Disease is a greater threat than terrorism
The current outbreak of Ebola in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia is now officially the most widespread outbreak of Ebola in recorded history. With over 630 currently infected individuals and at least 400 fatalities, there are few reasons for optimism about the ability of local and international health organizations to control the current epidemic.
Most importantly, this outbreak is not simply a regional tragedy, but also shows the very real danger infectious diseases can pose to the international world. In fact, outbreaks such as this, whether they involve Ebola, SARS or some other infectious disease, are becoming an increasingly dangerous threat in a world that modern technology has brought ever closer together.
Most recently, individuals have chosen to leave the hospitals and other treatment centers, returning home and increasing the risk that they will continue to spread the disease. In Sierra Leone, government officials have threatened individuals leaving hospitals with legal action. Unfortunately, the stigma faced by individuals who have been infected or who are believed to have been infected makes it unlikely that the threat of legal action will prevent at-risk individuals from continuing to leave hospital facilities.
Furthermore, a lack of public education has helped spread the disease as many individuals continue to take part in traditional burial and eating practices despite the risk of infection. Perhaps worst of all, there have already been instances where healthcare workers have been attacked due to hysterical fears that they are somehow helping spread the disease.
What makes this issue even more serious is the fact that the growing amount of local and international commerce in Africa and other parts of the world has dramatically increased the ability of infectious diseases to quickly spread beyond their point of origin. Even nations such as the US and China would be at risk from infected tourists or citizens crossing their borders.
In addition, the economic consequences of a large-scale outbreak could result in serious damage to local and regional economies, further reducing the ability of local governments to respond to current or future health crises.
The nations of the world, for both pragmatic and moral reasons, should focus on developing a coordinated and well-funded system of international healthcare providers by making use of local governments, international aid programs and NGOs. By doing so, epidemics such as the one facing West Africa could be more effectively addressed.
However, such a goal cannot be achieved with half-hearted measures. By the time an epidemic is well underway, much of the damage has already been done. For that reason, simply responding to an already existing outbreak of disease cannot be considered an adequate response. In fact, any effective method of dealing with this issue would have to include extensive educational programs, as well as direct and indirect aid to local healthcare systems. Widely available healthcare would help ensure that there would be an early warning of any infectious disease outbreak, reducing the danger that the outbreak would rise to epidemic levels.
There will of course be complaints about the costs of such programs, especially when applied to nations with a history of governmental corruption or social disorder. However, it is vital to remember that the widespread personal mobility found in the modern era makes infectious diseases a far greater threat to all nations, not simply the nations where such diseases may originate. While quarantines and local screening practices can help reduce the danger of the global spread of infectious diseases, the most effective method of preventing future global pandemics remains that of attacking the outbreak at its source.
We should also remember that the costs associated with infectious diseases far exceed the short- and long-term costs associated with terrorism. However, nations spend far more on antiterrorism measures such as expensive programs designed to protect against deliberate bio-terrorism while failing to effectively address the danger posed by natural infectious disease outbreaks. This is even more shortsighted when one considers the fact that the social chaos created by these epidemics can help contribute to the rise of radical and terrorist movements.
Finally, when considering this issue it is important to remember that past epidemics have done far more damage to humanity than any armed conflict has and that the danger of a global pandemic remains very real. By working to provide high levels of healthcare for those regions that are facing infectious disease outbreaks, other nations can help protect their own citizens from the threat posed by the uncontrolled spread of these diseases.