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The Student News Site of Saint Louis University

The University News

The Student News Site of Saint Louis University

The University News

U.S. Ebola Overreaction

U.S.+Ebola+Overreaction

As Ebola spreads rapidly throughout many countries in West Africa, namely Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and, more recently, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, fears of its deadly advance have increased in the one country where its outbreak would have one of the lowest chances of spreading: the United States. The spread of this deadly disease around the world – an outbreak that for many brings back memories of the H1N1 crisis a couple of years ago – has shown the world two different sides of our country; we are mighty and powerful, with a vast array of resources to combat Ebola, but we are also a media-crazy, conspiracy-hungry people who jump at, and obsess over, any potential threat to our well-being, no matter how minimal. Yes, the United States, we recognize, has committed a good deal of its assets to fight Ebola and has shown the world that even its military can be useful (by building hospitals) in such endeavors. Even wealthy individuals have shown generosity; Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen recently donated $100 million to fight the disease. Yet, while this country seems to be leading the charge overseas, our domestic response to Ebola has been embarrassing and detracts from the crises in the hardest-hit areas of the world. There are only a handful of cases in the U.S., and the disease is not airborne, but our response as a country has shown the world that while we may be generous to the international effort against Ebola, we tend, because of hype and misinformation, to obsess over things at home, and this overreaction can stymie our efforts to fight Ebola where it truly is a threat: overseas.

Ebola’s arrival on U.S. soil, and its subsequent spread, has caused a typical U.S. media uproar – from CNN to crazy Internet bloggers, everyone seems to be talking about Ebola, and all of this hype has created unnecessary and distracting fear; the United States, more than any other country, has the facilities and resources to confront Ebola. But, of course, this fact does not stop domestic paranoia about the disease. There are some who believe that it’s airborne (it’s not), and there are those who believe that their pets can spread it, a unvalidated claim.

Unfortunately, the federal government, which we trust to protect us, has  been caught up in the hype as well. For example, some lawmakers in Washington are pressing the Obama administration to enact a travel ban to and from infected African countries; the CDC’s responses regarding the disease have often been confusing; and calls for an “Ebola Czar” reflect a sadly typical government crisis-response: create more titles and bureaucracy. We, for one, find the idea of a travel ban to be counterproductive; how could aid workers get back to the U.S. from heavily infected countries if a travel ban were in place? And wouldn’t we rather have people legally enter the country and be screened rather than run the risk of infected people illegally entering? The United States’ domestic fears about Ebola are unfounded; this country has the resources to effectively counter the disease.

Ebola, like so many world crises before it, raises the question of what role the United States plays in the world. But no matter where one comes down in answering this question, the facts are clear—Ebola is deadly. In countries like Guinea and Sierra Leone, the virus has infected and killed thousands. In Liberia, another hard-hit country, progression after years of destructive social conflict has been lost, as Ebola sweeps across the population and strains the country’s limited health care system. Also, in these countries, those in need of hospitalization for reasons other than Ebola infection are at risk as well; many can’t, or don’t, want to get medical help because of Ebola infection fears. And the United States’ response to these international issues seems to point to its having a role as a global power, with the responsibility to use its vast resources for the global good. But, unfortunately, for many Americans, the question of what role this country plays in the world remains open for debate, and the fearful American response to Ebola within the U.S. is unwarranted and farcical. Let’s fully accept our superpower status and focus more time and attention to helping those countries whose social welfare and economic stability truly rest in how far the U.S. lets this disease, and its stigma, spread.

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