Ebola in Texas

This week the first case of Ebola, in the United States was reported. The virus was reported in Dallas, Texas after a man took a commercial flight from Liberia to Dallas. The man did not show any symptoms when he boarded the plane, states the New York Post. Ebola is not contagious until the patient shows symptoms. The man, who is not being identified, has been put in isolation and every person he came into contact with is being monitored.

The first symptoms of Ebola are similar to that of the many other illness. When he first sought medical attention he was sent home because the medical staff thought it was something else. The second time he sought medical attention he was sent to the hospital and was placed in isolation; a few days later test results came in positive for Ebola. The president has also been contacted and informed about the Ebola case. Dr. Frieden has reassured the president that this situation can easily be contained and that the people of the United States are doing to be just fine.

This new has sprouted a frenzy of post on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. There was a lot of people panicking, sacred that this would lead to something out of an apocalyptic movie. People don't seem to understand that Ebola is only contagious when one comes in contact with an infected person's blood or bodily fluids. There has been article after article informing people about Ebola, but people just keep ignoring the information and coming up with their own assumptions. Personally, I feel like it was a great idea that they did not identify the man or where he first sought medical attention.The public is already assuming the worst, knowing the location and man's name would only encourage the public to harass the clinic where he first sought help and possible harass family members.

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/01/health/airline-passenger-with-ebola-is-under-treatment-in-dallas.html?_r=0