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Ebola Research Paper

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Global Health Crisis of the Century? Rapidly sweeping across the continent of West Africa, the deadly Ebola virus is devastating African populations and raising the levels of paranoia within first world countries. With the world displaying very little resistance to the virus, it appears that the hope to contain the outbreak is waning with each passing day. This is by no means the second coming of the plague, but the Ebola virus does have the biological potential to significantly damage the populations of poor countries, not to mention it can drastically affect the economies and travel patterns of first world countries and their populations. The real question thus becomes, how has the recent Ebola outbreak impacted world travel as …show more content…

This lack of knowledge on what Ebola is has, in turn, created a panic amongst first world countries. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that “Ebola, previously known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a rare and deadly disease caused by infection with one of the Ebola virus strains. Ebola can cause disease in humans and nonhuman primates (monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees)” (CDC). In other words, the Ebola virus is potent enough to affect both humans and other species of animals. The first Ebola epidemic actually occurred in 1976, originating from the Congo Basin and the Sudan. Since its inception in 1976, it has only just recently begun to resurface, appearing in a large portion of West African populations and countries such as Liberia. Perhaps a cause for concern, the virus has a fairly high mortality rate at 50% (World Health Organization). Despite this rather shocking mortality rate, do not panic. Ebola in itself is actually very difficult to contract in the United States and in Europe. The disease itself is …show more content…

Travel restrictions have been placed, parents are keeping their kids home from school, and people are essentially quarantining themselves amidst the panic. Even recently here at UGA, an event featuring a guest speaker travelling from Liberia to Athens was recently cancelled by the University for precautionary measures. Granted, cancelling the trip was indeed justified considering the speaker is from Liberia, the country facing the brunt of the Ebola virus’ effects. Regardless, justified or not, sheer pandemonium has set in, and it looks like it is here for the long haul. The misinformation being presented on Ebola has, as a result, created a sort of ripple effect across the United States and Europe. Ebola screenings, for example, are now being performed at airport security checkpoints. A tactic such as this is a simple knee-jerk reaction to the recent news. The screenings themselves have recently been criticized for being widely ineffective and useless. Researchers recently presented data that claimed that “Airport screening would still let 93% of people with Ebola slip through the cracks, because only a handful of those sick with the virus would have symptoms when they arrive at the airport” (Brodwin). In short, Ebola screenings taking place at airports are simply gumming up travel and proving to be doing more harm than

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