Smallpox in 1721 may have changed the course of American History

    Albert Coss has written an interesting book on how the 1721 smallpox outbreak in America, changed the course of history, even inspiring the Revolutionary War. The PRI global network interviewed the author on Sept. 24, 2016 and it is worth the 16 minutes. Coss paints a picture of the political and social forces that smallpox created but so often not recognized in American history.
    He points out that smallpox got out of control in Boston because the government was in such conflict over what to do. You may remember the famous U.S. Supreme Court case, which established that states have the sovereign power to demand vaccinations which outweigh the individual Constitutional liberty when the public health is more critically important to society.
    Coss also points out that Cotton Mather, famous for his role in the Salem Witchcraft Trials was among the first advocates for innoculation, the procedure that saved 100s or 1000s of lives in Boston. Ironic.
     Coss further ties in the American Revolution by exploring the free press finding that it really emerged during the smallpox epidemic when information was vital, and public opinion was loud. Benjamin Franklin wrote in the Boston Globe and was a big leap in his journalism activity, propelling him into the public eye as a public commentator, like maybe the modern day, Bill O'Reilly.

Anthrax confirmed in deer in Texas--NBD

There is nothing like waking up to a warning of anthrax, which I discovered is no surprise in Texas. This news release came from the Texas Animal Health Commission, today, and Every year, Texas sees several cases, typically near the border.  It is also important to remember that the great cattle trails beginning in the 1800s drove cattle and some of them had anthrax, and anthrax spores can survive for decades or centuries.  Only a dozen or so states have animal health commissions that regulate livestock, and a state without an animal health commission would likely rely on their natural resources government unit to address these risks in wildlife. Anthrax Confirmed in Kinney County  White-Tailed Deer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 20, 2016     AUSTIN - Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) officials confirmed Anthrax in white-tailed deer in Kinney County on September 16, 2016. The affected premises is located approximately 12 miles east of Brackettville. The premises has been quarantined and TAHC rules require proper disposal of affected carcasses and vaccination of livestock on the premises prior to release of the quarantine.   "The TAHC will continue to closely monitor the premises," said Dr. T.R. Lansford, TAHC Assistant Executive Director for Animal Health Programs. "Producers are encouraged to consult their veterinary practitioner or local TAHC office if they have questions about the disease in livestock and a medical professional if they have concerns about personal anthrax exposure."   Anthrax is a bacterial disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, which is a naturally occurring organism with worldwide distribution. Anthrax periodically emerges in the southwestern part of Texas. A vaccine is available for use in susceptible livestock in high risk areas.   Acute fever followed by rapid death with bleeding from body openings are common signs of anthrax in livestock. Carcasses may also appear bloated and decompose quickly. Livestock displaying symptoms consistent with anthrax should be reported to a private veterinary practitioner or a TAHC official. If affected livestock or carcasses must be handled, producers are encouraged to follow basic sanitation precautions such as wearing protective gloves, long sleeve shirts and washing thoroughly afterward to prevent accidental spread of the bacteria to people.   For more information regarding Anthrax, contact your local TAHC region office or call 1-800-550-8242.   To learn more about Anthrax, visit the TAHC's brochure athttp://www.tahc.texas.gov/news/brochures/TAHCBrochure_Anthrax.pdf

As predicted, TB arrives with the refugees

As predicted by this blogger, the combination of widespread tuberculosis and polio in Syria with the breakdown of health services for years, plus the complete abdication of responsibility by the federal government to screen incoming refugees before forcibly demanding that states accept them, as resultes in bringing more TB to the U.S. It has been reported that two refugees in Nebraska with TB were identified near the time of their arrival while a couple others were identified years later. It seems that the health care screening of refugees is something the Federal government "forgot" about? While health law is a power of the state, at the point of immigration it is the clear constitutional responsibility of the federal government. The Federal government and its poorly functioning CDC have been avoiding this inherent responsibility of protecting American citizens from danger, yet one of the most obvious risks which can be screened for at immigration has been ignored.