IIRC, SARS scared researchers because they really didn’t know what was going on, and bird/swine flu was always one more mutation away. But talk to infectious disease researchers (and, because of a particular family member, I have), and it is Ebola which is always the real fear. You can call it hype (not without reason, I may add), but this is something that does warrant real concern. An Ebola virus which transmits efficiently prior to the onset of severe symptoms is the disease communities’ worst nightmare (that, coupled with a “don’t worry, be happy” official policy based on the belief that the panic is worse than the disease). Add to the more efficient transmission, the fact that it appears to find a home in a wide variety of animals, and this is not, in my opinion, hype, but rather something more ominous.
There is at least a 10% chance that this goes global in a significant way (just a guestimate, btw). Given the ramifications of such an event, a meaningful and coordinated response is clearly warranted.
As I mentioned in previous posts...this is not to downplay the serious nature of Ebola...but it IS fast now becoming a political beast..... When this happens every group that’s doing tests and trials will come knocking at every governments door for more funding and the politicians will use it as a card played in their game....as well as nation leaders declaring a crisis of humanitarian needs.
I’m just pretty sick of sending money through the rip off channels to help in Africa when there is little that comes of it but more fighting, death and disease....and the new rounds of begging for revenues to fix what THEY break.
I tend to doubt the response will be one of “meaningful and coordinated efforts”.....thought they will go through the motions. Liberia is already doing what is done to contain this.....and with it already also with their Leader asking for yet more funding for their humanitarian crisis.
It’s never ending......