“Atlanta is not alone in the world of challenges in an urban public school environment.” – Meria Carstarphen Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent
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August 7-13, 2014
Volume 86 • Issue 52
Ebola in Atlanta: What Is It and Are There Social Implications?
By Terry Shropshire Two major developments within the past week took a distant, albeit frightening turn. One, the Ebola virus from the ravaged countries of Africa made it to U.S. soil, and two, it was accompanied by our deep-seated, almost paralyzing fear of the impact of the almost-always fatal virus. First, two American doctors administering aid in the affected West African countries contracted the deadly virus and were summarily transported to the world-renowned Emory University medical center in Atlanta, disquieting residents in the city and splitting the city down the middle regarding the implications of bringing the disease to our doors. Secondly, an intelligence leak from the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol revealed that more than six dozen Africans from the three countries most affected by the Ebola virus (Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea) had tried to, or were caught entering, the borders of the United States illegally in order to escape the growing pandemic of widespread violence, or both. The local Atlanta reaction to having the infected people just down the street from their homes was mixed. Some expressed being terrified at the possibility that this deadly disease could end up spreading across America. Since the relatively unknown medical malady known as Ebola allegedly has a 90 percent fatality rate, many Americans are understandably on edge. A recent sampling from Atlanta’s professional community reveals as much: “I have mixed feeling about this. It frightens me to think this could be widespread. Every day I hear it spreading more and more. Honestly, I feel like Emory may be experimenting with this at the expense of so many people’s lives. I pray for the best,” says Sandra Walker, a self-employed advertising executive. Darryl Holland, an Atlanta computer technician, says: “I wish that I could say that it is a good idea to have them to come to Atlanta for treatment, but they could have given them treatment back over there in Africa. That has already proven
to be the case, as the other volunteer has already received treatment … on her way to Atlanta. Also, there is a person that they have just found in New York that might have it as well. This country is not the country that is so great that [we have a] fix and cure for everything.” To help allay fears and inform people of exactly what Ebola is and the method of contraction, here are a few frequently asked questions and answers: What is Ebola? A severe viral infection, Ebola begins with a classic symptom — a high fever. Then sudden headaches, severe vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea can materialize over the course of days. What makes Ebola uncharacteristically violent and unique is unexplained hemorrhaging – for example a small scratch cannot stop bleeding or severe bruises will not fade. The hemorrhaging will lead to renal failure, brain bleeds and the nervous system will shut down. Death is imminent if the symptoms can’t be controlled. How is Ebola spread? The disease is spread person-to-person through direct contact with body fluids like blood, urine, sweat, semen, breast milk and feces. Ebola usually incubates for about 10 days before showing symptoms. However, people who have been exposed to the disease may show symptoms in as little as two days, or up to 21 days after exposure. According to the CDC, humans were first introduced to Ebola through contact with infected animals like primates, fruit bats and forest antelope. Is there a racial component to the treatment of the Ebola disease? It certainly seems that way to millions of urbanities and those suffering without treatment in Africa. While the two Caucasian Americans are being flown back and given 5-star medical treatment at an elite American medical institution (Emory in Atlanta), the vast majority of Africans are left to
languish and die from the violent Ebola virus. According to one Atlanta doctor who wished to remain anonymous: “You’re transporting a patient across the country to receive treatment while there are patients right there in Africa that need treatment,” explains the medial expert. “Everybody has a fear of Ebola being transmitted in our country which should not be a concern because they are going to take all the necessary precautions to prevent that. I don’t think we are at risk. My issue is what about the people of Africa who need the same treatment in their country. It looks like we are concerned about one person versus the masses of people that have contracted it. It starts looking like the “Haves and the Have Nots,” concludes the prominent Atlanta physician. There are two black Americans, Patrick Sawyer and Nathaniel Dennis, both black and both dead from Ebola. Sawyer was a father from Minneapolis and was in Liberia caring for his sick sister. When he continued to travel on to Lagos, Nigeria for business, he fell violently ill. He died a few days later from the disease and created a public health crisis in Nigeria. The second, Nathaniel Dennis, was a promising young black college student from Maryland who was visiting his mother in Monrovia, Liberia. Dennis was found unconscious at his mother’s home and transported to JFK Medical Center in Monrovia. The circumstances surrounding his becoming violently ill are viewed with suspicion, i.e., after leaving the states healthy, he fell ill within days and was dead within a week after visiting Africa. Since Ebola can be transmitted via blood, can mosquitos or fleas spread the viral infection? No. Ebola is only spread through direct contact with infected bodily fluids. There is no evidence supporting mosquito-borne Ebola. Is there any treatment? No. There are no approved treatments for Ebola, just experimental therapies.