Nurse in a Tent: Ebola Containment in Newark New Jersey

Governor Christi has done the scientifically correct and politically brave action of ordering a 21-day quarantine for anyone coming from the Ebola epidemic who has had contact with Ebola patients.  Remembering that the only effective weapon we have at the present time to stop the epidemic is quarantine and isolation, our governor has acted appropriately—as phrased by Christi, his responsibility is first for the health and safety of millions of N.J. people and not for the comfort and convenience of a few healthcare workers who voluntarily went to the Ebola epidemic and potentially became infected by the Ebola virus.

President Obama has it seriously wrong—his priorities are confused.  In several recent comments Obama has said that our first priority is not to impede our brave health care workers from going to West Africa and caring the victims of the Ebola epidemic.  No, Mr. President, your first priority is to protect and defend the people of the United States, which translates to first and foremost to prevent the Ebola virus from getting into the United States; and, this is by isolation and a 21-day pre- boarding quarantine, and then facilitate and fund efforts to halt the epidemic in West Africa through military enforced isolation and quarantine, and then (third priority) to care for the victims of the Ebola virus. 

There is not a scientist who will dispute the absolute effectiveness of strict isolation and a mandatory 21-day quarantine in stopping the spread of the Ebola virus.  Look at how Nigeria, a country boarding the epidemic, has successfully prevented the Ebola epidemic from devastating its people—strict isolation and mandatory enforced quarantine.  Any credible scientist believes that the best chance we have in preventing the future spread of the epidemic is through vaccination.  Treating victims per se, who are infected with the Ebola virus is only a humanitarian effort, which has no effect on the spread of the epidemic and results in very modest increases in survival rates.

Our military has it correct in that they impose mandatory isolation and quarantine of all returning soldiers from the epidemic—bravo to our Joint Chiefs.  The Air Marshal Service has it correct; they too have mandatory isolation and quarantine for all potentially exposed agents.  Governors Christi and Cuomo have led the states in finally coming to a similar conclusion-- mandatory isolation and quarantine are the only reasonable steps we can take now to protect our homeland.  Many other states are now following their lead.

Why does President Obama have it so wrong?  Is he getting bad advice from his medical advisors who are advising based upon their views of political correctness instead of science?  Is he so wrapped up in the suffering of the victims, that he is missing the big picture? Is it the fact that President Obama is not a decisive, take-charge leader, which compromises his ability to fulfill his primary obligation—to protect The Homeland?

Upcoming posts will explore where are the voices of our health care leaders—why don't they speak out?

Steven Keller, Ph.D.

Professor, New Jersey Medical School—Rutgers University