it’s not smart to mess with Mother Nature, and other nature maladies and remedies in Africa, Texas and Key West - a slightly expanded Bermuda Triangle?

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This appeared to be a syndicated editorial in yesterday’s Citizen, Key West and the Florida Keys’ daily newspaper (www.keynews.com) - I added the pretty Ebola victim photo.

Sunday, October 12, 2014
Opinion

Fears about the Ebola virus raced around the world almost as fast as the deadly disease is sweeping across Western Africa.

In the United States, the death of Thomas Eric Duncan on Wednesday fueled increased concern — and second-guessing. Duncan carried the virus to the Dallas area from his home in Liberia.

Many have questioned his treatment in Texas after he was initially sent home after complaining of symptoms.

Meanwhile in Spain, the first case of Ebola transmitted outside Africa was discovered.

Despite the sometimes breathless reporting on Ebola on some news programs, most experts believe relatively stronger health-care systems in the developed world — as compared to Western Africa — will be sufficient to contain any cases of Ebola in such places at the United States and Europe.

My thoughts:

A bit cavalier? Did you see this beauty yet?

Texas nurse who had worn protective gear tests positive for Ebola
By Elizabeth Cohen, Steve Almasy and Joe Sutton, CNN
updated 12:02 PM EDT, Sun October 12, 2014

(CNN) — A health care worker at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas who had “extensive contact” on “multiple occasions” with Thomas Eric Duncan has tested positive for Ebola after a preliminary test, officials said Sunday.
Confirmatory testing is being conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. Test results are expected to be announced later in the day.
The patient is a nurse, an official who is familiar with this case told CNN.
She was involved in Duncan’s second visit to the hospital, when he was admitted for treatment, and was wearing protective gear as prescribed by the CDC: gown, gloves, mask and shield, Texas Health Resources chief clinical officer Dan Varga said.
Hospital: Worker wore protective gear Are U.S. hospitals prepared for Ebola? Second confirmed Ebola case in U.S.
She is in stable condition, Varga said. Duncan, the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola in the United States, died Wednesday.
The nurse had “extensive contact” on “multiple occasions,” said Dr. Tom Frieden, the director of the CDC.
“At some point, there was a breach in protocol, and that breach in protocol resulted in this infection,” he said at a news conference Sunday. “The (Ebola treatment) protocols work. … But we know that even a single lapse or breach can result in infection.”
Varga said someone who is a “close contact” of the nurse has been “proactively” placed in isolation.
The hazardous materials unit of the Dallas Fire Department has cleaned up and decontaminated the public areas of the health worker’s apartment complex, Mayor Mike Rawlings said. Police are keeping people out of the area and are talking to residents nearby.
“We have knocked on every door on that block,” the mayor said.
Hazardous materials units have also cleaned out the nurse’s car and will work on her apartment Sunday.
Case was anticipated
“We knew a second case could be a reality, and we’ve been preparing for this possibility,” Dr. David Lakey, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, said in a statement Sunday morning.
“We are broadening our team in Dallas and working with extreme diligence to prevent further spread.”
The nurse reported a low-grade fever Friday night and was isolated, the health department said. The preliminary test result came in late Saturday.
If confirmed by the CDC, the nurse’s case would mark the first known transmission of Ebola in the United States and the second-ever diagnosis in the country.
A White House official told CNN that Homeland Security Adviser Lisa Monaco briefed President Obama on the second Dallas Ebola case.
This is the messy truth about Ebola U.S. airports start Ebola screenings Are U.S. hospitals ready for Ebola?
CDC corroboration expected
David Sanders, associate professor of biological sciences at Purdue University, said he thinks the CDC testing will probably support the preliminary results.
“It sounds likely that it’s positive, and it’s going to stay positive.”
The news that a health care worker might have the disease is not completely unexpected, an infectious disease specialist told CNN’s “New Day.”
“I think we’ve always expected that there may be another individual who will come down with the Ebola from the transmission of this one particular person, and we always felt that it was going to likely be one of his close contacts or one of the health care workers, because that’s the way this virus works,” Dr. Frank Esper said.
Esper said Texas officials have been keeping a close eye on people who had contact with Duncan.
“I will tell you that the fact that we identified this individual so quickly is actually to me a sign that the system is working,” he added.
Globally, the disease has wrought catastrophic consequences.
The World Health Organization estimates more than 8,300 people have contracted Ebola during this year’s outbreak. Of those, more than 4,000 have died.
Ebola not very infectious
Ebola is actually difficult to catch. People are at risk if they come into very close contact with the blood, saliva, sweat, feces, semen, vomit or soiled clothing of an Ebola patient, or if they travel to affected areas in West Africa and come into contact with someone who has Ebola.
Those stricken with Ebola suffer ghastly symptoms, including vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, fever and unexplained bleeding.
Three countries — Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia — have been hardest hit. And many of those who care for the ill have also come down with the disease.
The World Health Organization estimates at least 416 health care workers have contracted Ebola, and at least 233 have died.
In Liberia, health care workers are threatening to strike if their work conditions don’t improve.
The first infection outside of Africa happened in a nurse’s aide in Spain, Teresa Romero Ramos. She became sick after she helped treat an Ebola-stricken Spanish missionary.
Her case has prompted questions from fellow medical professionals about whether they are properly equipped to safely treat Ebola patients.
Spanish Ebola patient’s condition worsens, doctor says
Another search begins
For weeks, health officials have been monitoring those who had contact with Duncan before he was hospitalized and isolated.
Duncan left Liberia on September 19 and arrived in Dallas on September 20. Four days later, he began feeling ill; the following night, he went to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital.
But despite telling a hospital worker that he had arrived from Liberia, Duncan was sent home with antibiotics. He returned a few days later and tested positive for Ebola.
And now, the search begins for all the contacts whom the nurse came in contact with.
“We need a whole new crew of people to do contact tracing,” said Elizabeth Cohen, CNN senior medical correspondent.
Because Ebola’s incubation period can last up to 21 days, the health nurse’s contacts will have to be monitored for three weeks.
The Texas health department said officials have interviewed the patient and are identifying any contacts or potential exposures.
“This is not an easy thing,” Cohen said. “Keeping track of large numbers of people, taking their temperature twice a day, making sure they don’t … leave town, all of that is a lot of work.”

