Whoa Nelly!
Considering all the disasters that have happened in recent years, I think it’s easy to jump into a “worst-apocalypse-scenario” mindset whenever something bad might happen. But we really need to be careful, because reacting too fast & strong can make us guilty of maligning servants who are being faithful to God’s work. Hear me out all the way before coming against what I'm saying- we're supposed to be on the same team after all
. Let's step back and look at this again, with the remembrance of Jesus’ warning that some would be found at His coming beating their fellow laborers, and not allow satan to lure us into that.
A good response toward our brother and sister will always be with love; we know they were infected while helping the dying, and bringing the gospel to them. They do deserve the best treatment; I know you say they should be given the best treatment in Africa, but let's re-examine the risks. We all have knives in the kitchen after all, which could make irrevocable changes to our lives, more irrevocable than an encounter with ebola. But none of us consider that a problem, as long as our precautions, knowledge and ability are appropriate for that setting.
Some posters have indicated concerns with the deadliness of ebola and it’s mode of transmission. For context, as bad as it is, realize that ebola isn’t the deadliest of viruses to exist on US soil. Americans are at risk for super-deadly diseases constantly, every day. Ebola also isn’t as contagious as other viruses (which our healthcare system is already used to handling) which means that this isn’t an entirely new concept, it’s just a different combination of the same risks we know how to deal with. Should we handle it with care? Obviously. Is Emory Hospital up to the task? It's probably one of the best prepared places in the world for it.
The study AgeOfKnowledge and Sirk linked to was also interesting (although the scgnews.com article was written simply to inflame reactions, the scholarly research it was based on was more level-headed). The research showed that healthy monkeys housed in cages next to infected monkeys did
not contract ebola, but if the monkeys were housed next to infected pigs, they did catch the disease. From Sirk’s link, the author’s implication is that the transmission was made through “large droplets.” This isn’t anything mysterious or new. Ask any nurse- droplet precautions are standard knowledge in healthcare- it means you can get infected when tiny droplets of a person’s bodily fluids are sneezed, coughed, or otherwise sprayed at you (droplets also do not to travel more than a couple feet, which the author of the ebola study was quick to reiterate). Being a country boy, I can also say the study makes sense, considering the nasal/respiratory habits of pigs pretty much makes them droplet-producing machines (
example), whereas the monkeys in the study (cynomolgus macaques) with their small noses and mouths probably didn’t produce many droplets (now if only they could get out of that poo-throwing habit).
Ebola scares us because it seems exotic, and once we know someone has it, it seems like their fate has been sealed. Rest assured, as we speak, the doctors working with Kent have a more healthy respect for that virus’ deadliness than any one of us on this board (you don’t have to remind a pilot it would be bad for his plane to go down). They understand the risks, and the precautions that must be taken, and they’re going way above standard droplet precautions in normal healthcare settings. So lets have a little faith, and pray for Kent and Nancy. I just read that Kent had an opportunity for a life-extending injection in Africa, but reserved it for Nancy instead. Pray for them.
