAS
Hello America, and how is the world treating you?
The Ebola virus still keeps rolling along here in the USA. As I predicted in earlier blogs there are those people that contract the Ebola disease and fail to report it to health officials UNTIL their symptoms are in the treatment stage. These people only think about themselves. Take infected nurse, Amber Vinson. She thought nothing about taking a flight from Ohio to Texas. This woman put 70 or more fellow passengers at risk. In fact, the CDC is attempting to track down all of the passengers that was on the same flight as Vinson. Vinson was isolated when the plane arrived in Texas but keep in mind some of those passengers were within THREE feet of this infected nurse. She also exposed relatives and friends once she spent time in Ohio. It is reported that the state of Ohio is now trying to monitor 100 people this woman came in contact with.
The CDC health officials flatly stated that Amber Vinson SHOULD not have flown on the plane saying she should have known better. But again, this is just another reason to quarantine and isolate ANY possible infected person for at least 21 days until the supposedly incubation period of the disease has passed. Until Dr. Thomas Frieden and his ilk stop allowing health care workers to voluntarily monitor themselves for the disease this merry-go-round will continue and the Ebola will spread. Health officials HAVE to mandate and make it an order that anyone working in and around the Ebola patient be monitored by a team set up to do just that one task - - monitor health care workers.
Because of this woman's total disregard for other people the relatives of Vinson who work at Kent State were asked to remain off campus. Lets see how that works out, right? They should not be asked - - I believe they should be ordered to stay off campus and quarantined for the 21 days in their own residence completely away from the general public. Hell, even Vinson's apartment had to be decontaminated by teams of workers and all the residents in the building had to be notified. All because of the actions one person, Amber Vinson. If Vinson was around children they may have been exposed, if so, they should not be allowed inside a school for at least 21 days - - and, I have my doubts regarding the 21 day monitor period. But that's another story all in itself.
Frieden, the director of the CDC, who acknowledged "LAPSES" in his and other health officials handling of the Ebola outbreak still is sugar coating the real dangers of Ebola virus. He says: " The risk to other passengers on the Frontier Airlines flight is "very low." To me that is displaying a lack of urgency and seriousness of the disease. And yet, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, the county's chief political officer, said authorities were "anticipating" additional Ebola cases. He went on to say: " We are preparing for contingencies for more, and that is a real possibility."
Folks, you can bet there will be more. I've said that all along but as some health officials tell America that there is nothing to worry about, other like Jenkins know there is something to worry about but still continue the "rosy glasses" routine.
Finally, I would suggest that the men and woman that have been infected with the Ebola virus and disregard the welfare and well-being of other Americans by going out among the masses should be held accountable and prosecuted. If exposing others to a deadly disease is not a crime, I don't know what is. And, I'll say it again and keep saying it until some of these dummy health officials and the administration listen up: That is, ONE LOCATION, ONE FACILITY. Isolation, containment and quarantine is the path to go down. Otherwise we will continue to have infected patients like DUNCAN, (who lied), and Amber Vinson , who knew better than to fly on an airplane in her condition but did so anyway. It is people like this that will perpetuate the disease, passing it on and on to others. - And, that's my opinion. Make your own decisions, You decide.
Bradley W. Kuhns, Ph.D., O.M.D.
____________________________
Dr. Kuhns can be reached by email at:
bradleykuhns@gmail.com
Monday, October 13, 2014
EBOLA VIRUS CONTINUES TO INFECT- WE NEED ACTION, NOT WORDS
THE KUHNS REPORT
LAS VEGAS
Hello America. and how is the world treating you?
The Ebola fiasco is still happening and as I stated in earlier blogs some of the people supposedly in charge still don't get it.
I also mentioned previously that there should be "ONLY" one center to accept and treat Ebola patients but because of political correctness the health officials turn a blind eye. For example, I mentioned in an earlier blog that I had occasion in the early 1950's to spend time at the Leper Colony in the Hawaiian Islands. The entire Island was dedicated to housing and treating Leper patients. The medical staff was trained, were constantly on site, and had specific protocols and policy set up to treat the Leprosy and none of the Lepers were in contact with the general population off the Island. I would have to say that the isolation and the treatment given the Leper community was well organized and controlled. The disease was well contained.
As I proposed, specialized treatment units and location are ideal. That should be the watch word.
With the resources the United States has it would be no problem to set up ONE location and ONE facility where all possible Ebola infected people are treated and cared for by a group of trained staff. From day one of the Ebola matter I have always maintained that the federal government and its health authorities should mandate and require any/and all Ebola patients be sent to a highly specialized "containment" center. Money spent for the protection of Americans should come first, rather than giving BILLIONS of dollars to foreign countries who take our money and spit in our face.
It has been reported that "new" data suggests that even "tiny droplets" of a patients body fluids can contain the fatal virus. And, I emphasize the word "new." So, believe me when I say that one careless nurse, doctor and/or health care worker can pick up some secretions and/or body fluids and spread the disease.
Again, I say that allowing each and every hospital in America to accept possible Ebola patients is a losing battle. Why? Because each and every hospital's emergency room is clearly NOT prepared to isolate , contain and take infection control precautions. Hell, at the present time there are hundreds of thousands of people that contract illness and disease while spending time in a hospital. In many cases a patient comes out of the hospital with a disease that is worse that the ailment they went to the hospital for originally. Infection control in hospitals in the United States at the present time is dismal. Many patients become gravely ill, some die. A hospital-acquired infection is called "nosocomial" and the biggest offender causing a nosocomial hospital-acquired infection is "lack of hand washing." It's hard to believe but the truth is the truth. Doctors, nurses, technicians and support staff frequently touch patients before washing their hands, thereby transferring a virus and/or disease on to an unsuspecting patient. And now, these health officials tell Americans that they have everything regarding Ebola under control? Hell ! If they cannot even wash their hands before treating a patient, what makes you think that they will not take short cuts and break policy and protocol with the fatal Ebola?
Case in point: One of the nurses, (26- year-old, Nina Pham) who treated infected patient Duncan at Texas Presbyterian contracted the Ebola virus and then she came in contact with others at the hospital. There were also at least 70 other hospital staffers who were involved in Thomas Eric Duncan's care. I would think these people warrant watching and monitored. Nurse Pham must have violated or ignored protocol in some way if she came down worth the virus. She contracted the virus and according to the talking heads that claim to know everything about Ebola say that policy and/or protocol HAD to be broken in order for Pham to contract Ebola. I believe it is "unacceptable" to have a health care worker contract the disease. You can't have it both ways, people. There is no such thing as being "only half pregnant." It's an "either -or" situation. Pham either broke protocol or she didn't. My view is that if she followed policy and protocol she would NOT have contracted Ebola. The conclusion being: She contracted Ebola so she MUST have broken protocol and/or policy. Lets face it - - If you go to bed at night and there's NO snow on the ground and you wake up the next morning and there IS snow on the ground , one can conclude that indeed, it did snow during the night. But the sad part of this case is Dr. Frieden initially indicated the nurse broke protocol in some way, shape or form BUT after a group of nurses complained about his statement saying he's blaming the nurse--Dr. Frieden., the head of the CDC back-peddled, and softened his remarks and apologized to the world and the nurse. Wow! What's that tell you folks. Here we are dealing with one of the most deadly diseases in the entire world but to be politically correct and to sooth over hard feeling of a specific group it appears Dr. Frieden bends with the wind and is willing to change views in a heartbeat. Does that give one confidence in the governments edicts? I think not.
I see one of the failures in policy/protocol as allowing these health care workers who work with isolated Ebola patients to"self-monitor" themselves. As it stands, it appears health officials have been relying on an "honor" system . They expect health care workers to report any potential exposure and watch themselves for symptoms. I see that clearly as a dangerous move. Any health care worker may be afraid to report any symptoms and/or knowingly fail to report symptoms. I would offer the following: Have any and all health care workers involved in Ebola treatment monitored by a team of experts. The government health officials should not leave these workers the option to monitor themselves.
Folks, small hospitals across the country are not equipped to handle Ebola patients. They never will be. I have no doubt that nurses and health care workers in every position is "frightened, afraid" because of the training they never received or the inadequate training they may have received.
I suggest that the people in charge like, Dr. Tom Frieden, head of the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention and state Health officials throughout the country are a "day late and a dollar short." Now, and only now, they are screaming and yelling that they "will" set up training, policy and protocols. They intend to ramp up training NOW? Where were they when Ebola reared it's ugly head years ago? Ignorance is bliss, isn't it? I say Ebola training protocols should have be set up and in place years ago. I think people have been sleeping at the switch.
Mark my words, these health officials who are now telling Americans there is nothing to worry about will argue against treating any and all Ebola infected patients at ONE location, ONE facility. I will further predict these same health officials will say it's dangerous and high-risk to "transfer" the patient because it has potential to expose more people to the virus. To me, that's a lame argument. The Ebola patient would have to be transported in any event, whether from a residence, business, off the street, etc., by health care workers wearing the protective gear that was used to transport the first doctor who was brought back to the United States for treatment. So transferring the patient directly to one specific Ebola facility at one specific location for isolation, containment and treatment would not be as dangerous as allowing an Ebola patient to "try" to be treated at some small hospital emergency room in some small town or city where the risks of an error would be enormous.
As I write this I understand that Dr. Tom Frieden, head of the CDC again went to the media and said something like: "We have to rethink how we handle Ebola." " Even a single case of Ebola is unacceptable." No kidding!
Here's a few suggestion(s) for the health officials that would rather talk, than act.
1. Look at the type of protective gear being used to handle an Ebola patient.
2. Minimize the number of heath care workers caring for an Ebola patient.
3. Have one specific team work with the Ebola patient.
4. Have members of that team trained with specific policy and protocol to be followed by the numbers, checked off a clip board, not unlike a (flight check for pilots) as they gear up and progress through each phase of treatment and carried out to removing the protective gear.
5. And, most of all, transfer any/and all Ebola infected patients to ONE LOCATION, ONE FACILITY where all data, medical records and treatment can be closely monitored and controlled, preventing possible exposure to the general population outside the facility.
