# It's official: Obama isn't taking the ebola threat seriously. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 17, 2014, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-obama-isnt-taking-the-ebola-threat-seriously/701589 "2014-10-17T15:35:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-obama-isnt-taking-the-ebola-threat-seriously/701589/101 "2014-10-21T21:18:19Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I heard on the radio recently that Obama was criticised by Republicans for choosing someone who is ‘just an organiser’ to head the CDC (or to be ‘Ebola Czar’, or something), claiming that a doctor is needed in that position; and also criticised the President for considering someone else because that person was ‘just a doctor’, claiming the position must be filled by an organiser. And still no Surgeon General. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-obama-isnt-taking-the-ebola-threat-seriously/701589/102 "2014-10-21T22:58:57Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > And the _annual passenger miles flown_ of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone is? > > CMC fnord! The reason it hasn’t spread rapidly beyond their borders. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-obama-isnt-taking-the-ebola-threat-seriously/701589/103 "2014-10-21T23:25:49Z")
> [@MostlyUseless](#): > > I tend to lean right politically, but damn, no matter what Obama does or doesn’t do, he gets raked over the coals for it. > > I get that this is the media story of the moment right now, but what is Obama supposed to do? Does anyone really think we close our borders? yes, people really think it prudent to restrict travel from countries in the middle of an epidemic. It’s going to take time to fix this and it makes sense to contain it at the source. Do you think the President is wrong to restrict entry to 5 locations for screening? ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-obama-isnt-taking-the-ebola-threat-seriously/701589/104 "2014-10-22T00:21:58Z")
How come no one remembers the guy being treated in Omaha. He’s clear by the way. > **[Cameraman declared Ebola-free after treatment](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/10/21/ebola-cameraman-tweeting/17678173/)** > > Freelance journalist declared Ebola free and able to leave bio-unit at Nebraska hospital ---
**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 22, 2014, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-obama-isnt-taking-the-ebola-threat-seriously/701589/105 "2014-10-22T01:09:47Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > yes, people really think it prudent to restrict travel from countries in the middle of an epidemic. It’s going to take time to fix this and it makes sense to contain it at the source. Do you think the President is wrong to restrict entry to 5 locations for screening? It makes sense to _end_ it at the source, which will be hindered by needless travel restrictions that only serve to delay experts and supplies. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-obama-isnt-taking-the-ebola-threat-seriously/701589/106 "2014-10-22T01:34:17Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > It makes sense to _end_ it at the source, which will be hindered by needless travel restrictions that only serve to delay experts and supplies. medical supplies and personnel don’t travel commercial air. All that should be done under controlled charter operations so the proper care can be exercised on the planes used. Otherwise you have infected people traveling on aircraft who are then screened AFTERWARDS. The logistics of it is that it’s extremely expensive to pull a wide body plane out of service and thoroughly clean it. All the passengers have to be tracked down and monitored. Again, very expensive. Far cheaper to hire a small private aircraft along with the appropriate decontamination process. Then it’s no different than hauling cattle or any other cargo that requires a bio-hazard cleaning. The charter business is better equipped to handle this now. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-obama-isnt-taking-the-ebola-threat-seriously/701589/107 "2014-10-22T02:24:18Z")
Bobby Jindal has decided to create his own foreign policy by requiring all state agencies to [“monitor travel to all countries identified under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Ebola travel guidelines.”](http://www.politico.com/story/2014/10/bobby-jindal-ebola-order-louisiana-112066.html) Not sure what this monitoring will accomplish, nor if it’s supposed to apply only to people who go in and out of Louisiana. It’s also interesting that he did this by executive order. The state legislature’s Democrats should sue him for overreaching. ---
**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 22, 2014, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-obama-isnt-taking-the-ebola-threat-seriously/701589/108 "2014-10-22T02:29:27Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > medical supplies and personnel don’t travel commercial air. All that should be done under controlled charter operations so the proper care can be exercised on the planes used. Otherwise you have infected people traveling on aircraft who are then screened AFTERWARDS. > > The logistics of it is that it’s extremely expensive to pull a wide body plane out of service and thoroughly clean it. All the passengers have to be tracked down and monitored. Again, very expensive. > > Far cheaper to hire a small private aircraft along with the appropriate decontamination process. Then it’s no different than hauling cattle or any other cargo that requires a bio-hazard cleaning. The charter business is better equipped to handle this now. I work in the business, and yes, humanitarian workers do fly commercial, all the time. Charters are good for getting to places where commercial transport doesn’t exist, or for dispatching a small crisis team for an immediate response, but I can’t think of any cases where inter-continental charters between major airports ran for a sustained time period. ---
**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 22, 2014, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-obama-isnt-taking-the-ebola-threat-seriously/701589/109 "2014-10-22T11:14:43Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Do you think the President is wrong to restrict entry to 5 locations for screening? Actually, I think this one makes a lot of sense. People identified as from those nations/areas enter through screening points with personnel trained to look for signs of infection and equipped to isolate and transport people who should be quarantined. Chicago just did that last night and now has two travelers quarantined. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-obama-isnt-taking-the-ebola-threat-seriously/701589/110 "2014-10-22T17:03:07Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > And still no Surgeon General. Gee, I wonder who is blocking his nomination? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-obama-isnt-taking-the-ebola-threat-seriously/701589/111 "2014-10-22T17:35:16Z")
The GOP can’t block his nomination. Remember? The Democrats fixed that problem. The Democrats are blocking his nomination. > **[Surgeon General Nominee Blocked Because Democrats Tremble in Fear of the NRA](https://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2014/03/18/surgeon_general_nominee_blocked_because_democrats_tremble_in_fear_of_the.html)** > > Let's say you work for the NRA. You faced a semi-close call in early 2013, in the wake of the Sandy Hook shooting. For the first time in half a generat ... ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-obama-isnt-taking-the-ebola-threat-seriously/701589/112 "2014-10-22T17:57:26Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > The GOP can’t block his nomination. Remember? The Democrats fixed that problem. The Democrats are blocking his nomination. Nearly every Republican voted to block his nomination. Only four Democrats did, who were frightened by the NRA – which aligns with the Right. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-obama-isnt-taking-the-ebola-threat-seriously/701589/113 "2014-10-23T00:49:29Z")
I take it seriously enough to recommend the Ebola Condom: [![](http://tattlin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/IMG_80119822211473.jpeg) ](http://tattlin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/IMG_80119822211473.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-obama-isnt-taking-the-ebola-threat-seriously/701589/114 "2014-10-23T00:56:32Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > I work in the business, and yes, humanitarian workers do fly commercial, all the time. Charters are good for getting to places where commercial transport doesn’t exist, or for dispatching a small crisis team for an immediate response, but I can’t think of any cases where inter-continental charters between major airports ran for a sustained time period. There’s no reason not to fly commercial TO nearby countries. From there you charter to remote regions which is the only way to get to the hot spots. Sick people are chartered back. Financially this is the cheapest route for reasons I already went over. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-obama-isnt-taking-the-ebola-threat-seriously/701589/115 "2014-10-23T00:57:38Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Nearly every Republican voted to block his nomination. Only four Democrats did, who were frightened by the NRA – which aligns with the Right. The NRA can be fairly said to have blocked the nomination. But there’s no getting around that a majority of Senators don’t want him as Surgeon General. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-obama-isnt-taking-the-ebola-threat-seriously/701589/116 "2014-10-23T01:11:36Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Actually, I think this one makes a lot of sense. People identified as from those nations/areas enter through screening points with personnel trained to look for signs of infection and equipped to isolate and transport people who should be quarantined. > > Chicago just did that last night and now has two travelers quarantined. ignoring the security theater aspect of it how does that stop an infected person who shows no symptoms? ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-obama-isnt-taking-the-ebola-threat-seriously/701589/117 "2014-10-23T01:35:16Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I heard on the radio recently that Obama was criticised by Republicans for choosing someone who is ‘just an organiser’ to head the CDC (or to be ‘Ebola Czar’, or something), claiming that a doctor is needed in that position; and also criticised the President for considering someone else because that person was ‘just a doctor’, claiming the position must be filled by an organiser. Well, you aren’t supposed to hear both those arguments _at the same time_. You’re supposed to hear one, THEN the other after you’ve forgotten about the first. ---
**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 23, 2014, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-obama-isnt-taking-the-ebola-threat-seriously/701589/118 "2014-10-23T02:02:08Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > ignoring the security theater aspect of it how does that stop an infected person who shows no symptoms? It doesn’t. However, to the best of anyone’s knowledge an infected person isn’t contagious _until_ they show symptoms. Pre-symptoms it’s safe to be around the person. If you catch them when the fever first spikes you can isolate them without anyone else getting infected. The only people who have contracted Ebola in the US were medical people working with a dying patient during the most infectious phase of the disease. Thus, encourage people who have come from such countries to seek medical attention if they get sick with anything. It turns out the two people who arrived in Chicago yesterday do not, in fact, have Ebola, they have some other illness. Heck, the kid that threw up mid-flight might have just been airsick. Even in Monrovia, Liberia most people who get sick are sick with something other than Ebola. Make sure there are no barriers to someone with Ebola getting adequate treatment in the US. Those screened and cleared as Ebola-free will probably be greatly relieved, even if they’re sick with something else. Those with Ebola will get treatment which will give them significantly greater chance of surviving than no treatment. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2014, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-obama-isnt-taking-the-ebola-threat-seriously/701589/119 "2014-10-24T08:53:08Z")
OP, what _is_ the ebola threat, exactly? ---
**Author:** ![dba\_Fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c37758/32.png) [@dba\_Fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dba_Fred)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2014, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-obama-isnt-taking-the-ebola-threat-seriously/701589/120 "2014-10-24T13:49:55Z")
I’m not the **OP** but apparently the latest ebola threat is a doctor ( **a doctor!** ) returning from West Africa after treating (_guess what?_) **ebola patients** and wandering around New York City: [_Tracing Ebola Patient’s Possible Contacts Creates Host of Challenges for New York City_](http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/24/nyregion/tracing-patients-possible-contacts-creates-host-of-challenges-for-the-city.html?ref=nyregion) Heck of a job you’re doing, Dr. Spencer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-obama-isnt-taking-the-ebola-threat-seriously/701589.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-obama-isnt-taking-the-ebola-threat-seriously/701589.md?page=7)