I am not exactly left feeling the Center for Disease Control, President Obama, and all points in between and beyond are awake yet. Nor am I left feeling Ebola can be, or will be, contained in west Africa, or in Texas. I saw in a news report today that there now is an Ebola patient in Spain. Imagine the additional fun if certain suicide-inclined African radicals get themselves infected and, before they are symptomatic, get on airplanes headed to just about anywhere, such as Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, England, Canada, USA …

Down here in paradise, Jerry Weinstock, M.D., Psychiatry, and astute scientist of ocean and land ecology, and avid fisherman and diver in the Florida Keys since the 1950s, replied to yesterday’s digging up and spreading the truth where it’s welcome and unwelcome, Key West parish post at www.goodmorningkeywest.com:

Ballast Key

Sloan: fascinating as always —let’s try and preserve Ballast key
Protect it —a nature preserve-would be a Gem;
Cheers —Jerry Weinstock, M.D.

I replied:

I imagine that decision is entirely up to the good-hearted nature lover, David Wolkowsky

David Wolkowsky

Jerry wrote:

SLOAN: we will keep our fingers crossed -he can deduct that wonderful Island from his taxes -a grand donation -meaningful and worthwhile. If you see him tell him we fervently, passionately want him to do the right thing.
take it easy -take care -Jerry

I replied:

Hi, Jerry - I don’t know if I’ve ever seen or spoken to David Wolkowsky.

Today, Christine Russell suggested to me, and also in a comment under the blue paper Ballast Key article, that Wolkowsky give Ballast Key to Last Stand. I’m not terribly thrilled with Last Stand, but maybe that would work out okay if Last Stand was legally able to take title and agreed to do so and hold the island as a nature preserve until hell freezes over.

I think it was Todd German who told me last week over lunch that Wolkowsky may not have anyone to whom to leave his wealth. If that is basically true, maybe Wolkowsky can be persuaded to leave his wealth to nature preservation down here. That would be a memorable legacy Mother Nature would appreciate.

Sloan

Jerry wrote:

Sloan: it would be a break for humanity—-we are connected to nature and dependent. That whole area west of Key West is a wilderness area—-again established by Theodore Roosevelt—-Ballast key should be added to that and come under that jurisdiction-similar to the Great White Heron refuge and Key Deer refuge—It would be under the same ownership and overseen by a branch of the federal Government—analogous to a National Park like Yellowstone National Park—-Sandra Costas Father bought the Great White Heron refuge and wilderness area.

Last Stand would be totally inappropriate.

