Santa!

Has barfed.

Ebolee

This has been really hard with the fast pace of things, and the technical challenge presented by the iPhone.  You'll have to copy and paste links, and there are far fewer than I'd like.  No idea about the font changes, sorry.  Right now there are two nurses being treated after providing care to Patient Zero in Dallas.  Hopefully there will be no more;  hundreds of contacts are being monitored.

(For y'all taxonomy hardliners, we shall adhere to the recent Redneck Approved change in nomenclature).

1). How do I catch Ebolee?

Like most of the viral hemorrhagic fevers to date, you have to start out by messing with weird African animals.  What is a duiker or a rousette anyhow?  The present outbreak is thought to have started when a 2 year old toddler was bitten by a fruit bat, back in December 2013.  So those hot roasted friut bats on a stick at the county fair?  Just say no this year.  Once we get past the Mutual of Omaha scenario, you have to contact a sick person to become exposed; then its all to do with ... hotness.

Viral dynamics give us a long period to avoid the making of mistakes.  In the first days of infection a patients viral load is low; it often takes three or four days after fever onset to get a positive test, even in presence of fever.  Large bore needle sticks or such are probably the only likely transmission mode.

Then the patient develops symptoms; fever, fatigue, pain, and messy barfing and diarrhea.  Still a relatively low viral load, but transmission is possible with contact of body fluids.  Maybe not across unbroken skin.  Maybe.  One of the infected MDs reports a drop of blood, immediately cleaned with bleach....

In the end phase, that part where everything is bleeding and oozing, (not really liquifying, that's pure fiction) viral loads are extremely, actually extraordinarily, high. Transmission becomes... inevitable.  Sweat, urine, snot, tears, all of it becomes highly infectious.  At this time transmission by aerosols is debated, but seems quite likely.

So, stay away from hot, barfing, bleeding people, hot roasted fruit bats, and you'll be fine.

But.  The reservoir for Teh Ebolee is not settled science, this is the study responsible for Excalibur being euthanized .  I'm not sure myself:

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Ebola+virus+antibody+prevalence+in+dogs+and+human+risk.-a0131127452

And survivors often have no idea how they were exposed; Nancy's story in particular is troubling:

http://news.sciencemag.org/africa/2014/10/ebola-survivor-i-senga-omeonga-every-day-i-m-still-thinking-when-was-i-contaminated

http://news.sciencemag.org/africa/2014/10/ebola-survivor-i-senga-omeonga-every-day-i-m-still-thinking-when-was-i-contaminatednews.sciencemag.org/africa/2014/10/ebola-survivor-ii-nancy-writebol-we-just-dont-even-have-clue-what-happened

But, by way of reassurance;

http://www.npr.org/blogs/goatsandsoda/2014/10/06/354054915/firestone-did-what-governments-have-not-stopped-ebola-in-its-tracks

2). What's the treatment?

There's really not any today.  It's mostly supportive care, but in a first world country that can include ventilators, plasmapheresis, and dialysis, along with fluids, transfusions, and antibiotics, immunodulators, and antivirals.  There are several specific agents recently FDA approved for use only in the present emergency.  Supplies are extremely limited, and some of these agents haven't been fully investigated in animals, let alone people.  For the most part, it looks like they aren't making Ebolee disease worse, and do appear to be helping.

Convalescent plasma from survivors is demonstrating benefit.  There seems to be only one survivor donating, and it's unclear how long antibody production continues. It is also unknown if survivors are truly immune or how long that immunity persists. There are plenty of examples however of antibody positive people walking around in Africa; they never got sick but often report nursing family members through illness, so lasting immunity is definitely possible.

Most hopefully, there is at least one vaccine in Phase III clinical trials.  It's a viral protein which uses a monkey adenovirus (cold virus) to stimulate immune response in humans.  It's been protective in animals.  It could be available within a few months if the trial goes well; it's actually deployed in Africa right now.  Efficacy is of course uncertain, but in theory, immunizing half the population would stop the virus in its tracks.

An antiretroviral agent, lamivudine, may have shown anectdotal efficacy in treatment of infected patients, when started early. It's relatively cheap and available, and quite safe.  It'll probably see some use if it proves useful-cross resistance will be a consideration.

There are several other 'numbers only' drugs in development.  The patients here in the US are receiving brincidofovir for example.  These drugs have been under study for quite awhile fortunately, so like the vaccine, may be rushed to market faster than expected.

