We barely finished the Hantavirus scare before Ebola arrived on the scene, along with fears that it will spread far and wide.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a real virus and a wicked killer, to be sure. There is also zero chance that it can mutate into a pandemic. Why? It has a higher case fatality rate, one that actually limits its spread. A spreadable virus cannot kill its host. Only unsuccessful viruses do that.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s how the logic of these pathogens operates. There is a tradeoff between severity and prevalence. Incubation rates can adjust that dynamic somewhat but Ebola shows fast symptoms, which is why it is usually contained. That also makes contact tracing easier.<\/p>\n
These days every infection that gets media attention generates public fear of both the medical and political response. What if they attempt another lockdown-until-vaccinate plot? We might swear not to comply but what if we are debanked, censored, and shamed?<\/p>\n
In short, how powerful are the combined forces of media, public health officials, and governments? Is there anything we can do to stop them?<\/p>\n
For all the world, it feels these days like someone is up to something. The World Health Organization never misses a chance to spread fear. The role of Brownstone Institute is to do the opposite: spread calm through logic, experience, and the actual science instead of the counterfeit form.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We barely finished the Hantavirus scare before Ebola arrived on the scene, along with fears that it will spread far and wide. It\u2019s a real virus and a wicked killer, to be sure. There is also zero chance that it can mutate into a pandemic. Why? It has a higher case fatality rate, one that … <\/p>\n