# How concerned should we be about Ebola now that it is in the U.S.? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 2, 2014, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-we-be-about-ebola-now-that-it-is-in-the-u-s/700214 "2014-10-02T22:13:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![sweat209](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@sweat209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweat209)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-we-be-about-ebola-now-that-it-is-in-the-u-s/700214/61 "2014-10-13T00:07:41Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > I was expecting something dumb, but that is probably the dumbest thing I have ever read. So all 10 points in that article are false? And it is some conspiracy web site? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-we-be-about-ebola-now-that-it-is-in-the-u-s/700214/62 "2014-10-13T00:14:41Z")
Aside from the many factual errors in that link, what _possible_ motivation could there be for encouraging a pandemic? Who profits? ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-we-be-about-ebola-now-that-it-is-in-the-u-s/700214/63 "2014-10-13T01:04:58Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > I was expecting something dumb, but that is probably the dumbest thing I have ever read. Indeed, Natural News is neither. > **[NaturalNews](https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/NaturalNews)** > > NaturalNews.com\[note 2\] and its sister sites are run by Michael Allen "Mike" Adams, B.S.\[3\] (1969 or 1967–)\[4\] (self-labeled "The Health Ranger") which promotes alternative medicine and related conspiracy theories.\[5\] The site particularly... > [@](#): > > [NaturalNews.com](http://NaturalNews.com) (formerly Newstarget) is an anti-science conspiracy website founded by Mike Adams (self-labeled “The Health Ranger”) which promotes assorted woo.[1] > > The site particularly specializes in vaccine denialism,[2] AIDS/HIV denial,[3] quack cancer medicine[4] and conspiracy theories about modern medicine.[5] It also promotes quantum woo, specifically to do with many worlds and quantum consciousness.[6] The site advances a hard green position[7]\* and also promotes conspiracy theories about Obama and gun control. Even other quacks think it’s a quack site.[8] > > If you cite NaturalNews on any matter whatsoever, you are almost certainly wrong. > [@](#): > > - [7] Even though the site also promotes global warming denialism That last one I can confirm, it was a big WTF moment when I saw a cite from them in a past discussion. The longer one looked it is clear that science is not good for them and conspiracy theories are the norm. Please check your sources **sweat209**. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-we-be-about-ebola-now-that-it-is-in-the-u-s/700214/64 "2014-10-13T02:23:25Z")
What if Ebola got into the intravenous drug abuse population? ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-we-be-about-ebola-now-that-it-is-in-the-u-s/700214/65 "2014-10-13T02:41:28Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > What if Ebola got into the intravenous drug abuse population? Probably not much. It’s not like HIV or HepC that can hang out undetected for decades. People with Ebola will become too sick to be scoring relatively quickly. It’d be a nasty outbreak, but I’d guess it’d be self-limiting. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-we-be-about-ebola-now-that-it-is-in-the-u-s/700214/66 "2014-10-13T03:07:38Z")
> [@sweat209](#): > > I don’t want this to come across as a conspiracy theories but the government ,media and CDC is lying every thing about Ebola. > > The U.S. government is actively encouraging an Ebola outbreak by downplaying it. > > 10 reasons why the government ,media and CDC is lying and actively encouraging an Ebola outbreak for profit. > > Read more here. > [Do these ten pieces of evidence prove the U.S. government is actively encouraging an Ebola outbreak in America? - NaturalNews.com](http://www.naturalnews.com/047118_Ebola_pandemic_US_government_American_cities.html) There’s really nothing you can say to a CTer who believes in conspiracies like this. But at least let me give you a clue about this: They really _did_ land on the moon. Just so you’ll know. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-we-be-about-ebola-now-that-it-is-in-the-u-s/700214/67 "2014-10-13T03:57:16Z")
Interesting article: > [@](#): > > The fight to save the last Ebola-free district in Sierra Leone > One man’s campaign to keep his home free of Ebola has been a resounding success – and a curiosity to researchers. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/storyline/wp/2014/10/10/the-fight-to-save-the-last-ebola-free-district-in-sierra-leone/](http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/storyline/wp/2014/10/10/the-fight-to-save-the-last-ebola-free-district-in-sierra-leone/) ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-we-be-about-ebola-now-that-it-is-in-the-u-s/700214/68 "2014-10-13T04:44:15Z")
