Reuters News Story - Worms Infect More Poor Americans Than Thought

[2manyfibers]

This news story appeared on today's Drudge Report. Discusses that worms infect many more people in the US than are recognized by doctors (probably no surprise to any of the members of this site). This article is mostly on round worms and tapeworms but notes that neurological symptoms including seizures can result from these infections. They are readily passed on to humans by dogs and cats as well (like from playgrounds or contact between animals). The article notes that doctors in the US pretty well ignore that parasites can even be a problem. Here's the link:

http://www.reuters.com/article/healt...rpc=22&sp=true

[Kritters]

Hey 2many,

Too bad they stressed only inner-city problems with this, huh? since ALL dogs and cats transmit this to humans EVERYWHERE. Same parasites, different neighborhoods. Worms in the 'hood are no different than worms in the soil of a garden tea party in suburbia. This leads to complacency thinking it can't happen to everyone.

Kritts

[2manyfibers]

Hey kritts - those were my thoughts exactly. The article just shows more of the limited thinking of people in the medical community. If poor people are at risk of parasites, then everyone else is too - as far as I know parasites and bacteria and viruses and the like are equal opportunity "infectors". People of all economic backgrounds share the same space and obviously have basically the same risk of getting parasites. If medical "professionals" used their brains to actually think, they would know that children of all backgrounds attend schools and could be "contaminated" and playgrounds, parks, buses, trains, pets, shopping carts and any other number of things could expose everyone to parasites and other infectious things. I think it just goes to show how arrogant many people in the medical professions are by basically refusing to even consider the basics of nature itself (parasites have been around as long as life itself) and the time tested ways that disease can spread. That's why I thought the article was interesting aside from the headline of "WORLD ENDS - POOR HIT HARDEST!".

[2manyfibers]

Here's a link to an article about a bedbug "epidemic" in New York City. Apparently "experts" seem to be surprised that they have made a resurgence and have infested every part of NYC including the most expensive and ritzy real estate. At least this article (and the infestation itself) didn't seem to limit the effects to the poor as the article originally linked in the first post of this thread. The article on bedbugs noted that:

The small, wingless, rust-colored insects hitch rides on clothing, luggage, furniture, bedding, bookbags, even shoelaces. They've been spotted in cabs and limos, as well as on buses and subways.

A surge in global travel and mobility in all socioeconomic classes, combined with less toxic urban pesticides and the banning of DDT created a perfect storm for reviving the critters, which had been virtually dormant since World War II, experts say.

If this re-infestation can happen with bedbugs which are visible with the naked eye (about 1/4 of and inch to 3/8 of an inch long), it seems quite strange to me (actually very arrogant, cavalier and uninformed) why doctors and other so-called experts seem to believe it is impossible for other parasites of all kinds to have become more prevalent or undergone a resurgence of sorts. Obviously, the parasites don't have much regard for the economic background of their hosts - food is food as far as they are concerned.

Here's the link:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007...york_city.html

[EvDownJr]

Ahhh. Now you're scaring me again with the worms and bugs invading New York City.

Seen a lot of things close to home: rats, worms, mice, gigantic roaches. Now bedbugs. Nooooooooooooooooooo!

If you live in Manhattan, you're sure not poor, w/a few exceptions.

However, it is possibly the most "dirty" island in North America. Here's the irony: back in May I was riding the subway, whilst having a really bad flare. Waiting for the train, you can see down on the tracks wildlife refuge of every species of urban wildlife, (except pigeons and boids o' course).

Yet when I got in the train car, it was so bad that people were itching in my proximity. And the "bugs", foam, fibers, possibly mildew were actually coming from me. (Know there not bugs, but you get the point). I was spouting so much dirt that day, the real bugs would have been afraid of me.

We've got enough wildlife; don't want to go on an expedition for new forms, unless it helps my Morgs.