Article Response #8 - "Ebola outbreak: Jet passenger alert over US nurse"

The past few months, the United States has mainly watched from afar as the latest Ebola disease has ravaged West Africa. While it should be acknowledged that the United States Government has made some attempt at aiding the countries most affected by the Ebola outbreak, mainly by their "construction o[f] a 25-bed medical facility to treat health-care workers who come into contact with Ebola and running five mobile labs that expedite tests for the deadly virus" (Wall Street Journal), the disease had not seemed to garner widespread American attention until recent weeks. 

What as changed most drastically in those recent weeks was the occurrence of the first individual diagnosed with Ebola in the United States, the case being a Liberian man, Thomas Eric Duncan, who travelled to Dallas, Texas. One of the most concerning elements of this case, however, was how this infected man slipped through the cracks and made it into the United States as well as what happened after he was finally placed in quarantine. 

Duncan was able to fly from West Africa into the US because he lied on a questionnaire before his flight on whether or not he had come into contact with any infected individuals. It is very troubling that the method of restricting possibly infected individuals from leaving their respective country and possibly spreading the infection is as simple as a questionnaire (that one can easily be dishonest on, as Duncan has shown) and a temperature check. Although it may be expecting too much from these over-extending West African countries to develop more advanced methods to screen passengers, it is not to expect the United States Government to have stricter regulations on flights coming in from that African region. 

After Duncan was diagnosed with Ebola in Texas, he was put into quarantine, however, the medical staff at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital that treated him did not have the necessary protective gear until days after his initial admittance. Because of this lack of training and proper resources, two of the nurses that treated Duncan have contracted the disease themselves. The problem was furthered when was of these nurses (when only showing a slight fever) travelled to Ohio to visit family and visit a college campus. 

It is very unfortunate for the individuals who have come in contact or contracted this disease, but strict regulations need to be put in place to stop the spread of Ebola going any further than it has. This, in accordance with the United States and other nations increasing aid, will do much more than the fear mongering by the American media will. 

Works Referenced:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-29632433

http://online.wsj.com/articles/u-s-military-effort-to-combat-ebola-in-africa-to-enter-new-phase-1413406781