Note: The one facility, one location for isolation and treatment might be: a particular military base that has been closed for years. It could be set up with the most sophisticated equipment and staffed with the trained medical personnel most able to treat and care for Ebola patients. I would think this would put the military base to good use. The patients. would be centralized, contained and would avoid exposure to the general population of Americans. There also would be no opportunity for the Ebola infected people to ignore quarantine rules and regulations. They could be housed on the base as thousands of military men and women have been before the base closure.
A secondary suggestion could be that Ebola patients be transferred to a ship for care and treatment. Keep in mind the United States has a number of medical ships already operating around the world and it would be easy enough to treat Ebola patients on a ship. Remember many of the ships in the United States fleet house 3,000, even 4000 or more individuals and since we already know how to equip a ship for medical treatments, one could be specific for Ebola patients. Again, One location, one facility.
6.Conduct frequent and periodic checks on any/and all health care workers and personnel working in the Ebola facility and around infected Ebola patients.
There clearly is many other suggestions that could and should be put in place to protect all Americans from the deadly Ebola but the ones mentioned herein is a start.
Finally, here's a scary though people. I predict that it will only be a matter of time, in the near future, before an illegal alien crosses our Southern Border carrying this deadly virus. And if I were a betting man I would put money down that the illegal will co-mingle with people in the community and pass the disease on to others before it is detected. By then -- the spread of this killer disease will be much more difficult to trace. That is what is happening right now in West Africa. People in those countries and their relatives are infected and they fail to report it. The result is now over 4000 deaths and climbing, as of this date. I would estimate that within 9 months to a year the death toll in West Africa will reach at least 10,000. per month You can bet that the same will occur here because of our porous borders if Congress does not address the problem.
I predict this scenario will happen because of our weak-headed lawmakers in Washington who are still playing games with securing our borders. Christ, they don't even want to suspend flights into the country or place visa bans on these West Africa countries (which would be a great first step). So wishing and hoping this lame Congress will get some back bone, step up and "secure" our borders to " prevent the spread of Ebola" is just that - -wishful thinking. It's been reported by West Africa officials and officials in the United States that the Ebola epidemic in West Africa is clearly "out of control." What does Congress not understand about "out of control?" You would think our lawmakers in Congress would learn by experience and from the past but they continue to ignore the warning signs and allow the lethal Ebola virus to gain a foothold in America. First, it was ONE patient, that ONE turned into TWO, TWO turned into THREE and so on, --- and it's going to get worse and the numbers are going to multiply if lawmakers continue on this irresponsible path.
I suggested that the first patient should not have been brought back to the USA, I said that he should have been treated in West Africa. Others like Donald Trump said the same thing. But the dumb bunnies in Washington put a rubber stamp on bringing the Ebola patients back to America. Look at the result. The stock market has crashed and burned. In fact it fell by hundreds of points three and four days in a row. Airline stocks fell. People are afraid to fly. And, I predict that when the Ebola numbers continue to rise the lawmakers and these same health officials that have been preaching the word will say they didn't see it coming and something unexpected caused the virus to "get out of control" in America. They will be playing the blame game and pointing fingers. - And, that's my opinion. Make your own decision. You decide.
Bradley W. Kuhns, Ph.D., O.M.D.
____________________________
Dr. Kuhns can be reached by email at:
bradleykuhns@gmail.com
THE KUHNS REPORT
LAS VEGAS
Hello America. and how is the world treating you?
The Ebola fiasco is still happening and as I stated in earlier blogs some of the people supposedly in charge still don't get it.
I also mentioned previously that there should be "ONLY" one center to accept and treat Ebola patients but because of political correctness the health officials turn a blind eye. For example, I mentioned in an earlier blog that I had occasion in the early 1950's to spend time at the Leper Colony in the Hawaiian Islands. The entire Island was dedicated to housing and treating Leper patients. The medical staff was trained, were constantly on site, and had specific protocols and policy set up to treat the Leprosy and none of the Lepers were in contact with the general population off the Island. I would have to say that the isolation and the treatment given the Leper community was well organized and controlled. The disease was well contained.
As I proposed, specialized treatment units and location are ideal. That should be the watch word.
With the resources the United States has it would be no problem to set up ONE location and ONE facility where all possible Ebola infected people are treated and cared for by a group of trained staff. From day one of the Ebola matter I have always maintained that the federal government and its health authorities should mandate and require any/and all Ebola patients be sent to a highly specialized "containment" center. Money spent for the protection of Americans should come first, rather than giving BILLIONS of dollars to foreign countries who take our money and spit in our face.
It has been reported that "new" data suggests that even "tiny droplets" of a patients body fluids can contain the fatal virus. And, I emphasize the word "new." So, believe me when I say that one careless nurse, doctor and/or health care worker can pick up some secretions and/or body fluids and spread the disease.
Again, I say that allowing each and every hospital in America to accept possible Ebola patients is a losing battle. Why? Because each and every hospital's emergency room is clearly NOT prepared to isolate , contain and take infection control precautions. Hell, at the present time there are hundreds of thousands of people that contract illness and disease while spending time in a hospital. In many cases a patient comes out of the hospital with a disease that is worse that the ailment they went to the hospital for originally. Infection control in hospitals in the United States at the present time is dismal. Many patients become gravely ill, some die. A hospital-acquired infection is called "nosocomial" and the biggest offender causing a nosocomial hospital-acquired infection is "lack of hand washing." It's hard to believe but the truth is the truth. Doctors, nurses, technicians and support staff frequently touch patients before washing their hands, thereby transferring a virus and/or disease on to an unsuspecting patient. And now, these health officials tell Americans that they have everything regarding Ebola under control? Hell ! If they cannot even wash their hands before treating a patient, what makes you think that they will not take short cuts and break policy and protocol with the fatal Ebola?
Case in point: One of the nurses, (26- year-old, Nina Pham) who treated infected patient Duncan at Texas Presbyterian contracted the Ebola virus and then she came in contact with others at the hospital. There were also at least 70 other hospital staffers who were involved in Thomas Eric Duncan's care. I would think these people warrant watching and monitored. Nurse Pham must have violated or ignored protocol in some way if she came down worth the virus. She contracted the virus and according to the talking heads that claim to know everything about Ebola say that policy and/or protocol HAD to be broken in order for Pham to contract Ebola. I believe it is "unacceptable" to have a health care worker contract the disease. You can't have it both ways, people. There is no such thing as being "only half pregnant." It's an "either -or" situation. Pham either broke protocol or she didn't. My view is that if she followed policy and protocol she would NOT have contracted Ebola. The conclusion being: She contracted Ebola so she MUST have broken protocol and/or policy. Lets face it - - If you go to bed at night and there's NO snow on the ground and you wake up the next morning and there IS snow on the ground , one can conclude that indeed, it did snow during the night. But the sad part of this case is Dr. Frieden initially indicated the nurse broke protocol in some way, shape or form BUT after a group of nurses complained about his statement saying he's blaming the nurse--Dr. Frieden., the head of the CDC back-peddled, and softened his remarks and apologized to the world and the nurse. Wow! What's that tell you folks. Here we are dealing with one of the most deadly diseases in the entire world but to be politically correct and to sooth over hard feeling of a specific group it appears Dr. Frieden bends with the wind and is willing to change views in a heartbeat. Does that give one confidence in the governments edicts? I think not.
I see one of the failures in policy/protocol as allowing these health care workers who work with isolated Ebola patients to"self-monitor" themselves. As it stands, it appears health officials have been relying on an "honor" system . They expect health care workers to report any potential exposure and watch themselves for symptoms. I see that clearly as a dangerous move. Any health care worker may be afraid to report any symptoms and/or knowingly fail to report symptoms. I would offer the following: Have any and all health care workers involved in Ebola treatment monitored by a team of experts. The government health officials should not leave these workers the option to monitor themselves.
Folks, small hospitals across the country are not equipped to handle Ebola patients. They never will be. I have no doubt that nurses and health care workers in every position is "frightened, afraid" because of the training they never received or the inadequate training they may have received.
I suggest that the people in charge like, Dr. Tom Frieden, head of the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention and state Health officials throughout the country are a "day late and a dollar short." Now, and only now, they are screaming and yelling that they "will" set up training, policy and protocols. They intend to ramp up training NOW? Where were they when Ebola reared it's ugly head years ago? Ignorance is bliss, isn't it? I say Ebola training protocols should have be set up and in place years ago. I think people have been sleeping at the switch.
Mark my words, these health officials who are now telling Americans there is nothing to worry about will argue against treating any and all Ebola infected patients at ONE location, ONE facility. I will further predict these same health officials will say it's dangerous and high-risk to "transfer" the patient because it has potential to expose more people to the virus. To me, that's a lame argument. The Ebola patient would have to be transported in any event, whether from a residence, business, off the street, etc., by health care workers wearing the protective gear that was used to transport the first doctor who was brought back to the United States for treatment. So transferring the patient directly to one specific Ebola facility at one specific location for isolation, containment and treatment would not be as dangerous as allowing an Ebola patient to "try" to be treated at some small hospital emergency room in some small town or city where the risks of an error would be enormous.
As I write this I understand that Dr. Tom Frieden, head of the CDC again went to the media and said something like: "We have to rethink how we handle Ebola." " Even a single case of Ebola is unacceptable." No kidding!
Here's a few suggestion(s) for the health officials that would rather talk, than act.
1. Look at the type of protective gear being used to handle an Ebola patient.
2. Minimize the number of heath care workers caring for an Ebola patient.
3. Have one specific team work with the Ebola patient.
4. Have members of that team trained with specific policy and protocol to be followed by the numbers, checked off a clip board, not unlike a (flight check for pilots) as they gear up and progress through each phase of treatment and carried out to removing the protective gear.
5. And, most of all, transfer any/and all Ebola infected patients to ONE LOCATION, ONE FACILITY where all data, medical records and treatment can be closely monitored and controlled, preventing possible exposure to the general population outside the facility.
Note: The one facility, one location for isolation and treatment might be: a particular military base that has been closed for years. It could be set up with the most sophisticated equipment and staffed with the trained medical personnel most able to treat and care for Ebola patients. I would think this would put the military base to good use. The patients. would be centralized, contained and would avoid exposure to the general population of Americans. There also would be no opportunity for the Ebola infected people to ignore quarantine rules and regulations. They could be housed on the base as thousands of military men and women have been before the base closure.