Cheers -Jerry (research needs to be done to comprehend the matrix of protected areas around Key West and specifically the Florida Keys — lower Keys the whole area west of the seven mile bridge -” Legal “l accuracy is important)

Jerry wrote:

Sloan; this is important -Google; KEY WEST NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE established 1908—(there are 3 preserves -Ballast Key could be added to those preserves) understanding is critical-Jerry.

again Cheers——- Jerry

www.fws.gov/nationalkeydeer/keywest Cached

I replied this morning:

Hi again, Jerry - my dreams last night left me feeling the angels are very interested in David Wolkowsky donating Ballast Key to “Mother Nature”. I like your suggestions; I, too, feel the best recipient would be an existing federal nature preserve. Maybe this was forcasted in a dream I had about 2 weeks ago.

In the dream, Jim Hendrick comes to me. (He sometimes comes to me in dreams, when I need to see something in which he either is involved, or for me to look at something as he might look at it.) Then, there is a huge storm brewing in the middle of the “picture show”. Then, on each side of the storm is a rainbow; the two rainbows are facing each other, bracketing the storm.

I wake up wondering how that’s going to play out?

I remember a poem that came to me in the fall of 1993:

Black is white
White is black
When they fuse
Rainbows bloom

Sloan

Yesterday, Christine Russell, below,

made this comment under the lively David Wolkowsky: “God Wasn’t On Duty One Day.” article at Key West the Newspaper (www.thebluepaper):

In the same general ballpark is an article in today’s Citizen (www.keysnews.com), I added the enticing outhouse and the Danny Kolhage and Sylvia Murphy photos:

Monday, October 13, 2014
Kolhage wants deep injection well
BY TIMOTHY O’HARA Citizen Staff
tohara@keysnews.com

Monroe County Commissioner Danny Kolhage

is asking his fellow county commissioners to fund the placement of a deep injection well at the Cudjoe Regional Wastewater System plant, instead of a shallow well.

Residents who will be served by the system, a group called Dig Deep Cudjoe, and the Florida Keys environmental group Last Stand have asked for the deeper well at the treatment plant under construction on Blimp Road on Cudjoe Key. They have concerns about treated effluent making its way to the water table and into the nearshore waters.

Kolhage’s request will go before the county commission when it meets at 9 a.m. Friday at the Harvey Government Center, 1200 Truman Ave.

“This is the most environmentally responsible thing to do,” Kolhage said. “Even if we don’t need the deep injection wells now, chances are we will have to do it in the future. So, let’s do it now.”

However, County Mayor Sylvia Murphy

contends that the science does not support the more expensive deep wells, which could cost an additional $6 million to $8 million.

“Until someone in the scientific community can tell me we need it, I’m not in favor of changing the project,” Murphy said. “This is a lot of money. I am looking out for the interests of the taxpayers.”

Current plans calls for digging four “shallow wells,” which would only pump the treated effluent to roughly 120 feet deep. But residents and Last Stand have called on the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority, which is overseeing construction of the sewer system, to dig “deep injection wells” that would push the water 2,000 feet below the surface into the boulder zone.

Last Stand sent letters to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the aqueduct authority and each Monroe County commissioner citing state regulations, insufficient treatment and danger to sea life as reasons why the plant should be required to build deep injection wells.

“DEP requires sewage plants that have the potential to treat one million gallons a day to use deep well disposal,” according to the letter from Last Stand, a watch-dog group that has operated in the Keys for more than 25 years. “Deep wells receive the partially treated wastewater and retain it below solid barriers, while shallow wells allow the fresh water to rise to the surface and move into the nearshore waters.”

Florida Administrative Code standards for nitrogen and phosphorus will not be met by the Cudjoe plant, according to Last Stand and Dig Deep Cudjoe.

Shallow injection wells are much cheaper than deep injection wells. A shallow well can be constructed for about $200,000 each, as opposed to roughly $6 million to $8 million for a deep well, according to aqueduct authority officials.

Aqueduct authority Executive Director Kirk Zuelch argued that his agency is following state guidelines, which require that if the average daily flow of treated sewage is less than 1 million gallons a day, a deep well is not required.

The estimated average daily flow of the Cudjoe plant will be about 940,000 gallons, according to Zuelch. He admits there could be times in which the daily flow could be more.

Last Stand contends the deep well technology is required because once the Cudjoe plant goes into operation sometime in early 2015, the plant will surpass the 1 million gallon-a-day threshold.

Last Stand and Dig Deep have concerns about nitrogen and phosphorus reaching nearshore waters and causing harmful algal blooms killing fish, sponges and other marine life.

Marine biologist Brian Lapointe authored a one-page letter for Dig Deep outlining his concerns about the shallow injection wells. He raised issues about increasing levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in the backcountry nearshore waters, if treated effluent made its way out of the porous limestone and into the nearshore waters.