Right now we are just waiting to see if the genie can be put back in the lamp; that will buy us some time but this is by no means over.  Vaccine is key, and quarantine, backed by force of law, will be required.  As will travel restrictions, distasteful as it may be.  These are long standing tools in the management of infectious disease, for good reason.

This Week in Virology

 

I'm not a virologist, but I do play one on TV - yes, I really do - and this has been a really exciting week.  Just this morning the news broke of a Marburg outbreak in Uganda, just ...awesome.  There is a lot of information, and misinformation, out there right now.  Don't panic.  But do keep in mind #21Days - that's how long you may find yourself locked into yer house.

In short, there are a handful of emerging threats making news.  In order of importance to you:

1). Electronic medical records, in our fragmented, overworked, under-staffed medical system;

2).  EVd-68;

3).  Chikingunya

4)  Ebolavirus

We'll jump to the last one since it's of course making all the headlines.  We all read The Hot Zone back in the '90's; what's not to love about liquified internal organs, bleeding orifices, unclear modes of transmission and 90% mortality rates?  Bottom line here is, it's in Africa, and will pretty much stay there for the foreseeable.  Over there, yer witch doctor granny can't cure Ebola or AIDS, no matter what sort of smoke she blows up yer arse, and she is pretty much state of the art.  You'd likely have a better outcome here, at least we had running water and lanterns:

This brings us to  #1.  The reason you'd do better here, beyond hygiene and some clean water?  No electronic records.  The providers at our vacation MASH unit were able to communicate. EMRs are ridiculously difficult to work with and we'll leave it at that for now.  You'd get really scared if too much information were divulged, but it probably represents one of the biggest threats to your health today.

EVD 68 has been around a few years now, just not really making the news until recently.  It was first linked to paralysis in some kids in California, at least a year ago, actually I'm pretty sure it was two years ago..  It was linked to the deaths of one child and four adults this week.  The scary part? Its related to polio virus, just like in the iron lung days; we don't have a vaccine in development.  

Chikingunyan might be sort of fun.   Nobody has died, but you'll get lots of time off work.  The scary part?  It's vector - mosquitoes.  There isn't enough DEET in the world.  

Not going Alex Jones here, but the USG is actually responsible for this interesting week we find ourselves in. Not in a secret bioweapon sort of way though, awesome as that would be.  These viruses weren't cooked up in a plot to depopulate the planet, but they are now here in the US, to stay, due to poorly formulated policies mostly related to immigration.

New Friends!

This little cutie is curled up in the Vitex; I think he's a Checkered Garter. There are those who say he's a boa, or hog nose, but they're wrong:

This little guy got chopped up by the lawn mower, yikes!

Yep, that's yer By Gawd Coral Snake...even us Proud Appalachian Americans need to be wearing shoes 'round here!

Green Chili Stew

Looks weird, but tastes great....Wally 

World now sells roasted, peeled, and chopped New Mexico chilis, in the freezer section.  Not quite as good as the real thing but so much easier that it's worth it!

3 lb boneless pork picnic roast

2 large yellow onions, diced

2 large carrots, diced

4 cups chicken broth

2  or 3 lbs frozen mild chilis - or hot if you like!

AP flour

Red and black pepper

Cumin

Salt

Garlic

Bay leaf

Mexican oregano

Minced cilantro

1). Chop the pork into bite size pieces and put in a Dutch oven with 1/4 cup stock and a bit of salt; cover and heat till fat renders;

2). Remove lid snd allow pork to brown in  rendered fat;

3). Add onions and carrots, cook till  onions are soft;

4). Add garlic, cook another minute or so;

5). Add 1/2 cup flour, cook, stirring constantly, about a minute;

6). Slowly whisk in stock;

7) Add seasonings, except cilantro, bring to simmer;

8). Add chillis, simmer an hour or two;

9). Just before serving, stir in a bunch of cilantro.

Serve with lime wedges, avocado, tortilla strips, or whatever Mexican garnishes you prefer - oh, and cornbread!

Oops

Weed whacking..

Collateral damage.

Family Reunion

Was held late this year, but thanks to the Polar Vortex, the weather was great. Sweatshirts were worn the first night.

We had a cabin that sleeps about 25, with a dock, an island, lots of food and frivolity:

And Horace:

Videos don't post, but he needed Tums by the end of our stay.  Who knew that gators favored treat is giant marshmallows.....

Rainy Sunday

A day of rest; sewing lessons with Rapunzel; power washing the small little porch:

New Must Have Furniture

Late Summer

In the Garden gets a bit boring here.  There aren't a lot of tomatoes, the lettuce is long since done.  