In the spirit of fighting ignorance, here’s my blow-by-blow analysis of the NaturalNews claim. It’s not the worst woo I’ve ever seen, but it clearly has problems. #1) Obama refuses to halt air travelers from infected countries from entering the United States True, the Obama administration has [declined to limit](http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2014/10/01/why-hasnt-the-u-s-closed-its-airports-to-travelers-from-ebola-ravaged-countries/) air travel from the affected regions. [Limited screening](http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/stepped-ebola-screening-starting-nyc-airport-26119769) of passengers arriving from such areas has begun at a few airports. #2) Texas family is quarantined in a home that still hasn’t been cleaned or decontaminated \ True as of that time. The premises has [since been decontaminated](http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/family-hosted-ebola-patient-confined-home-25934144). Local news sources argued that it [took too long](http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/10/03/6172664/cleanup-crews-enter-dallas-apartment.html). Cleaning of contaminated apartment delayed by government demand for a “permit” True. Sadly, bureaucracy delayed the decontamination. The permit [was finally issued](http://abcnews.go.com/Health/texas-ebola-case/story?id=25962123) Friday October 3, the same day this NaturalNews article was published. #3) The CDC continues to lie about modes of transmission for the Ebola virus Arguable. The term ‘lie’ typically implies knowing deception which doesn’t seem to be the case here. But virologists with experience working with Ebola [have criticized](http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-ebola-questions-20141007-story.html#page=1) the CDC for absolutist statements arguing that the data is simply not there to prove the CDC’s statements. But the claim, “It’s almost as if the CDC wants this to spread in order to generate exactly the kind of pandemic panic that would generate billions of dollars in lucrative vaccine sales” is not supported. After all, there are no Ebola vaccines on the market to sell. #4) The FDA is openly threatening sellers of natural remedies that might be useful for slowing or stopping Ebola The FDA is indeed [engaging in enforcement action](http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/2014/ucm416051.htm) against merchants making unsupported claims about their products as it related to treating or preventing Ebola. That is the FDA’s role. It is up to the merchant to prove the safety and effectiveness of their products or else they must obtain an exemption from the FDA. Expect exemptions for vaccines in development, not for colloidal silver and supposed immune system boosters. #5) People entering U.S. customs are not asked where they’ve been Possibly true. A traveler may be asked such questions at Immigration as well as at Customs, but perhaps not all travelers are asked every time. Customs and Border Protection is developing [additional screening measures](http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/10/08/cdc-fact-sheet-ebola-screening-of-travelers-at-airports/) related to the Ebola outbreak. #7) Even during a global pandemic outbreak, the U.S. government refuses to secure the southern U.S. border The Ebola outbreak has [not yet been deemed a global pandemic](http://www.newsweek.com/study-suggests-ebola-unlikely-become-global-pandemic-266238) by any reputable authority. The US government continues to implement pre-exisiting border security measures at the southern border. Many have criticized those measures as being inadequate for border control in normal times. No apparent new enforcement has been implemented due to concerns over the potential spread of Ebola. #8) The government’s official advice of “don’t panic, don’t prepare” ensures a greater pandemic emergency during any outbreak. The government has [arguably taken a “don’t panic” approach](http://www.newrepublic.com/article/119661/cdc-announces-first-us-ebola-patient-cautions-against-panic) to handling Ebola but they certainly are not advising anyone to not prepare. The CDC has generated various preparedness advice for [hospitals](http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/pdf/hospital-checklist-ebola-preparedness.pdf)and [emergency responders](http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/hcp/interim-guidance-emergency-medical-services-systems-911-public-safety-answering-points-management-patients-known-suspected-united-states.html) in addition to providing [advice to the general public](http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/2014-west-africa/qa.html). #9) The U.S. watched and waited, doing nothing during the original window of opportunity for halting Ebola six months ago True. The US government watched while [non-governmental agencies](http://globalnews.ca/news/1540612/msf-call-for-military-help-with-ebola-response-shows-outbreaks-severity/) struggled and [asked for