Research Update Ebola
I chose to research the current Ebola outbreak. The reason I decided to pursue this topic is for the lack of attention to it from a local level. I have been following the epidemic for a few months and have noticed it is not on the average citizen’s radar. Perhaps, they have heard of the terrible events, but it seems as if no one cares.
The virus has currently spread at such a exponential rate that it is now threatening Liberia’s national existence. The death rate has now exceeded 2000 people and continues to worsen.
With a lack of resources and aid, infected countries are faltering and at this point it is almost unlikely they will make a recovery without international help. It is for that reason that I believe it should be a national priority. However, without the citizen’s knowledge about the dire situation how can anyone hear their pleas?
Since choosing this topic I have done research about prior outbreaks and how countries responded to it then. There is a lot of material on earlier outbreaks and international intervention. My biggest problem, however, is researching this outbreak without relaying to heavily on news media.
Views All Time
Views Today
You make a good point when you say that is seems as though many people don’t seem to care about the ebola outbreak and you are absolutely right. Personally, living in the U.S, I feel like it’s another issue that won’t affect me and will soon blow over. Why worry about it if it isn’t here? However, when you bring up the point that countries like Liberia are being seriously threatened by the disease, it is very alarming. I haven’t heard much news coverage about it since the outbreak was announced, and it seemed (up until now) that it wasn’t even an issue. But after doing some research on the topic, it seems as though it is still, if not more of, a threat to the human race. After reading a Wallstreet Journal article on the topic here http://online.wsj.com/articles/obama-plans-major-ebola-offensive-1410738096, I learned that Obama has requested 88 million dollars in relief for the residents of West Africa, and some say that still won’t be enough! I think that this is a step in the right direction for international aid. We should get involved, not only because it might reach us as well, but because people are dying unnecessarily while we stand by when we are fully equipped to help.
Yes, it’s frightening! To move into some territory outside of the news media, check out what infectious disease experts are saying. Here’s an opinion piece by a very credible expert, Dr. Michael Osterholm, in the NY Times.