Dangerous Virus, Emergency Power & Microchips
Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, September 19, 2014 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler
Since school started in mid-August, doctors across the country have seen over 1,000 children with respiratory infections. That’s a dramatic increase from previous years. This year, the illness surfaced first in the Midwest, then spread as far east as North Carolina and was identified as one of a hundred different strains of enteroviruses related to the common cold. Currently, 22 states, including Georgia, have reported dramatic increases in the number of children infected this year, compared to previous years.
Georgia and nine other states sent samples to the CDC that identified them as Enterovirus D68 or EV – D68, which appears as a severe cold, but with worse symptoms – a runny nose, sneezing and coughing, that can escalate into breathing difficulties.
Dr. Holly Phillips said on CBS, “It is a rare strain of a very common virus. The most important thing to pick up on is any difficulty breathing … wheezing or a cough that just won’t stop.” All infected children have survived, but about 15 percent of over 300 treated in Missouri ended up in intensive care, where some required oxygen, intravenous fluids and drugs. Children as young as six weeks of age may be affected. Since August 18th, Children’s Hospital in Colorado has treated 900 kids. Of those, 86 were hospitalized for severe respiratory illness. A Denver doctor calls it “the worst I’ve seen in my time.” 19 of 22 specimens from Kansas City and 11 of 14 samples from Chicago tested positive for EV – D68.
There’s no vaccine to cure this virus and no specific treatment for the infections. After Albuterol failed to regulate his asthmatic breathing, a 13-year-old with the virus, lay on the couch where he became pale, his lips turned blue and he couldn’t speak. After his frantic mother called 911 to report his condition, he was airlifted to a Denver hospital, where he was put on a breathing tube for 24 hours.
This situation reminds me that governors and the president have power to declare a state of emergency in certain circumstances. It, also, reminds me of President Obama’s recent executive order that added “respiratory illnesses” to the list of conditions that could prompt mandatory quarantine. During declared emergencies, vaccinations and quarantines could become mandatory and so could microchip implants, because there’s no law against it.
In 2010 the Microchip Consent Act passed the Georgia Senate, but died in the House. It needs to pass. Ask your legislator to introduce it next session. For Georgia Insight I’m Sue Ella Deadwyler, your Capitol correspondent.