help](http://www.bbc.com/news/health-29031987). And we did nothing for more than the first six months of the outbreak. The [international community at large failed](http://blogs.plos.org/speakingofmedicine/2014/08/22/global-response-ebola-fever-epidemic-took-long/) [to provide](http://online.wsj.com/articles/world-falling-short-in-response-to-ebola-obama-says-1411659980) meaningful government assistance in the [early days of the outbreak](http://news.yahoo.com/says-guinea-ebola-outbreak-small-msf-slams-international-202515910.html), instead leaving the response to NGOs already on the ground in the area. #10) The U.S. government has held the patent on Ebola since 2010 True, sort of. The US government [patented](http://www.google.com/patents/CA2741523A1) the genomic sequence for Ebolavirus Bundibugyo, one of the known ebola strains (and not the strain involved in the current outbreak). That is not to say that the US government invented the virus as claimed. The US government has freely shared the genomic sequence and cooperated with researchers working to develop a vaccine. The mentioned patent also includes antigen isolates which are useful in testing samples for presence of this strain of Ebola. By filing for a patent the US government has prevented any private company from claiming sole ownership of the means of testing for this strain of ebola. By my scoring NaturalNews gets a few points absolutely right, a couple right but for the wrong reasons, and several just plain wrong with quite a bit of woo left over. ---
**Author:** ![EndlessEntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f9ae1b/32.png) [@EndlessEntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EndlessEntropy)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-we-be-about-ebola-now-that-it-is-in-the-u-s/700214/69 "2014-10-13T14:28:55Z")
Is it possible that Ebola evolved to cull our population and we should not stand in its away besides cutting all commercial transportation from Ebola ravaged countries, but aiding them? Can you imagine if Ebola gets to India or China ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-we-be-about-ebola-now-that-it-is-in-the-u-s/700214/70 "2014-10-13T14:51:13Z")
> [@EndlessEntropy](#): > > Is it possible that Ebola evolved to cull our population and we should not stand in its away besides cutting all commercial transportation from Ebola ravaged countries, but aiding them? > > Can you imagine if Ebola gets to India or China For some definitions of possible, but what you are describing pretty much requires that there be a God and that, for some reason, he is directing evolution but doesn’t care much about human suffering. In general, though, one species does not evolve to perform a function for or against another species. It evolves to maximize its own survival. If it culls our species, that’s incidental. There’s no malice and no grand plan. Further, 4,000 / 7,250,000,000+ is a long way from a meaningful cull. Its effect on our robust population growth is imperceptible. And finally, cutting off the millions of still healthy people of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone is cruel and inhuman. Far, far, far better to simply help them deal with this catastrophe. Yes, it would be bad if this disease were carried to China or India, but that’s no excuse for writing off human beings. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-we-be-about-ebola-now-that-it-is-in-the-u-s/700214/71 "2014-10-13T14:57:40Z")
Not to mention, if Ebola was actually sent to usher in a new age of international cooperation, God is going to be pissed! ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-we-be-about-ebola-now-that-it-is-in-the-u-s/700214/72 "2014-10-13T17:59:56Z")
> [@](#): > > #5) People entering U.S. customs are not asked where they’ve been > > Possibly true. A traveler may be asked such questions at Immigration as well as at Customs, but perhaps not all travelers are asked every time. Customs and Border Protection is developing additional screening measures related to the Ebola outbreak. No, not true. Every individual or family entering the US by air, citizen or visitor, fills out a customs declaration form. Among the required information on the form is country of residence and a list of countries visited prior to arriving in the US. Now, perhaps the customs official doesn’t pay as much attention as he or she should to what’s written on the form, but I’m pretty sure they can read, and I have certainly been verbally asked where I’ve been even after presenting a customs form stating such. So the statement that travelers are not asked where they’ve been is flat-out wrong. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-we-be-about-ebola-now-that-it-is-in-the-u-s/700214/73 "2014-10-13T18:06:12Z")
