Nightmares Are Imminent

[sadlikeknives]

Once upon a time, I took a class on the anthropology of the AIDS epidemic. During that class, I read a book that made mention of the Marburg virus (AKA Marburg's virus, AKA Marburg('s) disease). I did some research, and then I didn't sleep for a week. When I did start sleeping again, I had nightmares. Eventually, I managed to block the virus's existence out of my mind and go on with my life.

Marburg, you see, kills by causing the victim to bleed to death through their pores and other orifices. There is no cure. There is no vaccine. And it has a mortality rate somewhere in the mid-nineties. The only mercy is that it kills pretty quickly. As a matter of fact, most outbreaks of Marburg end quickly, because the poor sot who contracted it dies before he can pass it on to other people. It comes from green monkeys. The first outbreak happened to a group of animal handlers at a research facility in Marburg, Germany. I think I read somewhere that they pretty much just locked them in to die, because if you come into contact with someone with Marburg--guess what! You get Marburg, too!

Well, it's baaa-aaaack. And it's already killed a hundred and twenty people in Angola.

*whimper*

(And of course, this is getting absolutely zero coverage in the American press.)

Comments

[auroura76.livejournal.com]

(And of course, this is getting absolutely zero coverage in the American press.)

There was an apparently an oil tanker crash/explosion in Alaska this past week that the US press chose to ignore as well. Because Terri Schiavo must LIVE, see.

Also, thanks. You've sufficiently terrified me for one, nay, TWO, lifetimes.

[andrew52.livejournal.com]

Ah, well we in Africa have heard about this. This pretty much happens every second year or so. Though this one is slightly larger than usual.

[vampychick.livejournal.com]

And the pope! The pope must live, as well!

Also, thanks. You've sufficiently terrified me for one, nay, TWO, lifetimes.

Everyone must share in the terror.

[vampychick.livejournal.com]

Of course you have. Unfortunately, the US media has decided that this week, the world consists of Florida and the Vatican.

[delurker.livejournal.com]

Posts like this make me all MY EYEBROW IS ITCHING! OMG CHECK HAND FOR BLOOD! EEE! until santity returns. It also makes my neck itch, which it does for reasons of its own whenever I see, hear or read something gruesome.

And I agree - it's totally ridiculous that so little is shown in the news about important events that happen elsewhere in the world. And why are the events that are eventually shown generally disasters? Why not festivals, or 'Yay! We finally got rid of our national debt!' stories? (No wait - April Fools was a few days ago. Scratch that last one.)

[vampychick.livejournal.com]

Just knowing Marburg is back has me all, "OMG I just sneezed I am going to die horribly!"

'Yay! We finally got rid of our national debt!'

HA! You're funny.

And why are the events that are eventually shown generally disasters?

Because the media sucks. I considered going into journalism for like, ten seconds, until I realized that I would be condemning myself to a lifetime of depression.

[willothewisps.livejournal.com]

Don't forget the occasional Micheal Jackson coverage.

[willothewisps.livejournal.com]

When I read The Stand every time I sneezed, the thought crossed my mind that I could have the super-flu.

I'm going to go in the corner and rock back and forth now.

[vampychick.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, of course. Whenever they can be arsed to break away from People Who Have Died (With the Words 'Feeding Tube' Involved) for ten seconds.

[vampychick.livejournal.com]

I'm a firm believer that sheer horror is something that should be shared.

[jlrane.livejournal.com]

werd up
...
to the anthropology freshman seminar reference
...
and just to be relevant - yeah diseases are creepy.

[delurker.livejournal.com]

I was thinking about being a journalist.
Then I realised that you were either low on the food chain or in a job for which a requirement was being a pushy bastard. That and the depression made me rethink my career choice a bit.

I thought you might like to know: I saw a reference to Marburg in the paper today! It went something like, "People in Angola are dying from Marburg. *Insert death statistics here*", amd it was the free 'newspaper' you get at the train station, but still. And it means there was probably something in one of the major papers over here. (Plus the obligatory Pope and feeding tube, natch.)

[vampychick.livejournal.com]

The death statistics are the really scary part. Usually, when there's an outbreak of Marburg, it lasts long enough to kill the poor sot who screwed with the Bad Monkies and anybody who'd had immediate contact with him--i.e., his immediate family and his doctor. This time, it's killed a hundred and twenty people already.

[delurker.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I hope it doesn't spread further.

There was a piece in The Age yesterday (one of Melbourne's broadsheet newspapers).

Reading it, I'm beginning to imagine panic in the capital, and I can imagine their fear... *crosses fingers that it ends soon*