Americans Freak Out Over Potential Ebola Outbreak In US: Survey

By Staff Reporter | Aug 27, 2014 11:22 AM EDT

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Almost forty percent of Americans fear the potential Ebola outbreak in the United States according to a survey published by an independent research company.

Harvard School of Public Health and SSRS, an independent research company recently published a survey that exhibits many Americans are unreasonably apprehensive about an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in the country. The major findings show that less-educated people and those who haven't keenly followed the news of the epidemic were the most likely to be troubled about an outbreak reaching the United States.

The survey related that four in ten to thirty-nine percent of the US adults are concerned about an Ebola outbreak and more than a quarter are worried that they or someone in their immediate family may be infected by Ebola this year.

However, according to medical experts, this fear is largely inappropriate and there are no reasons for the American populace to freak out. Though this is the largest Ebola outbreak in history, Harvard doctors say that there is minute reason to fear that the epidemic will reach the country. Dr. Michael Van Rooyen, the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative Director said that there is no reason to cause for panic or freaking out in the US. The Centers for Disease control and Prevention also reported that the disease can be spread through direct contact with blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person so Dr. Michael Van Rooyen said it is not as easily transmissible as other many diseases.

As long as the people are under proper care and takes appropriate precautions, the virus transmission can be controlled and outbreak will unlikely to happen in the US. But why are many Americans still freaking out?

The Harvard survey might show some reason. The census found that fifty percent with less than a high school education were concerned; thirty-six percent of those with some college education had outbreak fears. College degree holders were the least concerned with twenty percent.

Reported Ebola-related deaths are now at 1,427 as of August 22 with the disease currently affecting four West African countries: Guinea, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Liberia, with the latter struck the hardest with 624 deaths. The World Health Organization reported that more than 2,400 people have been infected by Ebola virus since March 2014.  

Although Ebola is a rare and deadly disease with ninety percent fatality, at present, there are no known cases of Ebola in the US. So there is definitely no reason for Americans to worry, fear, panic or freak out over the possible Ebola US outbreak.

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