Since the first cases of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa from December 2013 and onwards it seems that worldwide panic has been slowly gaining pace. Yet this is a virus that has actually been around for decades; in fact it was discovered all the way back in 1976. Admittedly this outbreak has been the most severe during its history, but is the US government right to be concerned about Ebola? And if so, why and what could happen if numerous cases reached the US?
The Panic Effect
Part of the unreasonable response by the media can be put down to both the symptoms of the disease the fatality rates. The symptoms, which include internal bleeding, bleeding from orifices, severe stomach pain and seizures make for a collection that can be considered the most gruesome of all viruses. This is then coupled with an 88% fatality rate, which is amongst the highest of all viruses (although his specific outbreak has seen a lower fatality rate of 71%).
However, for the West the threat is relatively limited, although the media would lead us to believe that the line between being Ebola free and suffering an Ebola epidemic is a fine one, we must consider what it takes for this virus to travel from host to host.
First, it is only spreadable through direct bodily fluid contact. This means that it is not air borne, such as the common cold or flu. Instead an infected person’s saliva or blood must come into direct contact with another person, through an open cut, for example. Secondly it has a relatively short incubation period, which means that it comes to light quickly; this consequentially avoids a host spreading it around for a long period without realising.
So, why is the US government worried about Ebola?
In short, whilst many are concerned about the spread of Ebola in the US the probability of a serious outbreak is limited. This belief and panic may be quite understandable however, after all the US President, Barack Obama himself has spoken of the importance of tackling the virus and how we must, as a world, pull together to overcome it.
The reasons behind this however are quite logical. Controlling Ebola at source is far less expensive than controlling it in the US. What’s more, ensuring that West Africa begins to tackle the virus is vital both for the country itself and countries throughout the world who send aid and see free movement in and out of the country.
What would happen if numerous people reached the US with Ebola?
We’ve already encountered a few cases of Ebola in the US; the most worrying of which were most likely the two health workers who became infected after treating the first victim in the US, Thomas Eric Duncan (who subsequently died). However since this procedures for treating the disease have been significantly stepped up with better precautions being taken.
It must also be considered that the US has the leading healthcare systems in the world, although should numerous uninsured persons become infected, the cost to the US government would already be running into the millions.
In summary however there are far more harmful diseases that threaten the health of the US, such as obesity and the effect it has and will have on the US economy; and the increasing numbers of sufferers with HIV. Ebola, thankfully, remains a relatively distant threat.
