We are now witnessing two politicians, Republican Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey and Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York, who are promoting their own political futures, by stoking fear of Ebola, rather than promoting scientific facts!
These two men are acting like bullies with returning medical and military personnel from West Africa, who have donated their time and efforts to stop the Ebola epidemic, and the reaction is to forcibly quarantine a nurse, with no consideration of her human rights or the conditions she has been put under, when there is no evidence that she has Ebola, or will contract Ebola from her experience treating patients!
Ebola can only become a problem for anyone who is intimately involved with a possibly exposed person, or has been subjected to such a person’s body fluids, and is NOT an airborne disease, and so far only one person has died, and a few, who have been infected, have recovered or are recovering. Meanwhile, tens of thousand die of Flu and Pneumonia annually, and there is not public scare by these Governors or other politicians, and no forced quarantining!
There is no epidemic, but discouraging volunteers from going to West Africa by the shabby treatment they receive upon return, will only help to make the epidemic worse, and spread the disease where it is, and promote more deaths there.
These two politicians already have the image of being abrasive and uncaring about how they come across, with one, Christie, trying to promote his campaign for President by acting “tough”, and the other, Cuomo, trying to insure his gubernatorial victory in nine days, and also thinking about running for President. Their “concern” is all political, not based on health concerns or scientific knowledge!
Their heavy handedness will, hopefully, undermine their future Presidential plans, as both are showing up as very willing to be abusive of their powers, and more interested in their own futures, than in doing what will avoid fear, hysteria, and panic!
After that doctor tested positive for Ebola last week, I think the healthcare workers should self-quarantine before returning to the US. I’d rather be safe than sorry.
In my state, travelers who have recently been to Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone will be monitored on a daily basis. The state’s Department of Health will then decide the level of risk that each traveler poses. The Board of Health can order mandatory quarantine or isolation if someone is high risk.
Interesting read.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/27/opinion/cevallos-ebola-quarantine/index.html?hpt=hp_t3
Australia has instigated a travel ban.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/28/world/asia/australia-immigration-policy-ebola/index.html?hpt=hp_t1
I’d rather err on the side of caution, too, Southern Liberal, and as we learn more, adjust course as appropriate.
I think that if you work in the medical field, then you should know the risks and that quarantine is a very real possibility.