A secondary suggestion could be that Ebola patients be transferred to a ship for care and treatment. Keep in mind the United States has a number of medical ships already operating around the world and it would be easy enough to treat Ebola patients on a ship. Remember many of the ships in the United States fleet house 3,000, even 4000 or more individuals and since we already know how to equip a ship for medical treatments, one could be specific for Ebola patients. Again, One location, one facility.
6.Conduct frequent and periodic checks on any/and all health care workers and personnel working in the Ebola facility and around infected Ebola patients.
There clearly is many other suggestions that could and should be put in place to protect all Americans from the deadly Ebola but the ones mentioned herein is a start.
Finally, here's a scary though people. I predict that it will only be a matter of time, in the near future, before an illegal alien crosses our Southern Border carrying this deadly virus. And if I were a betting man I would put money down that the illegal will co-mingle with people in the community and pass the disease on to others before it is detected. By then -- the spread of this killer disease will be much more difficult to trace. That is what is happening right now in West Africa. People in those countries and their relatives are infected and they fail to report it. The result is now over 4000 deaths and climbing, as of this date. I would estimate that within 9 months to a year the death toll in West Africa will reach at least 10,000. per month You can bet that the same will occur here because of our porous borders if Congress does not address the problem.
I predict this scenario will happen because of our weak-headed lawmakers in Washington who are still playing games with securing our borders. Christ, they don't even want to suspend flights into the country or place visa bans on these West Africa countries (which would be a great first step). So wishing and hoping this lame Congress will get some back bone, step up and "secure" our borders to " prevent the spread of Ebola" is just that - -wishful thinking. It's been reported by West Africa officials and officials in the United States that the Ebola epidemic in West Africa is clearly "out of control." What does Congress not understand about "out of control?" You would think our lawmakers in Congress would learn by experience and from the past but they continue to ignore the warning signs and allow the lethal Ebola virus to gain a foothold in America. First, it was ONE patient, that ONE turned into TWO, TWO turned into THREE and so on, --- and it's going to get worse and the numbers are going to multiply if lawmakers continue on this irresponsible path.
I suggested that the first patient should not have been brought back to the USA, I said that he should have been treated in West Africa. Others like Donald Trump said the same thing. But the dumb bunnies in Washington put a rubber stamp on bringing the Ebola patients back to America. Look at the result. The stock market has crashed and burned. In fact it fell by hundreds of points three and four days in a row. Airline stocks fell. People are afraid to fly. And, I predict that when the Ebola numbers continue to rise the lawmakers and these same health officials that have been preaching the word will say they didn't see it coming and something unexpected caused the virus to "get out of control" in America. They will be playing the blame game and pointing fingers. - And, that's my opinion. Make your own decision. You decide.
Bradley W. Kuhns, Ph.D., O.M.D.
____________________________
Dr. Kuhns can be reached by email at:
bradleykuhns@gmail.com
Sunday, October 12, 2014
PEOPLE POSSIBLY INFECTED WITH A DEADLY DISEASE LIKE EBOLA OFTEN LIE.
THE KUHNS REPORT
Hello America, and how is the world treating you?
As prior blogs of mine attest, my predictions regarding Ebola have come to pass. So, I dare make another prediction. If people who are suspected of having Ebola and those that actually do carry the virus continue to ignore Health officials warning of staying isolated and confined to their home and voluntarily quarantine themselves until the 21 days of expected infection has passed there will be many, many cases of Ebola showing up around the United States.
Two cases in point: The first is: The family of infected patient Duncan refused to follow the instructions and orders of the health officials in Texas. They didn't want to be isolated and wanted to venture out among the general public even though they may have been infected with the deadly virus. Thus, because of their stubborn refusal to follow directions guards had to be placed outside their residence.
Second case is: The NBC news crew that worked with American cameraman Ashoka Mukpo who was infected with the Ebola virus. He is currently being treated here in the U.S. at Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. The NBC news crew had "AGREED" with New Jersey health officials to sequester and isolate themselves upon returning to the U.S. but then "FAILED" to do so according to the New Jersey Department of Health. So, a MANDATORY QUARANTINE was issued late Friday and will ensure that the group will remain confined until October 22, 2014 the end of a 21- day maximum incubation period for Ebola. Now, the New Jersey Health Department spokesperson, for the Health Department, Donna Leusner, covers their butt by saying: " There is no reason for concern of exposure to the community." Really? What if the crew eventually exhibited symptoms that showed infection with Ebola? The community would have been at risk. It's these kind of screw ups by health officials that will cause the disease to spread. This NBC crew should have been mandated to be quarantined "immediately" upon arrival in the United States. There should have been no if, ands, or buts about it. The crew should not have had a choice to voluntarily quarantine themselves. Why? Because like what happened, they broke their agreement and FAILED to quarantine themselves.And like infected patient Duncan, who LIED to officials that he came in contact with an infected Ebola person and his relatives in Texas refusing to stay away from the general population it appears that possible infected people do not give a damn about anyone that they may come in contact with and pass the Ebola virus on to others.
That's not unusual though. It happened with AIDS/HIV and other deadly diseases where the infected person refuses to stay away from others while infected. No matter what, that infected individual insists on mixing and mingling with others. It's wrong but they do just that, usually rationalizing to themselves that they will not infect others.
I also made an earlier prediction that if these infected Ebola patients are spread out throughout the United States for treatment it will be more difficult to get a handle on the fatal disease and it will spread. I believe that any and all people diagnosed with Ebola should be transported to and treated at one "central" location. They should be isolated and quarantined at that "one" facility location. I submit that would be much safer for the general public. The entire country would feel confident that all of the infected Ebola patients was being cared for at a specialized location by health care workers who could control the environment at any given second. I also submit that there would be less chance of an error occurring at the one location rather that having an incompetent health care worker who violates policy and protocol at some hospital(s) spread out around the country. All it's going to take is "one" health care worker to screw up like the nurse and doctors in Texas did and the result will be crops and clusters of Ebola infected people in different towns and cities across the nation.
In the 1950's I had the opportunity to travel to Hawaii and spend some time at the Leper colony that was segregated on one Island of Hawaii. At the time, it appeared to be a good model to treat Leprosy. It could be said that with such a deadly disease as Ebola, the idea of one facility, one location (like the leprosy colony) in Hawaii is a good argument for treatment and control. If it were up to me I would argue against having Ebola patients treated here, there, and everywhere throughout the United States. People, we are not talking about a flu, a cold, even heart disease, diabetes, and the myriad of other diseases that afflict mankind. We are talking about one of the most deadliest, fatal diseases on the planet.
I would like to see all of these health department officials (talking heads) that go on T.V. and play the political correct card and (we got it under control) card take swift, concise action which may include, but not limited to: suspended flights from the West African countries; a ban on visas regarding people from the West African countries; treatment and quarantine of any infected Ebola patient done at one location in the country, at one facility.
I would venture to say that if some of my suggestions are adopted we would have control of each and every infected Ebola patient centralized. Tracking, observation and treatment of the Ebola patient could easily be under one roof. This idea of "I think the patient is okay, release them." is bad medicine. Foe all pf the medical community's bluster and assurance that everything is just "peachy" is a disservice to the American public. I suggest that there is still a very lot of unknowns to this Ebola virus that the medical people are unaware of (long term) and being afraid to make some people angry or upset by quarantine and isolation for the sake of a "free society" is ludicrous. - - And, that's my opinion. Make your own decision. You decide.
Bradley W. Kuhns, Ph.D., O.M.D.
____________________________
Dr, Kuhns can be reached by email at:
bradleykuhns@gmail.com
THE KUHNS REPORT
Hello America, and how is the world treating you?
As prior blogs of mine attest, my predictions regarding Ebola have come to pass. So, I dare make another prediction. If people who are suspected of having Ebola and those that actually do carry the virus continue to ignore Health officials warning of staying isolated and confined to their home and voluntarily quarantine themselves until the 21 days of expected infection has passed there will be many, many cases of Ebola showing up around the United States.
Two cases in point: The first is: The family of infected patient Duncan refused to follow the instructions and orders of the health officials in Texas. They didn't want to be isolated and wanted to venture out among the general public even though they may have been infected with the deadly virus. Thus, because of their stubborn refusal to follow directions guards had to be placed outside their residence.
Second case is: The NBC news crew that worked with American cameraman Ashoka Mukpo who was infected with the Ebola virus. He is currently being treated here in the U.S. at Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. The NBC news crew had "AGREED" with New Jersey health officials to sequester and isolate themselves upon returning to the U.S. but then "FAILED" to do so according to the New Jersey Department of Health. So, a MANDATORY QUARANTINE was issued late Friday and will ensure that the group will remain confined until October 22, 2014 the end of a 21- day maximum incubation period for Ebola. Now, the New Jersey Health Department spokesperson, for the Health Department, Donna Leusner, covers their butt by saying: " There is no reason for concern of exposure to the community." Really? What if the crew eventually exhibited symptoms that showed infection with Ebola? The community would have been at risk. It's these kind of screw ups by health officials that will cause the disease to spread. This NBC crew should have been mandated to be quarantined "immediately" upon arrival in the United States. There should have been no if, ands, or buts about it. The crew should not have had a choice to voluntarily quarantine themselves. Why? Because like what happened, they broke their agreement and FAILED to quarantine themselves.And like infected patient Duncan, who LIED to officials that he came in contact with an infected Ebola person and his relatives in Texas refusing to stay away from the general population it appears that possible infected people do not give a damn about anyone that they may come in contact with and pass the Ebola virus on to others.
That's not unusual though. It happened with AIDS/HIV and other deadly diseases where the infected person refuses to stay away from others while infected. No matter what, that infected individual insists on mixing and mingling with others. It's wrong but they do just that, usually rationalizing to themselves that they will not infect others.
