Containing Ebola Through Quarantine

After Ebola has claimed the lives of an estimated 4,500 people this year, travel to West Africa has become highly unappealing. Volunteers still continue to risk their health with intentions on providing aid to the victims, a commendable act in an ailing country. However, upon returning to the United States, health care workers in states such as Illinois, New Jersey, and New York have been sentenced to a mandatory quarantine period of 3 weeks, the window period of the virus. This was in response to Dr. Craig Spencer's diagnosis of Ebola in New York City. A great amount of controversy has arisen from this situation, specifically amongst Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the state governor's who imposed the quarantine. Dr. Fauci claims that the mandatory quarantine is an unnecessary measure and could possibly discourage those with the intentions of helping people effected by the disease in West Africa. A preferable course of action in his opinion would be a volunteer quarantine. The rather unpleasant experience of Doctors Without Borders nurse Kaci Hickox supported Dr. Fauci's argument after Hickox claimed she was treated like a criminal upon arriving at Newark Liberty International Airport after being in West Africa. She was escorted to the University Hospital in Newark by eight police officers as well as flashing lights and sirens. New Jersey governor Chris Christie and New York governor Andrew Cuomo are in agreement about the taken course of action. Christie states a volunteer isolation period does not cut it when the health of the public is at risk. The disease is easily transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids and in a state with such a dense population, the utmost protection is completely necessary. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/10/26/fauci-doesnt-support-new-state-level-mandatory-quarantines/

Clearly, this disease is nothing to underestimate. After so many deaths in West Africa and even the United States where we have a much more affluent health care system, Ebola must be contained in any possible way, even if it means restricting the freedoms of those returning from such an admirable cause. The symptoms of Ebola do not show until after 21 days, but even if the victim undergoes treatment as soon as they are apparent it could be too late. The disease could have already spread. My opinion, why risk it? I agree with both governors Christie and Cuomo. If the health of your loved ones is at risk, why not take some initiative? Be safe rather than sorry, even if the risk is miniscule. In no way should those returning from West Africa be stigmatized or mistreated during a quarantine after such a valiant deed, however. That is completely uncalled for and not the response that is deserved. It is the job of both the state and federal governments to protect the people and keep the nation safe. The quarantine is therefore necessary despite it's inconvenience towards the daily life of a civilian. It is better to inconvenience one rather than put a whole city at the potential risk or Ebola.