Ebola

It seems that almost every other story on the news is about the Ebola virus. Is the CDC doing enough to stop the spread of it, are the airport screenings accurate, can the virus mutate, what are hospitals protocols regarding patients who may have it, should we discontinue all flights in and out of West Africa? These and many other questions are being asked by the public, health officials, and others in regards to this dangerous illness. There has definitely been a lot of concern and panic about this going on, and people wondering if they can contract this disease as people who have been exposed to the virus are coming in from Africa and then going out into public while sick and possible coughing and touching something, and then somebody comes along and could touch the same thing. The media has played a large part in spreading the fear about the virus, while the CDC and government are saying how it won't turn into a problem and will end here. Yet there are virologists and epidemiologists who say we could have an outbreak of it in the U.S.. Although in the case of Thomas Duncan, there were definite lapses in protocol, and this has created a lot of public fear. Some of it may be reasonable, some of it not so much. 

As a person who is immunocompromised, the fear and thought of  Ebola is something that is a little more concerning for me and my family. Knowing how it can kill the healthiest person who contracts it, if someone like me were to be affected by it, it would not be a good thing at all. My grandfather was saying the other day as he was watching the local news, that he can't believe that we are watching a story about Ebola in the U.S. on our TV in Austin, TX. This being an illness that people associate with living in a 3rd world country like in Africa, not something that could be happening here in the U.S. Although its definitely a scary thing, although having Ebola and dying from it is a slow and extremely painful death, we can't sit here in fear and worry about an epidemic or pandemic of it. If we do this, we will end up driving ourselves crazy. Although I believe in keeping up with what is going on in the world, all the negative stuff that is reported on, is one of the reasons I don't really watch the news. 

Of course I pray that Ebola does not spread throughout the U.S. and the world, and that they can stop the outbreak. At the same time we can't constantly obsess and worry about it. We need to hope that the public health and government officials make the best decisions to help keep us safe. We must also do what we can by practicing good health and hygiene practices and taking care of ourselves when we are sick, and making sure we keep others from getting sick by not being around them when we are or think we are getting sick. Ebola is a concern, but being aware is more important and healthier than being fearful.

Joyful Love

        &

Blessings In The Lord

Alexandra K. Acosta