Race and Ebola

In the 1300s it was the bubonic plague. In 2009 it was swine flu. In 2014 it is ebola. It all started in December 2013 in a small town in Guinea. A fruit bat had bitten a two year old boy, and infected the boy with the ebola virus. The boy died, but not before he spread it to his family and his village, and the rest is history. 

Ebola is one of the most deadly diseases known to mankind. It predominately exists in Africa. It is high contagious, and there is no vaccine as of now. It takes a couple weeks to strike the full effect. In the last week or two, a man who had contracted ebola went from Liberia to the United States. He visited a Dallas area emergency room, was diagnosed with just a fever, and was free to go home just four hours later. However, three days later, he came back to the hospital because his symptoms had progressed. The second visit ended with him succumbing to the ebola virus. 

The family of this patient have started to speak out against the level of the treatment he received in the hospital. His nephew, in particular, has been extremely outspoken. He claimed that his uncle was not given proper treatment just on the basis of his race. He claimed that since his uncle was black, that the medical staff did not make a full effort in their attempts to save him.

I think this is an extremely disappointing event to see. Not only is one of the most deadly viruses have entered the United States, but the issue of racism is prominent once again. The issue of race should not have to be brought up in every issue. American citizens should all band together, regardless of color, to fight the disease and secure the safety and health of the nation.