Re: Ebola - all or nothing?
Color me shocked that you didn't bother to respond to the points that were made.
I'll respond.
First, I'm not in favor of the quarantines. I am still in the camp that believes the risk of ebola in this country right now is extremely minute. But I also believe the hysteria calling for extensive quarantines is equally matched by the hysteria proclaiming some sort of concerted effort to engage in mass suppression of constitutional rights.
As for WT's response, and the points raised.
First, we aren't talking about the flu. If we want to talk about whether flu sufferers should be quarantined, fine. But right now we are talking about ebola, and what steps should be taken with respect to those people who are either working around infected people, or traveling in areas where substantial outbreaks have occurred. Correctly pointing out we don't quarantine flu sufferers or other people who have general illnesses isn't much of a response to the question should we have some sort of ebola quarantine policy.
Second, flu and ebola are substantially different. No doubt thousands of people die from flu each year. But a couple of points. First, I suspect the vast majority of those have underlying issues. They may be the very young or very old or have other vulnerabilities. I'm not sure that ebola is that discriminatory.
Third, we just don't know that much about ebola, except that it is extremely lethal. We don't have near the experience with it that we have with illnesses like the flu, or a variety of other illnesses that can kill.
Fourth, there is a vaccination process to provide some protection against the flu. Again, I'm not aware of a similar protection against ebola.
I reiterate. I personally have zero fear I will be infected with ebola. I have no concern with flying on planes that travel through Maine, or Dallas or New York.
But I also recognize that our understanding of ebola, our experience with ebola, our ability to treat ebola, is extraordinarily limited. And given its lethal nature, I don't think it's a bad idea to have quarantine discussions.