In today’s current events, one of the main focal points has been on an extremely frightening, yet very real topic. The ongoing Ebola outbreak in West Africa has had everyone anxiously on their toes yearning for answers.
Over the past few weeks I have repeatedly watched the news, and every day I have observed the surreal horror that is occurring in West Africa. According to CNN Student News, West Africa is currently experiencing the deadliest Ebola outbreak in recorded history.
Ebola is a disease that is rare, fatal, and extremely infectious. Generally lethal, the virus spreads through contact with blood and body fluids of people with Ebola.
The scariest part however, is the fact that the virus is still transferable, even from a dead body. The first Ebola outbreak occurred in 1976, and has infected thousands of people since. Roughly 60 percent of all people infected are killed.
The current outbreak has been ongoing since late 2013 early 2014, but has been attracting extra attention in the media lately due to several doctors, Liberians, and even a few Americans catching the disease.
Liberia is one of the countries worst hit by the West Africa Ebola outbreak. In fact, it’s so bad in Liberia that entire towns and villages have been placed into quarantine or abandoned by residents. So far, the disease has killed more than 1,552 people in West Africa, and a total of 3,069 according to the latest numbers released by the world health organization.
USA today reported that The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was confirmed on Tuesday as the first case of Ebola in a critically ill patient was diagnosed in a U.S. hospital. The patient has remained un-named, and has been isolated since his symptoms were recognized. He is however, in intensive care at Texas Health Presbyterian
The only word that can truly describe this monstrosity is petrifying. There is no cure for this virus, so although no one can be certain of how we can end the virus, everyone can be certain that doctors are trying anything and everything to fix this situation. At this point in time, hope is the only option.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Dr. Tom Friedan, director of the U.S. centers for disease control and prevention told reporters Tuesday afternoon, “This is not a problem for West Africa, it’s not just a problem for Africa. It’s a problem for the world, and the world needs to respond.”
There hasn’t been a direct cure instituted for the disease, but select Americans that were diagnosed have been treated and reported as cured. However, if there is any possible form of a cure in the U.S, why aren’t we helping with West Africa? Problems like this shouldn’t be breaking people apart with fear, but uniting one another together.
