EBOLA Halloween bio-terror concerns...

[Aardaerimus]

I was just sitting here thinking about how this was going to be my kids' first Halloween, and then the scary thought popped into my head - "What if ISIS ops in the US planned to capitalize on the mass distribution of 'candy from strangers' and unleashed thousands of Ebola laced candies upon the children of America?"

Granted, the chances seem slim as it's probably not that simple for them to get their hands on live samples, but it's a terrifying prospect none the less as they've shown such blatant disregard for the lives of civilians and children.

By the time that symptoms began showing, the distributors would be long gone and even if they weren't it would be nigh impossible to know which home a particular piece of candy came from.

The disease would spread like wildfire as parental instincts kicked in to comfort the sick children before it was realized what bug they actually had.

I want this to be a fun season with my kids, and here I've inadvertently scared the crap out of myself. Dang it...

 

[Kathy in WV]

If they're young and its their first Halloween, just don't do it. They won't miss what they've never done before. We downplay the whole Halloween thing here. Our church does a Harvest party for the kids instead. They still get plenty of games, fun and cupcakes etc... and it fits better within our beliefs.

This year I don't really feel comfortable doing any of it, truthfully.

 

[Marthanoir]

Don't bother with the trick or treating, have a bonfire to keep the fairy's away, dress them up so the fairy's don't steal them, if your hearts set on the trick or treating just go around to a few trusted friends and family have them dance & play music until given treats to go away

Halloween is huge here but the trick or treating thing isn't so much, it's an Americanism added on to an Irish festival that appealed to some but not all

 

[Aardaerimus]

Normally, I would. They're 10-14 and my ex is a bit extreme on the religious front so my kids have never had Halloween and this is the first time I will have them. I already got their hopes up about going with their cousins as they've always been allowed to participate. I don't feel like I can let them down this time.

Thankfully, I live in a pretty remote area and don't feel many of the national threats here. Still, I will be very watchful this year, and while I consider myself to be a "give everyone a fair shake" kind of person, you can bet I'll be of a "racial profiling" mind.

 

[campswampy]

Mine will be going unless things get totally crazy. We know our neighbors here. You could certainly be right in your worries, but it seems that terrorists like to hit high density population areas and blow things up. Where bio attacks are concerned, Id rather have my kids go to the neighbors than say, a theater. I worry about school or WalMart more than walking around outside on Halloween night.

 

[Blacknarwhal]

Been a long time since I did that myself, but around here, most everybody already knew most everybody else, and those who didn't know someone usually weren't but one or two people removed from each other, so that kind of risk was slim.

Some would say, skip it altogether. Others would say stick to familiar areas. Maybe consider a Halloween party instead; costume parties can be quite fun, and with some judicious treats and a few scary stories on hand, well, you'll likely do all right. I remember a few the library used to put on. Fun times sitting there in your big cardboard box robot suit.

Consider it this way: maybe in a few years, your kids' friends ask why they never went trick-or-treating. Will it be so strange for them to say, no, we went to Halloween parties instead?

 

[ginnie6]

our church does a fall festival here too and we may very well avoid even that. We have a rather large immigrant trailer park right next to our church and they always show up for this. Last year I was mortified over all the little ones coughing and sneezing all over everyone. Not sure its worth it this year.

 

[NC Susan]

cartoon time !

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[PeaceAngel22]

I just talked to a cousin of mine and she is not taking her kids out trick or treating this year because of the threat. Since no one is following any sort of protocol, and no one is sure to how this strain of Ebola is being spread, I think it could be a potentially dangerous situation. Think about how many families observe Beggar's night.....the children could be the hosts to spread the Ebola everywhere if contact is made with a non symptomatic fool handing out candy..... Or how about a Halloween party where people are bobbing for apples in a vat of water with everyone's saliva hitting the water......or how about all the parents taking their children's loot to the hospitals for X-rays...in a hospital with an Ebola patient. Trying not to be an alarmist but think about Typhoid Mary. Just food for thought.

 

[M14jarhead]

Just too many diseases this year to take a chance with the kids.

 

[dstraito]

I like Halloween. This year we will be dark.