Let me preface this by saying, I’m no doctor. I’ve had only basic first aid training, never attended medical school, but have seen most episodes of “House M.D.”.
I do happen to know a little bit about Ebola (particularly the difference between Ebola Zaire and Ebola Reston) from reading “The Hot Zone” by Richard Preston.
I can tell you this. It scares the shit out of me. This is nothing to be trifled with. In the medical field, it’s know as a “slate wiper”. When “Ebola Zaire” struck in September of 1976, it killed 90% of the people it infected. [1]Source: World Health Organization
I am completely against bringing Ebola patients, regardless of their nationality, to the United States for treatment. There is no good reason to risk the arrival of this virus on the North American continent. None. Period. I do feel for the victims of this horrible disease and am aware of the fate that awaits them. However, in the face of this disease, Quarantining victims is the best hope to prevent spread. Quarantine protocols have to be strictly followed, or they are useless. Ebola has proved this over and over, and it is the case currently in Sierra Leone. [2]Source: “Lax Quarantine Undercuts Ebola Fight in Africa” Adam Nossiter – New York Times, Aug. 4, 2014
We need to take this very seriously. This isn’t Coke vs. Pepsi. This isn’t “Carbon Credits” or the housing bubble. This isn’t Al-Queda, or Israel/Palestine. This is a real threat. This could actually kill us.
Jim Says:”Seriously. Bad idea!”
Footnotes