I also made an earlier prediction that if these infected Ebola patients are spread out throughout the United States for treatment it will be more difficult to get a handle on the fatal disease and it will spread. I believe that any and all people diagnosed with Ebola should be transported to and treated at one "central" location. They should be isolated and quarantined at that "one" facility location. I submit that would be much safer for the general public. The entire country would feel confident that all of the infected Ebola patients was being cared for at a specialized location by health care workers who could control the environment at any given second. I also submit that there would be less chance of an error occurring at the one location rather that having an incompetent health care worker who violates policy and protocol at some hospital(s) spread out around the country. All it's going to take is "one" health care worker to screw up like the nurse and doctors in Texas did and the result will be crops and clusters of Ebola infected people in different towns and cities across the nation.
In the 1950's I had the opportunity to travel to Hawaii and spend some time at the Leper colony that was segregated on one Island of Hawaii. At the time, it appeared to be a good model to treat Leprosy. It could be said that with such a deadly disease as Ebola, the idea of one facility, one location (like the leprosy colony) in Hawaii is a good argument for treatment and control. If it were up to me I would argue against having Ebola patients treated here, there, and everywhere throughout the United States. People, we are not talking about a flu, a cold, even heart disease, diabetes, and the myriad of other diseases that afflict mankind. We are talking about one of the most deadliest, fatal diseases on the planet.
I would like to see all of these health department officials (talking heads) that go on T.V. and play the political correct card and (we got it under control) card take swift, concise action which may include, but not limited to: suspended flights from the West African countries; a ban on visas regarding people from the West African countries; treatment and quarantine of any infected Ebola patient done at one location in the country, at one facility.
I would venture to say that if some of my suggestions are adopted we would have control of each and every infected Ebola patient centralized. Tracking, observation and treatment of the Ebola patient could easily be under one roof. This idea of "I think the patient is okay, release them." is bad medicine. Foe all pf the medical community's bluster and assurance that everything is just "peachy" is a disservice to the American public. I suggest that there is still a very lot of unknowns to this Ebola virus that the medical people are unaware of (long term) and being afraid to make some people angry or upset by quarantine and isolation for the sake of a "free society" is ludicrous. - - And, that's my opinion. Make your own decision. You decide.
Bradley W. Kuhns, Ph.D., O.M.D.
____________________________
Dr, Kuhns can be reached by email at:
bradleykuhns@gmail.com
Sunday, October 5, 2014
THE BEHEADINGS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED. DON'T LET THE GOVERNMENT FOOL YOU.
THE KUHNS REPORT
LAS VEGAS - Hello America, and how is the world treating you?
Another person was beheaded in the Iraq/Syrian conflict. Alan Henning, a British citizen, the fourth such killing by ISIS is now a footnote in history. Mr. Henning's statement before he was killed was: " Because our parliament's decision to attack the Islamic State, I, as a member of the British public, will now pay the price for that decision."
Then a male voice says: "The blood of David Haines (another Brit) who was beheaded was on your hands, Cameron, in reference to Britain's prime minister, David Cameron. " Alan Henning will also be slaughtered, but his blood is on the hands if the British parliament."
Following that the black-clan man later introduces another hostage he identifies as American Peter Edward Kassig , an aid worker, who delivered food and medical supplies to Syrian refugees. He said Kassig is the next person scheduled for execution. U.S. officials confirmed an American with that name was being held by militants and had no doubt the video titled: "Another Message to America and its Allies" was authentic.
The statement Alan Henning made before he died was denounced by British and U.S. officials as propaganda saying it was a forced statement as were all other statements from prior beheaded victims. They don't know that. That's political spin on their part. I say, what if those statements by these hero's were in fact the truth? Why is it when an American, Brit or any captive pleads for their life and/or gives a reason for their oncoming, eminent death the governments official line is the " statements were coerced." The U.S. has their own propaganda machine. It is the State Department's office for counter-terrorism propaganda which is currently headed up by Alberto Fernandez. It is their job to spin, mask, manipulate and cover statements to make them fit the administrations point of view. Thus, when a captive pleads for their life and/or gives statement before execution - - what is the truth? In many cases in the past where captives asked for rescue and help saying they felt let down by the U.S. government, I have no doubt they sincerely meant it.
When the first Brit was beheaded prime minister Cameron went before the news people and said:
The beheaded man was a "hero" for dying. That's nice words, but it's all lip service. I agree that the beheaded man was a hero for his good works around the world but what prime minister Cameron didn't say was that the man was also a "VICTIM," a result of the stubborn prime minister. Many Muslim groups across Britain, including some organizations that blame Western interference for stoking the fires of war in Iraq and Syria, had been calling for Alan Henning's release but their pleas fell on deaf ears. I submit Cameron should have negotiated with ISIS and paid a ransom and the Brits should have agreed to ceased air strikes. But instead, Cameron stands up before the nation and plays "macho" saying the beheading is a "terrorist act." He said it was disgusting but he and Britain will continue to attack Iraq ans Syria. It wasn't a terrorist act. It was retribution and retaliation for the Brits air strikes, nothing more.
The Islamic State made it very clear that the only reason for the beheading of British and American citizens was because of the air strikes in Iraq and Syria. They told the world that if the air strikes stopped, the beheading would stop. But because the USA and British officials don't want to lose face, they keep spouting the old line "we do not negotiate with terrorists."
Should we negotiate the release of hostages. You bet! Why? Because other countries do it. Lets look at American hostage freelance journalist Michael Foley, who was beheaded. The kidnappers and people holding Foley had only one thing in mind ... that was ransom, MONEY. They sent an email to the Foley's. Foley's parents John and Diane, turned the email over to the FBI people assigned to the case. The agent told the Foley's it was a crime for American citizens to pay off terrorists. They stopped the Foley's in their tracks, threatening them with prison time. Then the FBI left the Foley's hang out to dry. They were on their own. But believe it or not, the FBI DID NOT tell the Foley's that other hostages from Europe being held along with their son have negotiated ransoms for their release. The United States hands -off policy was very different from the position taken by European countries that "quickly" negotiated the release of their citizens in exchange for CASH.
The FBI was no help at all to the Foley's. The government made it very clear that no ransom would be paid. The United States and Britain are the only two countries that hold to the zero- concession, negotiation policy.
The Europeans set up a task force which included foreign ministries of France, Spain, Switzerland and Italy. They waited for the kidnappers to reach out, and when they did, intelligence services of one of the countries took over and negotiated with the Islamic State. When proof- of- life of the hostage was verified a counteroffer of the ransom demand was made. According to a person involved in the negotiations for the hostage release the average negotiated ransom for release was only about TWO MILLION EUROS. My view: Pay the money, U.S. government. What price can you put on a persons life?
The emails sent from the kidnappers to the Foley parents also seemed to be addressed to the U.S.Government, (i.e.) Obama, Congress, the administration. It read:
" You were given many chances to negotiate the release of your people via cash transactions as other governments have accepted." " We have also offered a prisoner exchange to free the Muslims currently held in detention like our sister Dr. Afia Sideiqqi however you proved quickly to us that this is NOT what you are not interested in. "You and your citizens will pay the price of the bombings."
Folks, ONE WEEK later the horrific video execution of James Foley occurred.
Lets talk about hypocrite president Obama. When it come to negotiating, on one side of his mouth he says it is strictly a "no negotiating" policy for release of a hostage. But - - out of the other side of his mouth he orders the EXCHANGE of "FIVE" top Taliban detainees for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, a military man who was allegedly said to be a deserter. A man some of his comrades said was a coward who ran away from service and duty, seeking sanctuary. FIVE dangerous killers of the Taliban for a deserter? Was it a fair trade? Obama thought so. He told Americans he had no regrets for the trade.Yet, when it comes to paying a few bucks to release journalists, aid workers and others doing good works for the U. S. our government plays the "we don't negotiate" card. My heart goes out to the Foley's and all the other VICTIMS families who's sons could have been brought home safely. And, now the Islamic State has Peter Kassig scheduled for beheading, courtesy of this administration. Where's the justice?
Do you think Obama and congress will step up to the plate and pay a ransom of a few million dollars or release a prisoner in exchange for Kassig? They clearly could. and should, but I have my doubts. Folks. the Foley's and the other parents would have been arrested if they attempted to negotiate with the kidnappers but Obama can pick and choose who he wants to negotiate for. What's wrong with this picture? I would suggest that the United States and Britain get with the rest of the world and negotiate for hostage release.
We could have had all of the people that were beheaded home if only we paid a few dollars for their release but apparently Obama and Cameron like to play the game of "Chicken" and "I dare you to knock this chip off my shoulder."
Cameron and his parliament and Obama and the congress go before the media and say the beheadings are disgusting and they tell us that is the reason we are fighting a war in Iraq and Syria. They blame the war on barbarism. How dumb is that?
If Obama and Cameron would catch up on history and culture they would know that a beheading in the middle east region is not uncommon at all. It is not disgusting to the people that live in those countries. That is a way of life with many of these groups as a way to mete out justice. Hell, it's not uncommon for different sects and factions in the middle east to impose a penalty of death and the method is that of beheading. Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region have "chopped off" the hands, even the arms of a thief. The sentence of death often results in the beheading of the criminal. There are other methods of death rendered in the region. One is stoning a person to death when citizens are ordered to take stones from a pile and throw them at the alleged criminal or crime violator until that person is dead. Disgusting? To us, maybe. To those living in those other countries, -- No! It's common place. It's part of custom and culture. Yet, our officials in America and Britain think it barbaric.
Lets talk about disgusting and monstrous acts. Most every day in the United States criminals commit heinous crimes and yes, they behead their victims, they torture the victim, there has been numerous cases where the criminal dismembers the victim and scatters the remains, sometimes in water or along roadsides; others put dismembered body parts in garbage bags and dispose of them in rivers, lakes, and the ocean. There is no limit what one person can do to another but to have people like the British parliament, the U.S. congress, Cameron and Obama stirring the pot using something like beheading as a pretext to go to war and spend billions and trillion of dollars is a farce.
I've always maintained that the British government is the "lap dog" of the United States. Whatever the U.S. wants, the British government complies with and plays along for money, prestige and power.
It should be noted that ISIS and the militant groups currently in conflict in Iraq and Syria has always said they do not want any Western and/or foreign powers interfering in their internal squabbles. The people of Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and other areas of the middle east DO NOT want want us there on their soil. I tend to agree. The fight is between different ethnic and religious groups in the region.
