The threat of an Ebola outbreak in the U.S. has exposed the truth that however dangerous a disease may be, the bubbling brew of partisan politics makes it even more virulent still. ADVERTISING The threat of an Ebola outbreak in
The threat of an Ebola outbreak in the U.S. has exposed the truth that however dangerous a disease may be, the bubbling brew of partisan politics makes it even more virulent still.
After weeks of unsuccessfully trying to calm the public’s growing panic, the president finally canceled a few days of fundraising, held meetings and announced an “Ebola Czar” with no medical background. This mostly proves that Washington’s solution to what is essentially a bureaucratic failure is to add yet another layer of bureaucracy.
First, there’s the issue of spending. Fearing that an already unhappy public will take out their Ebola fears on Democrats, the attempt is being made to blame Republicans.
Left-wing attack group Agenda Project Action Fund produced a slick ad that declares, “Republican Cuts Kill,” with images of Hazmat-clad workers carrying body bags.
The National Institutes of Health director, Dr. Francis Collins, claimed, “If we had not gone through our 10-year slide in research support, we probably would have had a vaccine in time for this.”
But the truth is the NIH budget has gone up. In 2004, the budget was $28 billion. In 2013, it was more than $29 billion. And what were they spending those billions on, if not a vaccine for Ebola? They funded a study of massage on rabbits and researched whether acupuncture can cure hot flashes, among other absurdities. If there is a funding crisis, it is one of priorities, not dollars.
There’s also the issue of competence. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Thomas Frieden assured us early on that “any hospital in the country can safely take care of Ebola,” yet the first patient diagnosed here in America was allowed to infect two nurses who treated him. One of those nurses was also reportedly cleared by the CDC to fly on a packed passenger jet, even after exhibiting symptoms.
Frieden further blamed the nurses themselves for a “breach of protocol” that resulted in exposure, but nurses at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas say they had little or no effective training and inadequate equipment.
In a statement released late Thursday, the hospital blamed the CDC, saying all their caregivers were following “guidelines from the CDC. The CDC guidelines changed frequently, and those changes were frustrating to them and to management. Nonetheless, they endeavored to remain compliant with what was communicated as the most recent and appropriate guideline.”
Then there’s the issue of a travel ban. Restricting travel to and from Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea, where Ebola currently rages out of control, is a commonsense measure that has already been adopted by those nation’s own neighbors. It’s credited for preventing large outbreaks in Senegal, Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau and Nigeria. Why the administration is resisting this is inexplicable.
Finally, there’s the fundamental issue of trust. Americans just don’t believe what they are told by government agencies. Trust must be regained, and that starts with telling the truth.
Ebola is a crisis, with the potential to become a national disaster. We need to proactively interdict potential carriers, clear up the muddle of official misinformation, and demand more competence, honesty and smarter spending at the CDC and the NIH.
— From the Orange County Register