> [@EndlessEntropy](#): > > Is it possible that Ebola evolved to cull our population No. Not in any conventional definition of “evolved” or “cull.” ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-we-be-about-ebola-now-that-it-is-in-the-u-s/700214/74 "2014-10-14T03:25:20Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > No, not true. > > Every individual or family entering the US by air, citizen or visitor, fills out a customs declaration form. Among the required information on the form is country of residence and a list of countries visited prior to arriving in the US. > > Now, perhaps the customs official doesn’t pay as much attention as he or she should to what’s written on the form, but I’m pretty sure they can read, and I have certainly been verbally asked where I’ve been even after presenting a customs form stating such. So the statement that travelers are not asked where they’ve been is flat-out wrong. Alas, a Customs declaration only asks the individual filling out the form “Countries visited on this trip prior to U.S. arrival.” Multiple family members may enter under one form, not all of whom may have traveled together throughout their overseas travel. For meaningful screening it is important to know where the person went in much more detail than the just the country visited. Traveled to the D.R.C.? If you stayed in Kinshasa then you are out of the outbreak zone. If you traveled northeast to the [Equateur Province](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89quateur) then you were in the outbreak zone. (Yes, there are [TWO current and apparently unrelated Ebola outbreaks](http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/drc/2014-august.html) in Africa right now.) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-we-be-about-ebola-now-that-it-is-in-the-u-s/700214/75 "2014-10-14T03:28:14Z")
Which is why you are supposed to list all countries visited by anyone in the party, and if they see “Congo” they are supposed to follow up with more detailed questions. ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-we-be-about-ebola-now-that-it-is-in-the-u-s/700214/76 "2014-10-14T17:12:13Z")
First, thanks to **Broomstick** for fighting ignorance well-armed and wielding weapons skillfully. > [@magellan01](#): > > And what steps should we take to prevent it’s spread? Mainly, as I pointed out in the other thread, work to control the outbreak in Africa. > [@](#): > > The Powers that Be (I’m not trying to pin anything whatsoever on Obama here) assured us not long ago, when they brought to Americans infected with it back, that we are safe from it. And they were right, weren’t they? How many Americans were infected from those two? Zero. If you’re interpreting their remarks to mean that we are safe from subsequent entries of the disease, well, so far the jury is out on that, but I’m confident. The situation is far different here from Liberia et. al. I’m unpleasantly surprised that there has been at least one transmission in the US (to a nurse). As long as the average transmission ratio stays below 1, we’re fine. If the average transmission ratio goes over 1, then I’ll be much more concerned, but so will CDC and hospitals everywhere. You understand the math there, right? If not, just ask. > [@](#): > > This could get very, very ugly. For Americans, the most likely way for this to get very, very ugly, is due to over-reaction by the ignorant and paranoid. The next most likely way is if the outbreak in Africa continues to grow exponentially. This poses two dangers: One, there will be more transmission abroad. Two, there will be a larger population for the virus to evolve more efficient means of transmission. Conclusion? Do everything possible to control the epidemic at its source. Meanwhile, take reasonable precautions, and don’t panic. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-we-be-about-ebola-now-that-it-is-in-the-u-s/700214/77 "2014-10-23T22:06:20Z")
Another possible case: > [@](#): > > Doctor rushed to Bellevue Hospital with Ebola symptoms may have fiancée > The 33-year-old identified as Dr. Craig Spencer recently returned from West Africa after working with Doctors Without Borders. Although he had placed himself in self-quarantine, city health workers were rushing to find anyone with whom Spencer may have been in contact. > **[Ebola-positive doctor Craig Spencer now quarantined in one of four special...](https://www.nydailynews.com/2014/10/24/ebola-positive-doctor-craig-spencer-now-quarantined-in-one-of-four-special-infectious-disease-rooms-at-bellevue-hospital/)** > > A Harlem doctor who treated Ebola patients in West Africa before returning to New York last week tested positive Thursday for the deadly disease — the first such diagnosis in the city. Dr. Cr… ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-we-be-about-ebola-now-that-it-is-in-the-u-s/700214/78 "2014-10-23T23:41:48Z")
> [@EndlessEntropy](#): > > Is it possible that Ebola evolved to cull our population and we should not stand in its away besides cutting all commercial transportation from Ebola ravaged countries, but aiding them? No. But even if it were, why should we put up with that? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-we-be-about-ebola-now-that-it-is-in-the-u-s/700214.md?page=3)