Comments on: Puerto Rico Disaster Implications: Migrations, Politics, Cholera https://gregladen.com/blog/2017/09/28/puerto-rico-disaster-implications-migrations-politics-cholera/ Thu, 30 Nov 2017 20:49:08 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.6 By: Greg Laden https://gregladen.com/blog/2017/09/28/puerto-rico-disaster-implications-migrations-politics-cholera/#comment-455863 Sat, 30 Sep 2017 18:17:27 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=24566#comment-455863 Ripsawff, mostly good points. But no, Americans do not come together to deal with disasters. We are currently divided over a nation as to whether to help Puerto Rico or not, for example!

The blueness vs. redness of states is incredibly important for all concerned. Your gov aside, the red parts of your congressional delegation (and our in MN as well) help determine the caucus. The caucus is key. At some scale, the caucus is more important than a certain amount of clean water or immunization!

]]> By: Ripsawff https://gregladen.com/blog/2017/09/28/puerto-rico-disaster-implications-migrations-politics-cholera/#comment-455862 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 19:50:02 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=24566#comment-455862 Good deductions, Greg. One of the ways cholera is spread is by warming waters with diluted salinity. There is risk that in warmer periods with increased rainfall it will be spread by currents. Fortunately, the Gulf Coast states and mangroves tend to be protected by Gulf currents. But, unfortunately, one of the routes cholera is spread is by military and UN troop movements which is how the outbreak in Haiti occured. Nepalese troops were exposed.previously to deployment in Haiti. An evacuation of people who are xposed to v cholerae will increase the likelihood of an outbreak in the USA and states where Puerto Ricans are relocated if they have been exposed. Factors that are probably more important to spreading v cholere are lack of sanitation, fowl which ingest infected fish and copoepods and are ingested or spread contaminated waste, etc. So adequate sanitation and clean water become factors, especially in the early days of a disaster.

The dryer period and more moderate temperatures are approaching which could help. Unfortunately, one more manor storm or hurricane could help to spread v cholerae to nearby islands like Cuba. Whether Florida turns blue, red or purple affecting politics is not of real concern. The possible impact o human life and suffering is. Americans put aside differences during disasters. Floridians are up to the task and we have an excellent Republican Governor who is already aware of the potential for a pandemic outbreak here.

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