I will make another prediction: We here in the U.S. will be attacked by the Islamic State if Obama, this administration and congress DO NOT cease air strikes in Iraq and Syria. I submit that it is the fault of Obama, congress and the administration of constantly provoking and agitating these mid east countries. It it apparent that the U.S. has the intent to try to convert other countries people to the path of democracy when it is just as apparent their people's do not want OUR democracy. So, the only reason we will be attacked here on our soil is because of our governments meddling in internal problems of other nations. It is a good bet that these other countries will RETALIATE because we brought a war to their country.. People, you can't blame them because we would do the same thing.
And, if we are attacked I would also predict the president and congress will shout to high heaven - -"we were attacked, we have to respond, retaliate." But they will not mention that we started this whole mess by preemptive strikes in these other countries.
The middle east wars have been going on for centuries and it is clearly none of America's or Britain's business. But I guess the "greed" for oil by Western powers trumps common sense. I would suggest that we allow those different factions in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan to fight it out among themselves, without Western help. Then, which ever power in those countries come out on top that is the regime we deal with.
Folks, we spent TRILLIONS of dollars in Iraq the first go-round to train their military and build up their country. But now, only ONE HALF of the Iraqi military is reliable, people we could count on. We also lost 4000 LIVES to give Iraqis their freedom the first time. Now, this administration wants to spend MILLIONS, if not TRILLIONS of dollars taking the war into Syria. People, the sectarian divisions in the middle east has been on going for centuries and it will go on for centuries to come. Just because we think other nations/regimes should be democratic like the United States doesn't make it so. We cannot force our beliefs and way of life on others.
I say, put yourself in Iraq or Syria's place. If some country commenced air strikes on , say -- California, you can bet all of Congress and the American people would be in an uproar. We would be squealing and shouting that we will retaliate. In fact that is what occurred regarding the World Trade Center. We were attacked and we, with all our bluster, said we are going to retaliate. Well, we did. And, I say it should have stopped there when Osama Bin Laden was killed. But -- No! The old talking heads in Congress and arm chair military people wanted to start a war and conquer another country. OIL, MONEY, DRUGS, POWER , folks. It seems that's the name of the game.
And, that's my opinion. Make your own decisions. You decide.
Bradley W.Kuhns, Ph.D., O.M.D.
___________________________
Dr. Kuhns can be reached by email at:
bradleykuhns@gmail.com
THE KUHNS REPORT
LAS VEGAS - Hello America, and how is the world treating you?
Another person was beheaded in the Iraq/Syrian conflict. Alan Henning, a British citizen, the fourth such killing by ISIS is now a footnote in history. Mr. Henning's statement before he was killed was: " Because our parliament's decision to attack the Islamic State, I, as a member of the British public, will now pay the price for that decision."
Then a male voice says: "The blood of David Haines (another Brit) who was beheaded was on your hands, Cameron, in reference to Britain's prime minister, David Cameron. " Alan Henning will also be slaughtered, but his blood is on the hands if the British parliament."
Following that the black-clan man later introduces another hostage he identifies as American Peter Edward Kassig , an aid worker, who delivered food and medical supplies to Syrian refugees. He said Kassig is the next person scheduled for execution. U.S. officials confirmed an American with that name was being held by militants and had no doubt the video titled: "Another Message to America and its Allies" was authentic.
The statement Alan Henning made before he died was denounced by British and U.S. officials as propaganda saying it was a forced statement as were all other statements from prior beheaded victims. They don't know that. That's political spin on their part. I say, what if those statements by these hero's were in fact the truth? Why is it when an American, Brit or any captive pleads for their life and/or gives a reason for their oncoming, eminent death the governments official line is the " statements were coerced." The U.S. has their own propaganda machine. It is the State Department's office for counter-terrorism propaganda which is currently headed up by Alberto Fernandez. It is their job to spin, mask, manipulate and cover statements to make them fit the administrations point of view. Thus, when a captive pleads for their life and/or gives statement before execution - - what is the truth? In many cases in the past where captives asked for rescue and help saying they felt let down by the U.S. government, I have no doubt they sincerely meant it.
When the first Brit was beheaded prime minister Cameron went before the news people and said:
The beheaded man was a "hero" for dying. That's nice words, but it's all lip service. I agree that the beheaded man was a hero for his good works around the world but what prime minister Cameron didn't say was that the man was also a "VICTIM," a result of the stubborn prime minister. Many Muslim groups across Britain, including some organizations that blame Western interference for stoking the fires of war in Iraq and Syria, had been calling for Alan Henning's release but their pleas fell on deaf ears. I submit Cameron should have negotiated with ISIS and paid a ransom and the Brits should have agreed to ceased air strikes. But instead, Cameron stands up before the nation and plays "macho" saying the beheading is a "terrorist act." He said it was disgusting but he and Britain will continue to attack Iraq ans Syria. It wasn't a terrorist act. It was retribution and retaliation for the Brits air strikes, nothing more.
The Islamic State made it very clear that the only reason for the beheading of British and American citizens was because of the air strikes in Iraq and Syria. They told the world that if the air strikes stopped, the beheading would stop. But because the USA and British officials don't want to lose face, they keep spouting the old line "we do not negotiate with terrorists."
Should we negotiate the release of hostages. You bet! Why? Because other countries do it. Lets look at American hostage freelance journalist Michael Foley, who was beheaded. The kidnappers and people holding Foley had only one thing in mind ... that was ransom, MONEY. They sent an email to the Foley's. Foley's parents John and Diane, turned the email over to the FBI people assigned to the case. The agent told the Foley's it was a crime for American citizens to pay off terrorists. They stopped the Foley's in their tracks, threatening them with prison time. Then the FBI left the Foley's hang out to dry. They were on their own. But believe it or not, the FBI DID NOT tell the Foley's that other hostages from Europe being held along with their son have negotiated ransoms for their release. The United States hands -off policy was very different from the position taken by European countries that "quickly" negotiated the release of their citizens in exchange for CASH.
The FBI was no help at all to the Foley's. The government made it very clear that no ransom would be paid. The United States and Britain are the only two countries that hold to the zero- concession, negotiation policy.
The Europeans set up a task force which included foreign ministries of France, Spain, Switzerland and Italy. They waited for the kidnappers to reach out, and when they did, intelligence services of one of the countries took over and negotiated with the Islamic State. When proof- of- life of the hostage was verified a counteroffer of the ransom demand was made. According to a person involved in the negotiations for the hostage release the average negotiated ransom for release was only about TWO MILLION EUROS. My view: Pay the money, U.S. government. What price can you put on a persons life?
The emails sent from the kidnappers to the Foley parents also seemed to be addressed to the U.S.Government, (i.e.) Obama, Congress, the administration. It read:
" You were given many chances to negotiate the release of your people via cash transactions as other governments have accepted." " We have also offered a prisoner exchange to free the Muslims currently held in detention like our sister Dr. Afia Sideiqqi however you proved quickly to us that this is NOT what you are not interested in. "You and your citizens will pay the price of the bombings."
Folks, ONE WEEK later the horrific video execution of James Foley occurred.
Lets talk about hypocrite president Obama. When it come to negotiating, on one side of his mouth he says it is strictly a "no negotiating" policy for release of a hostage. But - - out of the other side of his mouth he orders the EXCHANGE of "FIVE" top Taliban detainees for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, a military man who was allegedly said to be a deserter. A man some of his comrades said was a coward who ran away from service and duty, seeking sanctuary. FIVE dangerous killers of the Taliban for a deserter? Was it a fair trade? Obama thought so. He told Americans he had no regrets for the trade.Yet, when it comes to paying a few bucks to release journalists, aid workers and others doing good works for the U. S. our government plays the "we don't negotiate" card. My heart goes out to the Foley's and all the other VICTIMS families who's sons could have been brought home safely. And, now the Islamic State has Peter Kassig scheduled for beheading, courtesy of this administration. Where's the justice?
Do you think Obama and congress will step up to the plate and pay a ransom of a few million dollars or release a prisoner in exchange for Kassig? They clearly could. and should, but I have my doubts. Folks. the Foley's and the other parents would have been arrested if they attempted to negotiate with the kidnappers but Obama can pick and choose who he wants to negotiate for. What's wrong with this picture? I would suggest that the United States and Britain get with the rest of the world and negotiate for hostage release.
We could have had all of the people that were beheaded home if only we paid a few dollars for their release but apparently Obama and Cameron like to play the game of "Chicken" and "I dare you to knock this chip off my shoulder."
Cameron and his parliament and Obama and the congress go before the media and say the beheadings are disgusting and they tell us that is the reason we are fighting a war in Iraq and Syria. They blame the war on barbarism. How dumb is that?
If Obama and Cameron would catch up on history and culture they would know that a beheading in the middle east region is not uncommon at all. It is not disgusting to the people that live in those countries. That is a way of life with many of these groups as a way to mete out justice. Hell, it's not uncommon for different sects and factions in the middle east to impose a penalty of death and the method is that of beheading. Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region have "chopped off" the hands, even the arms of a thief. The sentence of death often results in the beheading of the criminal. There are other methods of death rendered in the region. One is stoning a person to death when citizens are ordered to take stones from a pile and throw them at the alleged criminal or crime violator until that person is dead. Disgusting? To us, maybe. To those living in those other countries, -- No! It's common place. It's part of custom and culture. Yet, our officials in America and Britain think it barbaric.
Lets talk about disgusting and monstrous acts. Most every day in the United States criminals commit heinous crimes and yes, they behead their victims, they torture the victim, there has been numerous cases where the criminal dismembers the victim and scatters the remains, sometimes in water or along roadsides; others put dismembered body parts in garbage bags and dispose of them in rivers, lakes, and the ocean. There is no limit what one person can do to another but to have people like the British parliament, the U.S. congress, Cameron and Obama stirring the pot using something like beheading as a pretext to go to war and spend billions and trillion of dollars is a farce.
I've always maintained that the British government is the "lap dog" of the United States. Whatever the U.S. wants, the British government complies with and plays along for money, prestige and power.
