Ebola And the United States response to the disease By: Tristan Hynson

Background Information  Ebola, or the Ebola virus, originated on the Ebola river in West Africa.  Ebola is not transmitted through the air, it can only be contracted by coming into contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids.  There have been previous outbreaks of Ebola before, yet none of them have been as widespread or deadly as this instance. 

Statistics  About 14,000 people have been infected so far, with a little over 5,000 dying from the disease.  Ebola proves fatal in roughly 50% of cases  There have been 10 patients treated for Ebola in the United States, with two of the cases proving fatal.

Government Response  In some States, including New Jersey and Maine, mandatory quarantines were required for health workers coming back from West Africa.  Screenings for Ebola are required for people traveling from West Africa at major U.S. airports, including J.F.K, Atlanta, and Washington Dulles.

Claim  The United States Government’s response to the Ebola outbreak, most importantly the quarantine and airport screening, is necessary for the protection of the country and should be continued.

Ideas  The Screenings for cases returning from West Africa are harmless to the public, and are there only to prevent the spread of the disease to people in the United States.  The mandatory quarantine that was required was necessary and just, and while some may not enjoy it, it is in place to keep the majority of the populace safe from the disease.  In the U.S, 71% of those surveyed by the NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll say that healthcare workers should be subject to a 21 day quarantine after returning to the U.S, regardless of whether symptoms are shown.  If such an overwhelming majority of Americans that they should be protected in this way, then shouldn’t this be allowed?

Conclusion  Ebola is a deadly disease, and the Governments efforts to prevent the spread of the virus in the country, including quarantines and airport screening, are both necessary and just to keep the population safe.

Bio  Name: Tristan Hynson  Age: 18  From: Ashland, Virginia  Hobbies: Soccer, Frisbee, and watching any kind of sports on T.V. (except baseball)

Sources  "The Obama Administration's Response to Ebola." The White House. The White House, n.d. Web. 18 Nov  "10 Essential Facts About Ebola." EverydayHealth.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov  "Ebola Facts: How Has the Food Supply Been Affected by the Outbreak?" The New York Times. The New York Times, 30 July Web. 16 Nov  "NBC/WSJ Poll: 71% Back Mandatory Quarantines for Ebola Health Workers - NBC News." NBC News. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Nov