According to the AP wire, a German man thought to be infected with Ebola has instead died of Yellow Fever. I don't know what the mosquito situation is in Germany, but I for one would be much more worried about Yellow Fever than Ebola, because down here in NC we have hordes of ravenous mosquitos. Fortunately for us, the best medicine is still Quinine. You might want to add quinine water to your stash- along with enough gin to help it go down! Limes might be hard to come by after the rollover, but I'll bet bottled lime juice will keep. If you have any odd relatives who think that they are Teddy Roosevelt, perhaps they can take care of the victims in the basement. But avoid the Elderberry wine!

-- Forrest Covington (theforrest@mindspring.com), August 07, 1999

Answers

It's hard to imagine a nastier death than ebola,bleeding out every orifice including eyes and nipples.A delerium fever death seems quite preferable,but,hey!viva la differance!

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), August 07, 1999.

There's a vaccine for yellow fever. (Isn't quinine for control of malaria?)

-- Puddintame (achillesg@hotmail.com), August 07, 1999.

Why is the German govt. more credible than our own? If it were Ebola, why panic the population? I have seen yellow fever in South America. I have never seen or heard of the hemoragic symptom to be connected with yellow fever.

-- Bill Solorzano (notaclue@webtv.net), August 07, 1999.

I'm just home from four weeks out in the truck, and my wife tells me that our local hospital here in Longview Tx. has three children in comas as a result of mosquito bites, and my niece was layed off from her job at a day care center due to people keeping their children at home. Someone help me out here, what mosquito borne disease induces coma in children?

-- Nikoli Krushev (doomsday@y2000.com), August 07, 1999.

The Atlantic Monthly has a great article about disease vectors, it's a real eye opener!

"The Resurgence of a Deadly Disease" http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/97aug/malaria.htm

-- flora (***@__._), August 07, 1999.

Nikoli,

I think it's Encephalitis(sp?) that causes coma in children...

-- Jim Morris (prism@bevcomm.net), August 07, 1999.

Thought of something I might mention, not sure if it ties in or not. I am 36 and have never had much of a reaction to mosquitos, except for some itching. In the last two months whenever I've had a bite they've been swelling up to 3 or 4" in diameter. It is literally taking WEEKS for them to go away completely and Benedryl is not helping. I am convinced these bugs are carrying something, but my doc thinks it's simply allergic reaction. Any thoughts or similair experiences?

-- Gia (laureltree7@hotmail.com), August 07, 1999.

Nikoli, there is a form of sleeping sickness that can be passed with mosquitos, but it's not native to North America.

Jolly

-- Jollyprez (jolly@prez.com), August 07, 1999.

equine encephalitis is a mosquito borne disease that is endemic in the southern USA, thats most likely what the kids have. given the info that is provided. sawbones

-- sawbones (md@prep.com), August 07, 1999.

Sorry to despoil your disposition, but diseases will be increasing exponentially very soon.

STAY HEALTHY AND EXERCISE!

-- Randolph (dinosaur@williams-net.com), August 07, 1999.

Puddintane is right. Yellow fever is a viral disease for which there is a vaccine. Quinine works for some forms of malaria which is caused byPlasmodium falciparum a parasite.

-- kozak (kozak@formerusaf.guv), August 08, 1999.

Puddintane is right. Yellow fever is a viral disease for which there is a vaccine. Quinine works for some forms of malaria which is caused byPlasmodium falciparum a parasite.

-- kozak (kozak@formerusaf.guv), August 08, 1999.

Oops, sorry about the Quinine thing. I was hoping we could drink our way to health. Does Yellow Fever vaccine go good with Scotch?

-- Forrest Covington (theforrest@mindspring.com), August 08, 1999.