Conservative Refocus

By Barry Secrest

The story which appeared in millions of papers everywhere, in August, as written by an Associated Press medical writer, was so fantastic that it strained any rational credulity.

A specific type of tick, which is normally found in the American Southwest, is now appearing all over the US; however, it’s what happens after the tick bite that sends all logic spinning off into the hinterlands of science fiction.

This tick, with its bite, can cause an allergic response so terrible that it sends an individual into anaphylaxis, which is an allergic reaction that can be life-threatening, but here’s the catch:

The reaction occurs  only if the bitten individual eats red meat and, even more unbelievably, it takes about six to eight hours for the reaction to take place.

Yes indeed, it’s the red meat that causes the severe reaction, so, if one is a vegetarian there is little if any risk–well–as long as the individual stays strong in their vegetarian faith.

Not only that, the issue is appearing all over the US, but only from one particular tick known as the “Lone Star Tick,” and the effects from the bite appear to be ongoing with regard to the extraordinarily odd red meat allergic reaction.

Newer Tick-Borne Viruses Emerge

Regarding the now newly ubiquitous “lone star tick” there is a bit more to the story, from a website called Preventdisease.com a research specialist and consumer advocate, had this to say:

Researcher and entomologist Jaime Lombard says the ticks have been in circulation for a few years however the latest crop released are becoming more potent. “Scientists have been experimenting on ticks since the 1960s because of their ability to spread disease. Since then, genetically engineered ticks have become more potent and scientists can create human disease almost at will,” he stated.

But there’s more….

Interestingly enough, is the fact that, shortly after the  National Bio and Agro defense facility had begun partial operations in Kansas,  and after its move from the now closing Plum Island facility located in Long Island Sound, NY, (which is a whole other horror story), we now have two new potentially fatal tick-borne diseases that have emerged in Kansas..

From the AP comes the first  story on the most recently discovered disease :

“A new virus thought to be carried by ticks or other insects has been discovered following the death of a southeast Kansas resident during the summer, public health officials said Monday.

The new virus is called Bourbon virus, after Bourbon County, home of the patient who died. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said the patient’s symptoms, including fever and fatigue, were similar to symptoms from other tick-borne diseases.

The Kansas health department said testing by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that the patient had a virus not previously identified. Health department spokeswoman Aimee Rosenow said it’s still not clear how much the Bourbon virus contributed to the patient’s death.

“This was the first known instance and the only confirmed case,” Rosenow said. “This is a new virus, and we are still learning.”

The health department declined to identify the victim of the virus or provide details about the case, saying it was protecting the privacy of the patient and family members.”

However, there is also yet another tick-born disease, which has emerged in Kansas as well, called “The Heartland Virus.” This story from the Fort Scott Tribune:

The Heartland virus is also a relatively new tick-borne virus that is carried by the Lone Star tick. According to the CDC, there is also currently no vaccine or medication to treat or cure the Heartland virus.

Even more interesting might be the proximity of the Bourbon viruses’ initial hot zone, which is a knight-like move of only about 200 miles away, from Manhattan, Kansas.

So, is there a possible connection?

The Heartland virus, by the way, originated 182 miles away from Manhattan Kansas, in an almost geometrically identical movement compared to the Bourbon Virus.

So, at least now you have the rest of the story.  Ticks are routinely used in genetic research due to their ability to spread disease.  According to Wikipedia, “Lab 257, a book by Michael C. Carroll, has alleged a connection between Plum Island Animal Disease Center and the outbreaks of at least two infectious diseases: West Nile virus in 1999, and the Dutch duck plague in 1967.^[6]“

Interestingly enough, the question has been postulated  regarding why the new bio-engineer warfare center was located in Manhattan, Kansas?

Manhattan, KS can be found near the exact geographic center  of the United States, which is located in Lebanon, KS,  142 miles away.

Now, if you’re really curious,  you might consider checking out the area history of a beautiful little research town in Connecticut known as Lyme…..

Related:

Pandemic Central: Kansas City Experiencing Epidemic Levels of Flu +

Update: Questions as to the ongoing construction/operational aspect of the new bio-warfare  site have emerged:

There were, already,  several bio-research facilities in operation at this site–and it was initially slated to be fully operational by 2015–meaning parts of the facility may be or are currently operational–the other side to this question is the fact that at least two new tick-born diseases have emerged around the exact geo-center of this site which is located at KSU.

The inference  of the article leans towards the fact that these new disease have emerged in almost the same exact place and seeks to answer the questions as to why.

What are the odds? 

“The site for locating the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) is on the Manhattan, Kansas, campus of Kansas State University, immediately adjacent to the Biosecurity Research Institute (BRI). The BRI is a $54 million research/education facility having biosafety level 3 (BSL-3), BSL-3 Enhanced (BSL-3E), and BSL-3 Agriculture (BSL-3Ag) state-of-the-art research space. The site also has proximity to the KSU School of Veterinary Medicine and the KSU College of Agriculture which includes the Department of Animal Science and Industry. http://bri.k-state.edu/“