Is it me Prof or do we seem to be agreeing on most things? For me, it's a storm in a large tea cup made worse by the rabid press, self proclaimed experts that know nothing but who love the sound of their own voices and the UN, WHO and various health experts that should know better, but were spouting off via any media they think would further their profile and case for more funding. Sort of ask for 100% but only really needing 50%. That happens all the time.
One thing we may disagree on is that the, lets say 'Alarm' cannot solely be placed on the door mats of the tabloids.
I would point as proof of this to the worlds response to the outbreak, or are we saying that governments round the world take more notice of the press than 'Experts'? Of course not the response has mostly been proportionate to the advice of the experts. Some of whom, at the start were 'Alarmist' in their statements. Now people have caught a grip things have calmed down and more reasonable statements and press releases are made. This was not the case in the beginning.
I found two numbers of projected infections both on a UN web site but I could only evidence the 20,000 the other number was 137,000. I stuck to what I could prove. But I agree flu is more dangerous And I half agree that Ebola is going no where. I only half agree because if it does go any where it seems it will get there with the help of the health workers who go there to help.
There was no hysteria about the health worker. There was however anger. Anger that she couldn't be arsed just to follow the guidelines and play safe for a few days. Was that so hard to do. Obviously it was! Plain selfish. As some are now saying about the nurse in Spain. No not hysteria just plain frustration that these people are not made to sit in quarantine for three weeks in Africa before they are allowed on public transport. The reason they are allowed to trot of is quite simple. Who and the UN are worried that if they make these health workers sit through quarantine for three weeks in Africa the flow of volunteers will dry up. So they are risk managing it with fingers crossed. They manage it and the public take the risk?
I suppose it all depends on your out look on life I play safe where ever I can. If I went there I would hold myself responsible to make sure I was infection free before gambling with other people on public transport. But it would seem that many prefer the gamble.
As far as the advice from WHO I would ask you to read past the recommendation. To the part that explains why they recommend that approach. Its got nothing to do with Ebola but everything to do with the very fragile political picture in the countries that have the infections. Ebola may kill 10,000 but political instability because of Ebola would kill hundreds of thousands and plunge emerging democracies back to civil war if the money from trade was cut off. Ebola is just being risk managed.
Wow I have rambled on a bit.