Is the UK doing enough about Ebola?

"Passenger screening for Ebola is to be extended to Manchester and Birmingham airports, Public Health England says.

Staff at the two airports will begin checking passengers from at-risk countries after it is introduced at Gatwick and Eurostar next week.

Screening of arrivals from West Africa, where 4,500 have died in the outbreak, started at Heathrow on Tuesday."

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Does no one else think everyone is going over the top on Ebola panic?

You've been scared by the media to think that there's a large chance that you might get Ebola. It's the same reason half the people in the country now think there's a paedophile on every street corner and why people think they have a good chance of winning the lottery. Humans don't understand probability.

what we should do is just leave everyone out there. IF you go out to help the infected voluntarily, you should be left there if and when you get infected, instead of brought back here, because all that does is increase the risk of the disease spreading to the rest of the world

what we should do is just leave everyone out there. IF you go out to help the infected voluntarily, you should be left there if and when you get infected, instead of brought back here, because all that does is increase the risk of the disease spreading to the rest of the world

Firstly bringing people with Ebola back here does not put anyone at risk provided the proper precautions are followed as they were with the Nurse brought back to the UK, the staff brought back to Germany and the doctors taken to Norway.

Secondly, the countries that this outbreak is gradually burning through have barely any doctors and really quite pathetic medical infrastructure. They cannot fight this on their own, so outside doctors are needed. People who go out their to help fight the disease should be guaranteed treatment in the even they themselves are infected. If you abando people there then the outbreak will only get worse and that is what will all but guarantee Ebola spreading.

This picture in the spoiler sums up my thoughts:

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Does no one else think everyone is going over the top on Ebola panic?

You've been scared by the media to think that there's a large chance that you might get Ebola. It's the same reason half the people in the country now think there's a paedophile on every street corner and why people think they have a good chance of winning the lottery. Humans don't understand probability.

More annoying though are the ones that say "well, this other disease kills this many more people per year" which is dangerous logic. That logic would get us stuck only working on the likes of cancer, flu and malaria for cure research, and it again fails to consider the potential of Ebola. Given the worst case estimates for infection rate and current mortality rates, it can quickly rise up the list.

What I don't like about this sort of argument is two fold: first, it's an appeal to relative privation, which is no argument at all; secondly, and more significantly, while it is a minimal threat if dealt with properly, an epidemic would be HIGHLY deadly, with current mortality rates in West Africa just a gnat's wing under 50% officially it's not something you walk away from particularly easily. And while we may have the capabilities in place to deal with Ebola and other highly infectious diseases, to my knowledge we don't have the resources available to handle a major outbreak, we would be little better than West Africa ultimately. Then when you throw in just how panicked some people would get and it would be a REALLY rather bad thing.

Also, the distinct difference between Ebola and the things given are that those things are lifestyle choices and largely under the control of the individual, Ebola isn't.

More annoying though are the ones that say "well, this other disease kills this many more people per year" which is dangerous logic. That logic would get us stuck only working on the likes of cancer, flu and malaria for cure research, and it again fails to consider the potential of Ebola. Given the worst case estimates for infection rate and current mortality rates, it can quickly rise up the list.

I think you need to realise that there will not be an epidemic, and especially not one in the UK. 50% in retrospect is quite low for a disease as lethal as Ebola with no recognised treatments or vaccines, so that in itself is quite an achievement. It is true that once you catch it, you're in a pickle. Enough measures are in place already to prevent further outbreaks.

How will the outbreak get worse if all infected individuals are in one, albeit large, area? Yes there is poor medical infrastructure over their, but you also have think in a pragmatic way about this. If the necessary precautions are not taken, thenebola will spread throughout the world.