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Yosemite Expands Scope of Hantavirus Warning: More than 20,000 At Risk

redletterdave writes "In response to a recent outbreak of a deadly pulmonary disease commonly carried by mice and other rodents, Yosemite National Park has doubled the scope of those likely infected by hantavirus. Given the rising number of confirmed cases (currently eight) and deaths (three), U.S. officials have effectively sounded a worldwide alert for more than 22,000 local and international visitors that may have been exposed to the deadly virus. Health officials initially believed as many as 10,000 people were at risk to contracting the hantavirus after staying in Yosemite's popular Curry Village lodging area between the months of June and August.; unfortunately, that 10,000 'at risk' estimate was low. Officials expanded the warning this week to an additional 12,000 visitors to Yosemite's High Sierra camps, now that the eighth case of hantavirus was confirmed in a man who stayed in those camp areas. Furthermore, more than 2,500 of those individuals currently live outside the United States."

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  1. Re:Defense is the best offence by cold+fjord · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    Official policies

    War on drugs: Defensive
    Iraq war #1: Defensive
    War on terror: Defensive
    Iraq war #2: Defensive
    Afghanistan: Defensive

    Offensive weapons can be used in a defensive war, just as defensive weapons can be used in a defensive war. The US destroyed its biological weapons nearly 40 years ago. If it isn't done yet, it is close to done destroying its chemical weapons.

    The "War on Drugs" is not an actual war, it is law enforcement action, so that is nonsense.
    Iraq War #1 was a result of Iraq invading and conquering, and annexing the country of Kuwait. I'm not sure how you would have a problem with freeing Kuwait.
    The War on Terror was the result of a declaration of war against the United States by Al Qaeda followed by years of deadly attacks, culminating in 9/11, which killed nearly 3,000 people on American soil. NATO stood behind the United States. I'm not sure where you have a problem with that.
    Afghanistan - That was a natural consequence of Al Qaeda integrating itself into the government structure of Afghanistan, and the Taliban shielding both Al Qaeda and Bin Laden, and a natural part of the War on Terror. I'm not sure where you have a problem with that, either.
    Iraq War #2 - Iraq was in material breach before the UN of its responsibilities from Iraq War #1. They were engaged in numerous illegal activities, and fired on Coalition aircraft, including American, nearly every day - an act of war. I'm more understanding of protest against this one, but it was still justifiable.

    I live too close to one of the largest biodefence research companies for the US Military. It is frightening when someone moves in next door and they tell you their job is in infectious disease propagation improvement.

    Darned convenient for the subject under discussion that you live there, eh? I'm curious, what other information from what are no doubt classified programs do they share with you? Or is this all just fabricated?

    Sure it is to find better ways to stop the spread and kill the next pandemic, but when you have a drawer full of hammers.....

    A "drawer full of hammers" puts you an enormous amount of effort, engineering, experimentation, planning, and execution away from making "hammer" artillery shells and missile warheads available. Those need to be available in large numbers if they are going to be used for military purposes, and that would be very noticeable in the open American society. I doubt that much of anyone in the US military wants to get anywhere near those sorts of weapons either. Smart weapons take care of most things. For WMD needs, the US has nukes.

    Just out of curiosity, do you live under a bridge by any chance?

    --
    much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who don't even know that fire is hot - George Orwell