In the past few weeks, it seems that the coverage of the current Ebola crisis seems to have faded from the headlines and into memory.
This, the observation of the Xavierite staff, is one that could be dangerous if left unchecked.
According to the article “UN mission to combat Ebola opens HQ in Ghana” written by the Associated Press’ Sarah DiLorenzo, the World Health Organization has linked over 3,000 deaths to disease already.
Currently, there is no vaccination to the Ebola virus.
The article even reported that some people learned that people in Africa had even begun rejoicing that Ebola was over.
If people in Africa – the continent where Ebola is hurting the most – think that the epidemic is over, we shudder at the thought of what people around the world must think if this event is not being covered in the media.
Unfortunately, as a culture, if something is not knocking on our front door we seem to have blinders on and the problem seems to no longer exist.
What is really terrifying is the fact that Ebola is still a problem in Africa and that the virus still has the possibility of spreading to people in America or other nations around the world.
Despite the fact that some people have been quarantined, many areas in Africa are unable to competently treat people with the disease.
The article mentioned above detailed how one area in Africa had such terrible access to medical supplies that the one ambulance that they had broke down and was unable to make runs.
That is the stark reality to the people of Africa.
However, if you were to watch American television you would never know that.
On American news channels we are still told of mostly important news. Current issues concerning the safety of the White House, the troubles that Midway and O’Hare airports are experiencing due to a fire set by a disgruntled worker are all stories worthy of the attention of the American people.
But amongst stories like a woman with a fake third breast, George Clooney’s wedding and the Sunday Bears game it seems that one important, life-changing news story has been lost.
There is a deadly disease out in the world that could possibly spread to the United States, but we casually ignore it. Why?
We ignore them, most likely, because it’s easier to look at the more upbeat sides of the news than to confront the realities of the world that we live in.
Empathy is one of the hardest things for a person to excercise.
To truly put yourself in the shoes of people a world away is hard. But empathy is the emotion that teaches us to truly be better and more aware human beings.
Not to mention, a little empathy in this situation would also help Americans understand what is truly at stake for them and the rest of the world if this disease were to spread and how grateful we should be for the resources in medicine that many have access to.
I guess that it’s hard to know what to do other than send relief for the people of Africa, but at the very least we should always try to stay informed of the situation. It could mean your life.
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The Xavierite Staff
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