Instead we have eggplant:

Cucumbers:

And peppers:

And the odd citrus blooming, along with some tiny limes:

There's lots of basil and herbs too, so we're not in too bad a way.  Another couple of weeks it'll be time to start thinking about the Fall Garden.

Happy Independece Day!

We all rode in The Hooptie over to our Community College to watch the show.

Oh, there were fireworks too!  Of course set to Patriotic music, broadcast by the College radio station.  

Happy 4th of July!

Introducing:

Einstein!   A White Crested Black Polish chick.  He was the 'bonus' chick with this years hatchery order; they are very personable but don't lay much at all.  

They tend to not do particularly well with other chickens, so he may eventually need go be rehomed;  alternatively we may just try a haircut.

This is how he'll look in a few weeks:

How To

Install a smoker with a tractor:

Trifle

Yes, another recipe.  This one can be as easy or as difficult as suits; I've done it all from scratch and all from instant products, with equally good results.  If it'll  be eaten right away apples and bananas and such are fine, but it can be made a day ahead if you choose fruit that won't go brown or soggy. Instant Jello pudding can be stirred up with a fork-no single weapon required!  If you buy the cake, try to get loaf shapes; we like angel food, but pound cake is fine too.  We like plain, but flavors are good; it can be brushed with flavored syrup or booze if you'd like.  If you have a Farmers Market, your fruit will be cheaper, and generally taste better too.

Fresh Fruit Trifle

One tall, preferably clear container, preferably with a lid;

Angel food;

3 - 4 cups pudding;

Fruits of choice

1). Layer cubed cake in bottom of dish;

2). Sprinkle liberally with fruit;

3). Spoon a layer of pudding over top;

4)  Repeat as many times as your dish allows;

5)  After last fruit layer, reverse the order of operations and put on the cake cubes, then spoon over the pudding;

6). Top with whipped cream if you'd like it to look pretty; a few raspberries and mint leaves look very fetching.

7). Serve well chilled if possible!

1st to Cross the Stage

This graduation season.  Nowhere near the top of his class, but hey, who's counting?  Off to work teaching sailing in the AM and fueling and throwing ice on the docks in the PM, you'll remember this guy from summer vacations, though you may not recognize him all tidied up:

Not sure about the paper bow tie, but:

Swirly Mitigation

Was undertaken today.  Remember the six in inches of rain and tornados?

The Horrible Hackberry was hauled off.  Left behind was this sad little tallow that's been threatening the barn.  The barn, like the rest of SHG, was built in the 1890's and doesn't take well to being threatened, but we digress.  Steps were taken.

Step One:

Here ya'll hold my beer!

I came. I sawed.

I fixed it!

No more tree leaning on the barn.  Guess it's time to finish the fence.

Today in the Garden

There was a big surprise!

Not Apple blossoms, but blackberry!  It's way past time, the wild berries are all done and mostly ate up by the feral hogs.  This is a Ouachita Thornless, last year it bloomed and produced like the wild brambles.  Not sure why the change, we'll just be happy about the season extender - they'll be great with the Rhubarb stashed in the freezer.

And here's a few 'maters for ya, there's twice that many left out there:

Got Cat Faces?

We got lots.  The last Observance paid dividends and resulted in about six inches of rain over about forty eight hours.

The Swirly knocked down a Horrible Hackberry, but it didn't fall on the barn, nor on the new garden fence.  That's because I was too lazy to finish the fence.  Paid off though!

Slightly creepifying, thought we left all that back by the bay.,,

Ascenion Eggs

'Cause you can't have Deviled Eggs for Easter.

A Dozen Yard Eggs

Dukes Mayo

Mustard

Red pepper

Red wine vineagar

1). Boil the eggs a good ten minutes or so.  They'll be green but the mustard will fix it, and they'll peel nicely.

2). Peel the eggs

3) Slice the peeled eggs in half and put the yols in a medium bowl.  

4). Pour about a half cup of vineagar on the yolks and start mashing.

5). Add a dollop of Dukes and a slug of Dijon.

6). Mash some more

8). Add the pepper, and maybe some salt.  Use more vineagar.

9). Keep mashing.

9). You can now cover the bowls and keep them until time for dinner, even if it's a couple of days.

10) .  Assemble.  Garnish with dill in season.  If you have it, put the paprika down and back away slowly.

Just Stuff

Here's some stuff from today that will be for dinner tomorrow:

               

Pardon the cabbage loopers please; that happened just about overnite; the heads are fine fortunately. 

And of course Piggly Wiggly(s):