“Being less dense than surrounding seawater, the effluent would quickly rise to the surface via buoyant flow as there is no confining layer,” Lapointe wrote. “The increased wastewater load will further elevate (total nitrogen) and (total phosphorus) concentrations above background levels, generating harmful algal blooms (macroalgae, seagrass epiphytes, phytoplankton) and ‘dead zones’ caused by hypoxia and anoxia in these shallow receiving waters of the plume.”

tohara@keysnews.com

Related is this on yesterdays popular Coconut Telegraph forum at www.bigpinekey.com:

Eleanor McAdams

[Sewers] I am tired of our Mayor [Sylvia Murphy] questioning our desire in the lower Keys to provide us with a quality sewer system. It seems that every time we want something down here she votes against it. She feels that the Cudjoe wastewater system does not need deep injection wells and that no one down here knows what they are talking about. She says she is trying to save us money if it is not necessary to have the deep wells.

How about if the Commission saved us money by not pursuing SUFA? The $45000 payout to Ms. Gottwald is only the half of it. What about the expense to the taxpayers for their side of the issue? How much money did the county spend on that witch hunt for staff hours, court fees, and to be ruled against in a court of law — twice? Ms. Gottwald estimated that the county spent almost $200,000 for that escapade. How about saving us money by closing Mr. Neugent’s office on Big Pine that he has not visited or held office hours at in at least the last … how many years? Who authorized the $327,000 to pump out liveaboards while we are fighting to have quality wastewater. How about not purchasing property over assessed value? Why does Grassy Key get one grinder pump for every 3-4 houses, and we get one grinder pump for every house on the taxpayer’s property. Oh, Grassy Key is not unincorporated Monroe County, it’s under the umbrella of the City of Marathon.

What will it take to get a quality wastewater system after 20 years of waiting? Mr. Brian LaPoint, a locally renowned biologist who lived in Port Pine Heights for many years, has agreed with the Dig Deep group that the deeper injection wells would be better for the Keys’ water quality. Also Mr. Causey of the Sanctuary has changed his stance and supports the deep water injection wells. The people of the lower Keys are not sheeple, that is why they keep fighting for a quality wastewater system. We do not want an algae bloom in order to say “We told you so.” At that time it is too late.

Please support Mr. Kolage in his efforts to have our system upgraded to deep injection wells at this month’s County Commission meeting. Is it not best to error on the side of caution? The infrastructure money is the people’s money, it comes from the sweat and blood of serving the tourists. It needs to be spent on what the citizens want, a quality water system. What is the sense of infrastructure money from tourist if the tourist can’t come and swim in our waters? ~Eleanor McAdams Democratic candidate for District 2 County Commission

Todd German, below, Chairman of Hometown PAC,

told me the other day that he felt Eleanor did very well at Hometown’s recent candidate forum. I said I agreed.

Eleanor is running against incumbent 4-term county commissioner George Neugent, below,

against whom I ran in 2006 and 2010, as an Independent.

George seems to have his head stuck where the sun doesn’t shine on anything having to do with Cudjoe Regional Sewer System. George seems to have become totally identified with being a county commissioner, as if the job is him and he is the job. George is one of two county commissioners living in Marathon. The other commissioner is David Rice. The lower Keys, from below Seven Mile Bridge down through the Saddlebunch Keys, which make up the bulk of George’s county commissioner district, do not have a local representative on the 5-member county commission.

Eleanor has my vote in that race. We need new blood, we need a county commissioner who puts the environment first, and the lower Keys need a county commissioner.

I just now pulled this from the Monroe County Supervisor of Elections Office’s website:

Active Registered Voters - 10/13/2014

Democrats - 16,994
Republicans - 18,765
Independents - 15,577

Easily, the Democrats and the Independents can elect Eleanor McAdams in the November 4 general election. Maybe just as easily, the readers of the popular Coconut Telegraph can elect Eleanor. To follow that forum, you’d think about 99 percent of its readers do not care for career elected officials.

Meanwhile, I’m wondering what the angels will dream up next for me to “enjoy” down here in “paradise”,

besides the low-grade (so far) virus they sent to serenade me a couple of days ago. I keep wondering maybe it has something to do with Ebola, some kind of cute angel parallel universe thing, where I get a spirit “touch” of the virus inserted into me, for it to be toyed around with in me, and for it to toy around with me, as part of some cosmic medical experiment at my expense, perhaps to create a spirit antigen, perhaps to rev the virus up.

A long, long time ago, I realized it’s impossible to figure out what the angels are really up to.

Sloan Bashinsky
keysmyhome@hotmail.com