Why fear is something to fear itself

In the African countries that have been hardest by the Ebola virus, many people have resorted to pre-modern “solutions” like turning to witch doctors, hiding family members with Ebola rather than taking them for treatment, and attacking clinics. They ignore the urgings of doctors and scientists to avoid contact with dead bodies at funerals, and thus infection spreads.

 

But even in centers of advanced civilization like the U.S., the response by politicians and ordinary people has been driven by the same kind of fear and ignorance even though Ebola isn’t present at all. Take the Ohio school district that shut down an elementary and middle school because an employee might have flown in the same plane (though not even the same flight) as a health worker who had contracted the virus. Conspiracy theories blaming the Pentagon (on the grounds it wants to reduce the world population) or global pharmaceutical companies (because they want to make money on Ebola drugs) are popular in certain circles.

 

Read More: Ebola and us: Why fear is something to fear itself – David’s Harp Israel News | Haaretz