It should be noted that ISIS and the militant groups currently in conflict in Iraq and Syria has always said they do not want any Western and/or foreign powers interfering in their internal squabbles. The people of Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and other areas of the middle east DO NOT want want us there on their soil. I tend to agree. The fight is between different ethnic and religious groups in the region.
I will make another prediction: We here in the U.S. will be attacked by the Islamic State if Obama, this administration and congress DO NOT cease air strikes in Iraq and Syria. I submit that it is the fault of Obama, congress and the administration of constantly provoking and agitating these mid east countries. It it apparent that the U.S. has the intent to try to convert other countries people to the path of democracy when it is just as apparent their people's do not want OUR democracy. So, the only reason we will be attacked here on our soil is because of our governments meddling in internal problems of other nations. It is a good bet that these other countries will RETALIATE because we brought a war to their country.. People, you can't blame them because we would do the same thing.
And, if we are attacked I would also predict the president and congress will shout to high heaven - -"we were attacked, we have to respond, retaliate." But they will not mention that we started this whole mess by preemptive strikes in these other countries.
The middle east wars have been going on for centuries and it is clearly none of America's or Britain's business. But I guess the "greed" for oil by Western powers trumps common sense. I would suggest that we allow those different factions in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan to fight it out among themselves, without Western help. Then, which ever power in those countries come out on top that is the regime we deal with.
Folks, we spent TRILLIONS of dollars in Iraq the first go-round to train their military and build up their country. But now, only ONE HALF of the Iraqi military is reliable, people we could count on. We also lost 4000 LIVES to give Iraqis their freedom the first time. Now, this administration wants to spend MILLIONS, if not TRILLIONS of dollars taking the war into Syria. People, the sectarian divisions in the middle east has been on going for centuries and it will go on for centuries to come. Just because we think other nations/regimes should be democratic like the United States doesn't make it so. We cannot force our beliefs and way of life on others.
I say, put yourself in Iraq or Syria's place. If some country commenced air strikes on , say -- California, you can bet all of Congress and the American people would be in an uproar. We would be squealing and shouting that we will retaliate. In fact that is what occurred regarding the World Trade Center. We were attacked and we, with all our bluster, said we are going to retaliate. Well, we did. And, I say it should have stopped there when Osama Bin Laden was killed. But -- No! The old talking heads in Congress and arm chair military people wanted to start a war and conquer another country. OIL, MONEY, DRUGS, POWER , folks. It seems that's the name of the game.
And, that's my opinion. Make your own decisions. You decide.
Bradley W.Kuhns, Ph.D., O.M.D.
___________________________
Dr. Kuhns can be reached by email at:
bradleykuhns@gmail.com
Friday, October 3, 2014
I PREDICTED EBOLA IN THE UNITED STATES-AND IT'S NOW HERE
THE KUHNS REPORT
LAS VEGAS - Hello America, and how is the world treating you?
As I predicted, the Ebola is let loose on America. When the U.S. brought back the Ebola infected doctor for treatment weeks ago I said that it was a stupid move and would be the beginning of the end, allowing the Ebola to get a strong foothold in the United States. Folks, my prediction came to pass. Since the first Ebola infected doctor, there have been several others brought back to the USA, courtesy of our government. I also predicted that some ignorant or incompetent health care worker would allow the Ebola to escape notice - - that happened.
Just the other day an infected man FINALLY identified as Thomas Eric Duncan was treated at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital. Believe it or not this man carrying the deadly disease was sent home with antibiotics by, you guessed it - - an incompetent nurse, who even knew the man came in from Liberia, the place where thousands died from Ebola. However, the nurse still ignored the situation. Then, he was readmitted and it was discovered Duncan contracted Ebola. Currently it is estimated that Duncan came into contact with more than ONE HUNDRED people outside and inside the hospital. What does an official from the hospital say? Mark Lester said: " Regretfully, the information wasn't communicated throughout the full team." REGRETFULLY? Come on! Other officials at the hospital said: "WE DROPPED THE BALL." Really? And, this was a hospital, like many others who said they trained for the event of accepting an Ebola infected patient. The hospital was supposed to have strict protocols in place and trained staff were to be on the ready. Wow!
Ebola's generally take 21 days for its symptoms to appear and with that in mind I say that an extremely high vigilance is required when caring for patients with the disease. I also maintain that even the "smallest" lapse in infection control will allow the accidental spread of the virus to health staff. For example: a nurse or health care worker touching their face and or eyes with gloved hands that came into contact with an Ebola victim can clearly contract the virus. In the first case in the U.S., Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital failed miserably and that should be a wake up call for the government to set down a specific protocol that every hospital and health care worker in the country has to follow. This idea of each hospital setting their own guidelines is unacceptable.
News Flash! People. The U.S. Health officials said the country's health care system was well prepared to contain any spread of Ebola. Who are they kidding, folks? Even the CDC officials tell the public that there is nothing to worry about - -they have it under control. What? This is the agency that had events mishandling small pox and anthrax. That certainly doesn't give me great confidence in believing what the CDC says.
As I am writing this the radio news just reported that a FOURTH AMERICAN has come down with Ebola. He is a 33- year -old photo journalist employed by one of the major networks. However, the U.S. is again bringing the infected person back on American soil. I am totally against this procedure. I have always said the infected people should be treated outside of the United States. Why? For one, there are quite a number of mobile units equipped and manned by professional health care providers from the United States that are capable of treating the Ebola patient in the countries where the disease is centered. Now, we have still another case reported in Washington, D.C., where they suspect Ebola. And it has been reported that the former Ebola patient Dr. Richard Sacra who was treated at an Omaha, Nebraska hospital for weeks and cleared by the CDC has again been readmitted to UMass Memorial Medical Center for upper respiratory problems. Can you see the effect of bringing the Ebola patients to America for treatment? It clearly appears there is poor screening of persons coming in from Liberia and Nigeria, Guinea, Sierra Leone and West Africa. And that poor screening seems to pour over here in the U.S. Is it time to halt flights from those countries? It's a thought.
Should the Ebola patients be identified? My view is that the U.S. Government should identify, by name, age, gender and address each Ebola patient. I submit that the general public has the " right to know" who they may come in contact with, for their own protection. The general public should have the choice of choosing who they associate with. Full disclosure, transparency is the watch word. Not secrecy. I say when the government, the CDC and other health facilities cloak the identity of Ebola patients they are knowingly putting the public at risk. As a note, just today, the health District an officials in Dallas moved Mr. Duncan to an UNDISCLOSED LOCATION. That's wrong. Tell Americans where the guy is.
The question of suspending flights to and from afflicted countries should also be addressed. A possible visa ban on travelers from those countries should be considered. When Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National and Infectious Diseases was asked about the travel bans he quickly and abruptly said: "absolutely not." His reasoning: He said- " When you start closing off countries like that, there is a real danger of making things worse." He went on to say: " You can cause unrest in the country." "It's conceivable that governments could fall if you just isolate them completely."
I disagree with Fauci. His logic is silly. Nations and countries will FALL because of a travel ban? Ridiculous? Here's my take on travel bans. They should be imposed. Why? because NO ONE is closing off any country completely as Fauci's scare tactics imply. On the contrary we are treating people in those countries. Come on! It's just a travel ban. His idea of a visa ban causing unrest in the country is also overblown. Another scare tactic. These countries already have unrest and wars raging as well as having thousands of cases of Ebola present. It is nothing but prudent and common sense to impose a visa ban. Considering Ebola is a is disease which is "lethal" NINETY (90%) of the time, action is needed - -not words and posturing.
Already the United States is in those countries fighting the Ebola virus and president Obama, just within ht last 24 hours said he will send money and heath care workers to those countries to combat Ebola, at the source, in those countries where it is active. These actions will only encourage the people in those countries to be treated by American doctors and health care workers.
I think people like Dr. Fauci , Dr. Tom Frieden, Director of the CDC, and officials of the government want to play the political correct game by saying it's okay to allow possible afflicted people with a deadly disease to freely come and go in America. My view, it is nothing but good simple logic to want to protect our borders and the public health of all Americans. I don't believe it is alright to allow any possible infected people with a deadly disease to come and go as they see fit. Infected patient Duncan is a poster child for visa bans and flight restrictions. This guy "knowingly" LIED to cover his illness so he could fly around the globe and go about his business with a total disregard for other humans. And, it didn't stop there. His family in Dallas refused to comply with health officials requests to stay home. It took guard to enforce that request and order.
It seems very easy for these official types to play Russian Roulette with the lives of American citizens. But I would offer that since we have numerous health professionals on the ground (boots on the ground, so to speak) in those countries, the first priority by our government should be to protect American citizens and that is by suspended flights and visa bans. Would any of us, including Dr.,Fauci, president Obama , Dr. Frieden and all of these political correct nanny's let someone into their house who they knew had a disease which could decimate their entire family? I think not. And, allowing possible infected people from their home (THEIR COUNTRY of ORIGIN) into our home (AMERICA) is ludicrous. Side note: Where the hell is congress? They should be imposing flight suspensions and travel visa bans as we speak.
Do you really think that the government and/or health officials would take responsibility if you or your family members contracted Ebola from coming in contact with this man or any other infected Ebola person? The answer is, "NO." They are in all likelihood using the excuse of "patient privacy" however, I would suggest it is a matter of public health and public protection." There is no real reason to cover up. They should pin point who has Ebola and where those people are located. Officials are always first to say they are looking out for "all" of us and " it's in the interest of public health" (i.e), smoking, drinking, what foods and drinks we can consume, etc. ( a nanny government) but when it comes to deadly diseases like Ebola, AIDS/HIV and others they quickly say they are "protecting the patient." Ebola is one of the "deadliest" diseases known to medicine but simple protocols and safe guards are ignored or over looked by health care workers here in the USA. Go figure.
The CDC and government officials continue to say that there is nothing to be alarmed about when it comes to Ebola but based on their track record I think there is quite a bit to be worried about. Also, if you notice, any reports in the news media (newspapers, Internet, radio, television, etc.), the officials are always telling the public there is nothing to fear, they have it under control . What else would they, or could they say? They paint a "happy face" on all reports and sing the Kumbaya song.
