Way too much inappropriate politicizing of the matter in this thread.
I'm definitely concerned, because my analysis tells me that, for whatever reason, the WHO and the CDC are not accurately presenting the facts about how Ebola, and particularly the Zaire strain which we're dealing with, is spread.
I also have a son who sees patients in an E.R. so my awareness is heightened.
So the situation is definitely on my mind.
I will reserve answering the poll until it's revealed that someone who had contact with Duncan prior to him "showing symptoms" comes down with Ebola.
I'm hoping for the best, that this outbreak can be contained and ended.
But we're dealing with a disease strain that historically has had an 80-90 percent fatality rate in third-world countries populated with undernourished people and a 50 percent fatality rate today with otherwise healthier people receiving a more effective healthcare response.
There is yet no vaccine (to prevent this strain of Ebola) and no specific cure that can be injected.
We are also told by the only study (presented here at DP in another thread) that the virus can linger on materials for over six days, from where it can be picked up.
The incubation period isn't "21 days", it's "2 to 21 days", which depends on how much of the virus enters one's body initially and how depleted one's immune system already is.
My concerns include, not just the loss of life directly from the disease, but the potential to kill our economy if people choose not to go anywhere but the grocery store (and then not without wearing their HAZMAT suit, assuming, of course, they trust that their food isn't contaminated) and other tragic reactive cascades.
Then the government might simply tell us that "we have to keep going to work and we have to keep shopping, or we're as good as dead then for sure, so just keep on keeping on, praying that your number won't be up today, and if it is, then just accept it -- whatever you do, don't panic or spread panic, as that would be worse than dying from the disease itself".
So I'm watching the Dallas/Fort Wt. area closely, and the country as a whole, to see who comes down with the disease next, hoping no one will.
This isn't the flu we're dealing with here -- this is a disease with the potential to kill tens of millions of Americans .. or more .. and very, very painfully, I might add.
It makes intelligent sense to be concerned .. very concerned.