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Ebola quarantine

Fear should not drive United States’ response to deadly virus

Since the Ebola virus made public landfall in the United States on Sept. 30 when Thomas Eric Duncan was the first patient to be diagnosed – and die – here since a 2013 outbreak began in Africa, Americans’ attention has been rightfully piqued.

The disease is contagious to people who come in contact with a symptomatic patient, and it is deadly – statistics-wise – 70 percent of the time. It is also quite containable. The key to responding to this most widespread outbreak of the disease since its first known case in 1976 is careful monitoring, tracking and treatment of those who have come in contact with Ebola patients. Notably absent from this list is panicking.

A small cohort of health workers returning from West Africa – or treating a visitor to the area – have presented with the virus. Thus far, all the American health workers have recovered or are in the process of doing so. Nevertheless, the influx of Americans who have helped patients from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, or other West African nations where the virus is widespread has led some states, including New Jersey and New York, to impose mandatory quarantine on returning health workers. It is an unnecessary overstep.

Because Ebola can take several weeks to trigger symptoms, those who have contracted the illness may not know they are infected. However, they will also not be contagious. Those health workers who have been in contact with Ebola patients internationally and are now facing quarantine are also closely monitoring their health. They are keenly aware of the risks they face and are taking adequate precautions to avoid exposing others should they become symptomatic. Parking state troopers outside someone’s home – as has occurred in Maine where nurse Kaci Hickox is not an appropriate medical protocol – serves only to foment fear.

The Centers for Disease Control has issued monitoring guidelines for those returning from locales where Ebola is prevalent. That is the correct approach: Using calm, science-based policies to track the health of those who may have been exposed to the virus, and then providing treatment options early in its presenting. Thus far, doing so has had positive outcomes in the United States. Duncan is the only person treated in the United States to die from the illness, and his treatment was delayed because of an early misdiagnosis at a Texas hospital. The remaining eight patients treated in U.S. facilities have had positive outcomes. Careful monitoring of those at risk of contracting Ebola will surely continue that trend; widespread quarantine imposed simply to quell fears will not necessarily do so.

Instead, the focus should shift to education and coordinated response. The CDC’s new protocol for monitoring should be clearly articulated to all hospitals, health workers and state governments – as well as the general public. The more Americans understand about the risks of Ebola, how it is spread and how it is contained, the more prepared we will all be to respond with reason instead of dread. Deadly diseases are frightening, and Ebola’s rapid and rampant trek across West Africa is alarming. There is much to do to contain it there, but creating a false panic in the United States will not help.



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