Do you readers really believe that the government officials and agencies would tell you that they let a lethal, fatal disease loose on the public? It is only after the fact, when they get "caught" that they say they made an error. Thank God for the Press and journalists that go after the real stories.
Right now, relatives of Duncan, the infected Dallas Ebola patient are quarantined in their house with guards making sure they don't leave and come in contact with other people. I give the health providers credit where credit is due and this was a good move. And, get this - - these relatives of Thomas Duncan DID NOT WANT TO COMPLY with the request to stay home. They refused to stay home. That was the reason for the guards. That goes to show you how people think and have no consideration for public health. The relatives could possibly be infected with the deadly disease but they wanted to go out among the public anyway. The officials need to "contact trace" meaning observing anyone who came in contact with Duncan for symptoms such as high fever and if symptoms occur the person has to be put in isolation. Yet, this family didn't want to cooperate with authorities. In fact, Mr. Duncan himself lied on an airport questionnaire in Liberia, because he said he HAD not cared for an Ebola patient or touched anyone who had died from the disease, according to the Associated Press. That again proves my point that people who can and may carry a fatal, deadly disease which could decimate humanity will LIE to cover up. According to Liberian officials they intend to prosecute Duncan for his lies and cover-up. I would agree with their decision.
Supposedly any people that comes in contact with an infected Ebola person is quarantined for three weeks, beginning on the last day they had that contact. I disagree with that policy. I think it is too short a time.
Also, fair to mention. What about the bed sheets, mattress, clothes, utensils, tooth brushes, towels, wash clothes etc. that an infected person may have used, before being hospitalized? I have no doubt that relatives of Duncan came in contact with those items. What is proper disposal? Who really knows what is proper disposal? As I stated before in an earlier article/blog I believe such items should be incinerated, burned. Why? Because of body fluids of the infected patient. Saliva, diarrhea, urine, vomit, even sweat, can transfer the disease. That's scary, people. Good hygiene is often neglected by persons in the general population. For example, many actually use the restroom and continually fail to wash their hands before leaving the facility. I need not mention the thousands of studies that have shown feces, urine, vomit and other body fluids found on door knobs, restaurant menus, typewriters, computers, etc.... and the list goes on.
Folks, do you see how easy it was to let this monster loose in America? The arrogance and know it all attitude of some in the health field and government never ceases to amaze me. When the decision was made to bring the first Ebola patient back to America we were told there is no way Ebola would get loose. We were told that the patient would be treated at a very secure facility completely equipped to handle this one case. Now there are Ebola patients being treated throughout America at numerous heath care facilities. The chance of the fatal disease being multiplied is now out there.
People, I say, and predict again, like in Dallas, there will be a health care provider and/or worker who will make an error, miss the diagnosis, mishandle the case because of incompetence and allow the deadly disease to spread in to the general population.
Further, I say that all Ebola patients should be quarantined in a facility for at least six months to a year because no matter how much these medical/health people and agencies say they got it down, that their on top of it, and that they know all about Ebola and they know how to treat it, is a joke.
I maintain that there is quite a bit of unknowns that come along with Ebola. Like AIDS/ HIV the health organizations and community are at a loss for a cure and ignorant to the possible of the long term effects that may result down the road in these infected patients. The heath professionals that treated the first few patients here in the United States and claimed victory and said those infected people were CURED is living in a dream world.
Just a simple example,- A person gets Chicken Pox. That person is treated but a virus lays dormant in the persons system for years, even decades, and then , one day, the person comes down with the painful and sometimes deadly Shingles. Another example could be likened to Arthritis, A person at a young age, even in their teens has Arthritis in their body . No one really knows why. However it lies dormant in the body and then, years or decades later comes to the forefront, crippling the person. Folks, there are many diseases that afflict millions of people around the world that later manifest itself years or decades later.
Remember, CDC officials and Mr. Lakey said: " Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital was one of the most sophisticated hospitals in America." They went on to say: " They've done a lot of education related the the preparedness for Ebola. Lakey also said: " Unfortunately connections weren't made related to travel history and symptoms." Again excuses after the fact. It appears everything is "UNFORTUNATE" when incompetence, errors and ignorance allows a killer disease loose on the public. I submit that if, indeed, this hospital was prepared the staff and administrators would not have allowed the man to leave the hospital with only antibiotics to treat a cold or flu. They would have clearly recognized the problem and treated it accordingly. They did not! They failed! Fact: There was even a FIVE DAY delay in any removal of soiled items and materials from the apartment Duncan was living even after he was hospitalized. I say that was still another official blunder. The word is that Judge Clay Jenkins, Dallas County top Administrative official went to the apartment with two epidemiologists to apologize for the delay. Again, an incident " after-the-fact" that shows how willy-nilly Ebola is being handled. Apologizes and news bites with the media people to get face time is not what Americans need. We need action. Action speaks much louder than words. That misstep allowed relatives and family to be exposed to the disease.
People, it's actions such as these that prove my point of how easy it is to have a total screw up by staff. So don't tell me that the CDC and the health care community has the Ebola disease under "control" and can "assure" the public they can contain the virus like Zachary Thompson, director of Dallas County Health and Human Services claims.
To substantiate my view and opinion I would like to say that Reuters news service claimed they interviewed nurses, some from Chicago who clearly say that: we are not prepared for Ebola in America. The " Texas case is a perfect example," said Micker Samios, an emergency triage nurse at Medstar Washington Hospital Center, the largest hospital in the nations capital. It appears nurse Samios and other nurses agree with me that there was a flaw in diagnosis in addition to communication errors.
Here's some frightening figures: A survey by National Nurses United of 400 nurses in more than 200 hospitals in 25 states found that SIXTY (60%) PERCENT said their hospital IS NOT prepared to handle patients with Ebola. EIGHTY-TWO (82%) said they were not trained to handle Ebola cases,they didn't have the proper equipment such as gowns, masks and protective gear nor training in proper disposal and handling techniques of an infected patients contact materials. It's like Obama saying: "We under estimated" the conflict and battle in Iran and Syria. I submit that government, CDC, and health administrators are certainly under estimating this devastating, lethal disease.
So as I predicted early on: I said the Ebola disease would be released in the USA and that prediction came to pass. Mark my words - -as long as the government and health officials continue to play the game of cover-up, non-disclosure and secrecy regarding Ebola patients this situation can and will only get worse. And, that's my opinion. Make your own decisions. You decide.
Bradley W. Kuhns, Ph.D., O.M.D.
_____________________________
Dr, Kuhns can be reached by email at:
bradleykuhns@gmail.com
THE KUHNS REPORT
LAS VEGAS - Hello America, and how is the world treating you?
As I predicted, the Ebola is let loose on America. When the U.S. brought back the Ebola infected doctor for treatment weeks ago I said that it was a stupid move and would be the beginning of the end, allowing the Ebola to get a strong foothold in the United States. Folks, my prediction came to pass. Since the first Ebola infected doctor, there have been several others brought back to the USA, courtesy of our government. I also predicted that some ignorant or incompetent health care worker would allow the Ebola to escape notice - - that happened.
Just the other day an infected man FINALLY identified as Thomas Eric Duncan was treated at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital. Believe it or not this man carrying the deadly disease was sent home with antibiotics by, you guessed it - - an incompetent nurse, who even knew the man came in from Liberia, the place where thousands died from Ebola. However, the nurse still ignored the situation. Then, he was readmitted and it was discovered Duncan contracted Ebola. Currently it is estimated that Duncan came into contact with more than ONE HUNDRED people outside and inside the hospital. What does an official from the hospital say? Mark Lester said: " Regretfully, the information wasn't communicated throughout the full team." REGRETFULLY? Come on! Other officials at the hospital said: "WE DROPPED THE BALL." Really? And, this was a hospital, like many others who said they trained for the event of accepting an Ebola infected patient. The hospital was supposed to have strict protocols in place and trained staff were to be on the ready. Wow!
Ebola's generally take 21 days for its symptoms to appear and with that in mind I say that an extremely high vigilance is required when caring for patients with the disease. I also maintain that even the "smallest" lapse in infection control will allow the accidental spread of the virus to health staff. For example: a nurse or health care worker touching their face and or eyes with gloved hands that came into contact with an Ebola victim can clearly contract the virus. In the first case in the U.S., Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital failed miserably and that should be a wake up call for the government to set down a specific protocol that every hospital and health care worker in the country has to follow. This idea of each hospital setting their own guidelines is unacceptable.
News Flash! People. The U.S. Health officials said the country's health care system was well prepared to contain any spread of Ebola. Who are they kidding, folks? Even the CDC officials tell the public that there is nothing to worry about - -they have it under control. What? This is the agency that had events mishandling small pox and anthrax. That certainly doesn't give me great confidence in believing what the CDC says.
As I am writing this the radio news just reported that a FOURTH AMERICAN has come down with Ebola. He is a 33- year -old photo journalist employed by one of the major networks. However, the U.S. is again bringing the infected person back on American soil. I am totally against this procedure. I have always said the infected people should be treated outside of the United States. Why? For one, there are quite a number of mobile units equipped and manned by professional health care providers from the United States that are capable of treating the Ebola patient in the countries where the disease is centered. Now, we have still another case reported in Washington, D.C., where they suspect Ebola. And it has been reported that the former Ebola patient Dr. Richard Sacra who was treated at an Omaha, Nebraska hospital for weeks and cleared by the CDC has again been readmitted to UMass Memorial Medical Center for upper respiratory problems. Can you see the effect of bringing the Ebola patients to America for treatment? It clearly appears there is poor screening of persons coming in from Liberia and Nigeria, Guinea, Sierra Leone and West Africa. And that poor screening seems to pour over here in the U.S. Is it time to halt flights from those countries? It's a thought.
Should the Ebola patients be identified? My view is that the U.S. Government should identify, by name, age, gender and address each Ebola patient. I submit that the general public has the " right to know" who they may come in contact with, for their own protection. The general public should have the choice of choosing who they associate with. Full disclosure, transparency is the watch word. Not secrecy. I say when the government, the CDC and other health facilities cloak the identity of Ebola patients they are knowingly putting the public at risk. As a note, just today, the health District an officials in Dallas moved Mr. Duncan to an UNDISCLOSED LOCATION. That's wrong. Tell Americans where the guy is.
