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Last week’s news cycle was consumed by the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the United States. Liberian Thomas Eric Duncan was the first person to be diagnosed with the virus on American soil in U.S. history. Duncan was admitted to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas on September 28 and died of the virus on October 8. Since that time, two nurses that cared for Duncan have contracted the virus. Reports that one of the nurses was allowed to fly after having a fever alarmed the American public, which is showing signs of panic about a virus that carries a fatality rate of over 60%. Newscasters have labeled Ebola as the “October surprise” of this year’s midterm elections and the federal government’s handling of the situation is becoming a hot political topic. President Obama has reportedly shown signs of frustration in meetings with officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and last Friday he appointed Ron Klain as the nation’s “Ebola czar.” Mr. Klain will be tasked with coordinating the federal response to the virus as well as assuaging public fears about the situation.
This topic brief will discuss the spread of Ebola into the United States, breakdown the federal government’s current response to the situation, and analyze what policies the United States may enact in future weeks and months to curtail the spread of Ebola domestically and internationally. Extempers are highly encouraged to read our topic brief on the West African Ebola outbreak, which was released in August, as well.
Readers are also encouraged to use the links below and in the related R&D to bolster their files about this topic.
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Today’s R&D covers the arrival of Ebola to the United States. It was announced yesterday that an unidentified man in Dallas, Texas has the Ebola virus, which he reportedly acquired after traveling to Liberia. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sought to play down public fears in a news conference yesterday, but some analysts are questioning whether budget cuts have made the nation ill-prepared to deal with a pandemic. The recent Ebola has infected more than 6,500 people and killed more than 3,000 in West Africa this year.
Of all of the known deadly pathogens in the world, few are as scary as the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). With a 90% fatality rate, the hemorrhagic fever has spread to three West Africa countries since it was discovered in Guinea in February. To date, the virus has infected more than 1,400 people and killed more than 700. The United States, the European Union, and Asian nations are watching the Ebola outbreak closely and have ramped up security at their international airports to deal with the contagion. Due to the fact that medical experts believe it will take several months to bring this recent Ebola outbreak under control, extempers should be prepared to talk about it in the first few months of the 2014-2015 season.
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