Government officials announced the first Ebola stricken citizen to be right here in our backyards on October 1, 2014. Thomas Erin Duncan’s death in Dallas, Texas on October 8, 2014 caused a media frenzy around the United States and the chatter has not simmered down since. The ebola virus was first identified in Sudan, Africa in 1976. Between that time and 2013 a light 1,716 cases have been reported, but in 2014 alone 4,555 deaths have occurred thus far. The numbers are steadily increasing. The origin of the ebola virus is very similar to that of HIV if you ask me (and let’s not forget how much of an impact HIV has had and continues to have on the American society). Fruit bats, being natural carriers of Ebola, have the ability to spread the virus without even being affected. And alongside fruit bats, other “bush meats” are being consumed by humans across the mother land such as: chimps, gorillas, and monkeys. So the cycle of human infection begins! Although there are numerous other ways to contract the ebola virus, breathing air is not one; contrary to popular belief. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention the ebola virus is extremely infectious but only moderately contagious since it is not transmitted through air. Unfortunately, there is no specific treatment yet available and to add insult to injury the risk of death after infection can reach an all-time high of 90%. With all these facts being presented via news sources, somehow uneducated Americans always seem to find a way to make light of any serious situation. While flooding time lines and news feeds with “memes” that read “Ebola virus?! Ain’t nobody got time fo’ dat!” and “Ebola? Is it a pill or powder?” We seem to forget that we too can be as easily infected as the late Thomas Erin Duncan. We too can very well spread this vicious plague to our closest friends, small children, and family members in the same unfortunate way of those in Liberia. Residing across an ocean and many seas does not exile us from the natural disasters of the world nor does it give us the authority to poke fun at the countless people losing their lives to the disease. The communities of Nigeria and Guinea may not be laced with a Wal-Mart or McDonald’s on every other block. The men leading their households may still be forced to venture out into the wilderness to acquire dinner every evening. So what if a few fruit bats were the only thing he gained that night to feed his family? I don’t trust that those “memes” would be as funny if they were across seas on the other foot. So before we make other people the butt of our uneducated jokes, let’s first gather facts and secondly find out what we as individuals can do to support these human beings in their time of need. And please, let’s not forget how HIV crept on over! This is not a public service announcement just a friendly reminder.