The question of suspending flights to and from afflicted countries should also be addressed. A possible visa ban on travelers from those countries should be considered. When Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National and Infectious Diseases was asked about the travel bans he quickly and abruptly said: "absolutely not." His reasoning: He said- " When you start closing off countries like that, there is a real danger of making things worse." He went on to say: " You can cause unrest in the country." "It's conceivable that governments could fall if you just isolate them completely."
I disagree with Fauci. His logic is silly. Nations and countries will FALL because of a travel ban? Ridiculous? Here's my take on travel bans. They should be imposed. Why? because NO ONE is closing off any country completely as Fauci's scare tactics imply. On the contrary we are treating people in those countries. Come on! It's just a travel ban. His idea of a visa ban causing unrest in the country is also overblown. Another scare tactic. These countries already have unrest and wars raging as well as having thousands of cases of Ebola present. It is nothing but prudent and common sense to impose a visa ban. Considering Ebola is a is disease which is "lethal" NINETY (90%) of the time, action is needed - -not words and posturing.
Already the United States is in those countries fighting the Ebola virus and president Obama, just within ht last 24 hours said he will send money and heath care workers to those countries to combat Ebola, at the source, in those countries where it is active. These actions will only encourage the people in those countries to be treated by American doctors and health care workers.
I think people like Dr. Fauci , Dr. Tom Frieden, Director of the CDC, and officials of the government want to play the political correct game by saying it's okay to allow possible afflicted people with a deadly disease to freely come and go in America. My view, it is nothing but good simple logic to want to protect our borders and the public health of all Americans. I don't believe it is alright to allow any possible infected people with a deadly disease to come and go as they see fit. Infected patient Duncan is a poster child for visa bans and flight restrictions. This guy "knowingly" LIED to cover his illness so he could fly around the globe and go about his business with a total disregard for other humans. And, it didn't stop there. His family in Dallas refused to comply with health officials requests to stay home. It took guard to enforce that request and order.
It seems very easy for these official types to play Russian Roulette with the lives of American citizens. But I would offer that since we have numerous health professionals on the ground (boots on the ground, so to speak) in those countries, the first priority by our government should be to protect American citizens and that is by suspended flights and visa bans. Would any of us, including Dr.,Fauci, president Obama , Dr. Frieden and all of these political correct nanny's let someone into their house who they knew had a disease which could decimate their entire family? I think not. And, allowing possible infected people from their home (THEIR COUNTRY of ORIGIN) into our home (AMERICA) is ludicrous. Side note: Where the hell is congress? They should be imposing flight suspensions and travel visa bans as we speak.
Do you really think that the government and/or health officials would take responsibility if you or your family members contracted Ebola from coming in contact with this man or any other infected Ebola person? The answer is, "NO." They are in all likelihood using the excuse of "patient privacy" however, I would suggest it is a matter of public health and public protection." There is no real reason to cover up. They should pin point who has Ebola and where those people are located. Officials are always first to say they are looking out for "all" of us and " it's in the interest of public health" (i.e), smoking, drinking, what foods and drinks we can consume, etc. ( a nanny government) but when it comes to deadly diseases like Ebola, AIDS/HIV and others they quickly say they are "protecting the patient." Ebola is one of the "deadliest" diseases known to medicine but simple protocols and safe guards are ignored or over looked by health care workers here in the USA. Go figure.
The CDC and government officials continue to say that there is nothing to be alarmed about when it comes to Ebola but based on their track record I think there is quite a bit to be worried about. Also, if you notice, any reports in the news media (newspapers, Internet, radio, television, etc.), the officials are always telling the public there is nothing to fear, they have it under control . What else would they, or could they say? They paint a "happy face" on all reports and sing the Kumbaya song.
Do you readers really believe that the government officials and agencies would tell you that they let a lethal, fatal disease loose on the public? It is only after the fact, when they get "caught" that they say they made an error. Thank God for the Press and journalists that go after the real stories.
Right now, relatives of Duncan, the infected Dallas Ebola patient are quarantined in their house with guards making sure they don't leave and come in contact with other people. I give the health providers credit where credit is due and this was a good move. And, get this - - these relatives of Thomas Duncan DID NOT WANT TO COMPLY with the request to stay home. They refused to stay home. That was the reason for the guards. That goes to show you how people think and have no consideration for public health. The relatives could possibly be infected with the deadly disease but they wanted to go out among the public anyway. The officials need to "contact trace" meaning observing anyone who came in contact with Duncan for symptoms such as high fever and if symptoms occur the person has to be put in isolation. Yet, this family didn't want to cooperate with authorities. In fact, Mr. Duncan himself lied on an airport questionnaire in Liberia, because he said he HAD not cared for an Ebola patient or touched anyone who had died from the disease, according to the Associated Press. That again proves my point that people who can and may carry a fatal, deadly disease which could decimate humanity will LIE to cover up. According to Liberian officials they intend to prosecute Duncan for his lies and cover-up. I would agree with their decision.
Supposedly any people that comes in contact with an infected Ebola person is quarantined for three weeks, beginning on the last day they had that contact. I disagree with that policy. I think it is too short a time.
Also, fair to mention. What about the bed sheets, mattress, clothes, utensils, tooth brushes, towels, wash clothes etc. that an infected person may have used, before being hospitalized? I have no doubt that relatives of Duncan came in contact with those items. What is proper disposal? Who really knows what is proper disposal? As I stated before in an earlier article/blog I believe such items should be incinerated, burned. Why? Because of body fluids of the infected patient. Saliva, diarrhea, urine, vomit, even sweat, can transfer the disease. That's scary, people. Good hygiene is often neglected by persons in the general population. For example, many actually use the restroom and continually fail to wash their hands before leaving the facility. I need not mention the thousands of studies that have shown feces, urine, vomit and other body fluids found on door knobs, restaurant menus, typewriters, computers, etc.... and the list goes on.
Folks, do you see how easy it was to let this monster loose in America? The arrogance and know it all attitude of some in the health field and government never ceases to amaze me. When the decision was made to bring the first Ebola patient back to America we were told there is no way Ebola would get loose. We were told that the patient would be treated at a very secure facility completely equipped to handle this one case. Now there are Ebola patients being treated throughout America at numerous heath care facilities. The chance of the fatal disease being multiplied is now out there.
People, I say, and predict again, like in Dallas, there will be a health care provider and/or worker who will make an error, miss the diagnosis, mishandle the case because of incompetence and allow the deadly disease to spread in to the general population.
Further, I say that all Ebola patients should be quarantined in a facility for at least six months to a year because no matter how much these medical/health people and agencies say they got it down, that their on top of it, and that they know all about Ebola and they know how to treat it, is a joke.
I maintain that there is quite a bit of unknowns that come along with Ebola. Like AIDS/ HIV the health organizations and community are at a loss for a cure and ignorant to the possible of the long term effects that may result down the road in these infected patients. The heath professionals that treated the first few patients here in the United States and claimed victory and said those infected people were CURED is living in a dream world.
Just a simple example,- A person gets Chicken Pox. That person is treated but a virus lays dormant in the persons system for years, even decades, and then , one day, the person comes down with the painful and sometimes deadly Shingles. Another example could be likened to Arthritis, A person at a young age, even in their teens has Arthritis in their body . No one really knows why. However it lies dormant in the body and then, years or decades later comes to the forefront, crippling the person. Folks, there are many diseases that afflict millions of people around the world that later manifest itself years or decades later.
Remember, CDC officials and Mr. Lakey said: " Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital was one of the most sophisticated hospitals in America." They went on to say: " They've done a lot of education related the the preparedness for Ebola. Lakey also said: " Unfortunately connections weren't made related to travel history and symptoms." Again excuses after the fact. It appears everything is "UNFORTUNATE" when incompetence, errors and ignorance allows a killer disease loose on the public. I submit that if, indeed, this hospital was prepared the staff and administrators would not have allowed the man to leave the hospital with only antibiotics to treat a cold or flu. They would have clearly recognized the problem and treated it accordingly. They did not! They failed! Fact: There was even a FIVE DAY delay in any removal of soiled items and materials from the apartment Duncan was living even after he was hospitalized. I say that was still another official blunder. The word is that Judge Clay Jenkins, Dallas County top Administrative official went to the apartment with two epidemiologists to apologize for the delay. Again, an incident " after-the-fact" that shows how willy-nilly Ebola is being handled. Apologizes and news bites with the media people to get face time is not what Americans need. We need action. Action speaks much louder than words. That misstep allowed relatives and family to be exposed to the disease.
People, it's actions such as these that prove my point of how easy it is to have a total screw up by staff. So don't tell me that the CDC and the health care community has the Ebola disease under "control" and can "assure" the public they can contain the virus like Zachary Thompson, director of Dallas County Health and Human Services claims.
To substantiate my view and opinion I would like to say that Reuters news service claimed they interviewed nurses, some from Chicago who clearly say that: we are not prepared for Ebola in America. The " Texas case is a perfect example," said Micker Samios, an emergency triage nurse at Medstar Washington Hospital Center, the largest hospital in the nations capital. It appears nurse Samios and other nurses agree with me that there was a flaw in diagnosis in addition to communication errors.
Here's some frightening figures: A survey by National Nurses United of 400 nurses in more than 200 hospitals in 25 states found that SIXTY (60%) PERCENT said their hospital IS NOT prepared to handle patients with Ebola. EIGHTY-TWO (82%) said they were not trained to handle Ebola cases,they didn't have the proper equipment such as gowns, masks and protective gear nor training in proper disposal and handling techniques of an infected patients contact materials. It's like Obama saying: "We under estimated" the conflict and battle in Iran and Syria. I submit that government, CDC, and health administrators are certainly under estimating this devastating, lethal disease.
So as I predicted early on: I said the Ebola disease would be released in the USA and that prediction came to pass. Mark my words - -as long as the government and health officials continue to play the game of cover-up, non-disclosure and secrecy regarding Ebola patients this situation can and will only get worse. And, that's my opinion. Make your own decisions. You decide.
Bradley W. Kuhns, Ph.D., O.M.D.
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Dr, Kuhns can be reached by email at:
bradleykuhns@gmail.com
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