Ebola in West Africa
Ebola has caused thousands of deaths within Western Africa. It is seen as the West African epidemic. It was first reported in Guinea back in March 2014. It is also becoming hard to control.(Spencer)
Even though the epidemic has decreased since its spread in 2014, it is still a a big issue
within West Africa. According to author Craig A. Spencer from New York Times, he stated how
"...the number of new cases since late March alone — more than 500 — would otherwise represent
the largest Ebola outbreak in history. We’ve had spells when the number of new cases in both Guinea and Sierra Leone went down steadily — only to be reversed by clusters in new areas, arising from unsafe burials and unknown chains of transmission"(Spencer).
In countries such as Liberia, who had from hundreds of new infections a week last year in September, to now being declared Ebola-free in May, it still happens to have outbreaks till this day. further outbreaks have occurred. Something like Ebola never truly goes away. It's very tragic how people have to deal with these infections, especially young children.
It's very tragic and selfish how before this epidemic broke out, there was many physicians in New York City helping patients with this infection, than those who were starting to get Ebola back in Western African countries. According to author Nick Stockton from Wire.com he stated how Ebola has been around for almost two years, and their has been 27,741 infections, and 11,284 people dead and it just keeps growing the infection and death rate.(Stockon)
He also stated "What’s behind the continued spread? Depends on where you go. In Guinea and Sierra Leone, Ebola never died, and the new cases are a continuation of the same strain that first emerged in December of 2013. In Liberia—which declared itself ebola-free on May 12—experts believe the new outbreak was transmitted through sexual intercourse, from latent viral bodies that were alive in a man’s sperm"(Stockon). I found this to be quite surprising. First of all the date in which Ebola was first found originates from December 2013, but many other articles say sometime in 2014. So Ebola has been around since late 2013. Second of all, many people can get Ebola through sexual intercourse.
Overall it's quite scary how this infection, like Malaria and others are being exposed to thousands of people in Western Africa. Many people who travel there for business could even come in contact with it. Ebola should be taken more seriously and the U.S. should help those who come in contact with this infection within Western Africa and speak about it to the public and make those people aware of it, who travel from the United States to Western Africa, and also those who live in Western Africa, and to take extra care of themselves.
West African countries such as Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia don't have the essentials and necessities that the United States has to help their people with this infection. Due to not having those resources such as medicine and physicians, Ebola hasn't gone away. They do have a few physicians but not a lot like how we do in the United States.
I find it quote selfish of the United States to not give enough help of those in need in West Africa and in Africa in general. We have become a nation that is seen as superior, and unfortunately we don't like it when other nations exceed better than us. It's immoral for the United States to act like this. Yes they do help when possible, but we aren't helping enough. We should help those in need, because were all human and we have families who mean a lot to us.We should all be equal and have the same rights. Therefore we should help West African countries with this infection that is still around.
1st article link:http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/18/opinion/craig-spencer-ebola-isnt-over-yet.html
2nd article link:http:http://www.wired.com/2015/07/ebolas-not-done-west-africa/
Youtube video:
No comments:
Post a Comment