Executive Order -- Revised List of Quarantinable Communicable Diseases

[zach]

In the fight to contain and control Ebola, there seems to be a little spill over. Just so you folk are aware, if you show signs of pneumonia, you can now be detained and quarantined without due process.

Enyoy

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/07/31/executive-order-revised-list-quarantinable-communicable-diseases

EXECUTIVE ORDER
- - - - -
REVISED LIST OF QUARANTINABLE COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 264(b) of title 42, United States Code, it is hereby ordered as follows:
 
Section 1.  Amendment to Executive Order 13295.  Based upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Acting Surgeon General, and for the purposes set forth in section 1 of Executive Order 13295 of April 4, 2003, as amended by Executive Order 13375 of April 1, 2005, section 1 of Executive Order 13295 shall be further amended by replacing subsection (b) with the following:
 
"(b)  Severe acute respiratory syndromes, which are diseases that are associated with fever and signs and symptoms of pneumonia or other respiratory illness, are capable of being transmitted from person to person, and that either are causing, or have the potential to cause, a pandemic, or, upon infection, are highly likely to cause mortality or serious morbidity if not properly controlled.  This subsection does not apply to influenza."
 
Sec. 2.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
 
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or
 
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
 
(b)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

BARACK OBAMA

[OneTampa]

Thank you.

[Torchwood]

Glad I had my pneumonia shot 4 years ago. Good information to know though. Thank you.

[tednlou2]

That would be a lot of quarantined folks, for pneumonia.  I mean, there are tens of thousands of cases.  I suspect this will result in profiling.  If you have dark skin with pneumonia, then you would be the one quarantined.  White grandma-- not.

This is just so odd.  When you read about pneumonia, most sites say people are infected by the bacteria already living in our noses and throats, which got an opportunity to get to the lung and cause disease.  Having said that-- both times I got it, I was around the same family member, who had it.  I only found that out later-- both times.  Could be a huge coincidence.  Perhaps it is more communicable. 

So, what about flu?  Flu causes so many deaths and is often the cause of pneumonia.  Why would flu not be included?  It expressly states it is not included.  It certainly has the chance to cause a pandemic.  How many people, especially elderly, have died or suffered badly, because someone had flu and went on to work?  Very confusing why pneumonia was added, when it seems it is very unlikely to be transmitted-- especially to those with fully functioning immune systems. 

[bocker3]

Hate to tell you all this, but there are a number of legal precedents that allow States to quarantine you for the Public's Health.  No need for a list -- just a real concern.  Now -- you do have the right to fight your quarantine in court (via a lawyer, of course), which is how this can be kept in check.  I'd have to pull out my old text on "The Law and the Public's Health" for specifics, but I have to head off to work now so.......
Though, I'm not sure that the Federal Government has ever been involved with quarantines -- seems to me that it should be a more "local" thing.

M