Thursday, October 30, 2014

11:00 Dose of Ebolology: Africa is a Very Big Place

11:00 Dose of Ebolology: Africa is a Very Big Place



Reports abound this week of children, teachers, principals, and office workers being sent home (notably without sickness) because they had recently visited an African country.  The epidemic is centered in Africa-this is true-  but it is a very, very, very big place.  The principal banned from school in Louisiana because he had visited Zambia?  That would be roughly equivalent to quarantining people in Seattle because we have a case in New York.  That is ridiculous.

Sending home school children because they have recently been in countries with NO active cases?  Also ridiculous...and potentially very damaging.  These children are missing schoolwork and lessons.  They are missing playing with their friends.  They are potentially being stigmatized (more on this potential danger-literally- at 2:00).  Their parents are forced to secure childcare...and pay for it...or miss work themselves.  All this because not enough of us can effectively read a map?  This is not okay.  This is hysteria, and we as a society are simply enabling bad behavior.

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