Actually they don't study anything that can be transmitted by rat, They study diseases that effect agriculture (cows, horses, pigs etc...) with the exception of avian diseases.

If there were a lack of containment there is little on Long Island that would be infected as there are few if any cattle ranches there. The deer population would take a hit as would horses, but there are no ranches so to speak of. Kansas on the other hand has plenty of such and an outbreak could devastate the economy. Again this is the reason for it being on an island in the first place. If a deer gets on plum island it is killed to prevent any possibility of the spread of disease. How are you going to control that in an land locked area?

Technically they were both downgraded to tropical storms before they hit Long Island. Long Island hasn't had an actual Hurricane since Gloria in 1985.

Actually nothing, The place has survived much worse hurricanes (1978 and 1984) during my lifetime.

I know people that work on plum island. They say that the place will be open till at least 2021. The decision to move it was purely political. At the time the local governments did not want a level 4 facility on the island, Once it was announced that the research would be moved to Kansas they recanted. There has also been much discussion about the wisdom of moving it to the middle of tornado alley and cattle country. Terrorism has had little effect on the decision, an island makes it very easy to control who comes and goes as compared to a facility reachable by foot. It would not surprise me to see them upgrade Plum island and cancel the project in Kansas, on the other hand it is up to the usual political backroom deals.

Maybe it's just a coincidence but I checked my twitter account and couldn't log in, had to reset my password. Damn now I need to find a password other than 12345, BTW could you pass the Peri-Air?

Agree with Daniel
Call the fire marshal, and the town, I am sure there are codes regarding instillation of something like that.

The point isn't whether the flu vaccine is necessary or not. The point is you are mandated to get it if you work in a NYS article 28 facility (section 205 of the NYS public health law specifically) you are forced to get this shot if you want to keep your job. This includes care agencies, Hospitals, Nursing homes etc...

Is the vaccine safe, who knows? They just started clinical trials. This is the problem Health care workers are being forced into the clinical trial. I know for a fact that it is not FDA approved yet, and because it is a vaccine for a "pandemic" disease it is allowed to bend the rules of acceptable ingredients. The mercury content of the vaccine is higher than normally allowed. available here While a healthy male may have no problem with this, how about a pregnant female? Some of the ingredients are known to worsen thyroid conditions . The problem is no one really knows what will happen.

Also why mandate the swine flu shot but not the regular flu shot. 12% of people die from the flu every year (CDC reports) yet as of June of 2009 the swine flu has about a 6% mortality rate (Again CDC reports).

This disease is less deadly than most other strains of the flu yet there is panic over it. The big deal is while the normal flu may put you out of commission for 3 days the swine flu can knock you out for 6 days to 2 weeks.

The CDC is not mandating health care workers get the shot, only NYS is. Plus you have to sign multiple wavers that you won't sue anyone should you end up sick from it. Basically you are given the choice of playing Russian roulette or lose your job. You have a 1 in 6 chance of getting the bullet but if you get the bullet your chances don't matter you are stuck with the reality. A lot of the people educating people on the Vaccine when asked if they will get it, turn around and say no. How can they truthfully educate people on how safe this vaccine is if they refuse to get it?

I know in Manhattan on Oct 13 an injunction is being filed by PATRICIA FINN on behalf of all health care workers, and it may go class action suit if the injunction is approved.

Fyi I just gave a lecture on swine flu and have a ton more info if any one wants it, most of it is available off CDC websites though.

Paramedic.
If they take the place down I will be very disappointed. It's nice to be able to look at history almost every day.