Black Plague Two
One of the deadliest
viruses in the history of mankind has found its way to our shores. Ebola, named
for the river where it was first identified, moves through its victims with no
mercy, leaving a shell of a human being behind. Identified in 1976 Ebola has
left an increasing legacy of misery and death wherever this new plague has
touched. Most recently the latest epidemic has engulfed numerous countries in
Western Africa traveling across borders uninhibited by armies of health workers
attempting to stop its movements. Through the munificence of the United States and
other countries money, personnel and supplies have been sent to the hardest hit
areas. These Ebola hot zones continue to expand even with the best efforts by
those on the ground. Recently Thomas Duncan, a citizen of Liberia, entered the
U.S. under false pretenses, with the Ebola virus firmly implanted in him.
Reports state that Duncan misrepresented his proximity to the infection prior
to coming to the states. He presented himself to an emergency room in Dallas
Texas a few days after arriving there with flu like symptoms. For reasons that
are not clear he was sent home but returned within a short time. At this
juncture a presumptive diagnosis of Ebola was made. Duncan’s death came less
than two weeks later. Rapidly fatal Ebola patients have few treatment options.
The question remains: How many were exposed to the virus as Duncan made his way
to the United States? Late word is a hospital worker where Duncan tragically
succumbed has tested positive for Ebola. This story is still developing.
President Obama and his
subordinates at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have stubbornly refused
to place travel restrictions on flights from Ebola hot zones. CDC has gone on record
asserting a travel ban would do more harm than good, without fully elaborating
why. Instead their plan is to take temperature readings of those emigrating from
infected areas and to have them fill out questionnaires. Sounds crazy on the
surface and it is. An infected patient may not spike a fever for days to weeks
after contracting this viral menace. Worse many may hide the fact they were
exposed to Ebola. African nations are in the process of quarantining infected
areas. Logic dictates we should do the same. This nation’s best course of
action is to keep the plague where it originated. Sending our best and
brightest into endemic areas, to fight this unseen enemy, is irrational having
the potential for horrific ramifications. Political correctness not commonsense
is guiding United States Ebola policy. Obama’s containment policies are a
series of false actions designed to assuage a fearful public not to stop the
virus in its tracks. Ebola has been acquired by those in full protective gear suggesting
a different path of inoculation than is commonly believed. In the event an
airborne component of transmission exists or the virus is found to penetrate biological
garb the fight to contain Ebola moves to a new level. The Black Death killed a
third of the population of Europe in the 14th century. How many must
die in the United States before policies isolating affected areas are
implemented?
Mark Davis MD, author of
Obamacare Dead on Arrival, A Prescription for Disaster and Demons of
Democracy. President of Davis Writing Services.
www.daviswritingservices.com platomd@gmail.com
