Fear Mongering in the Urban Environment: Media and Ebola

By Henry Parr

Since March of this year, the Ebola virus has led a particularly destructive path in the West African countries of Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Cote D’Ivoire, taking more than 4,000 lives. As fatalities continue to rise, including the first recorded American death this past week, news media outlets have dedicated more coverage to the epidemic and its potential to spread. Public health analysts, however, are not certain of the threat the virus poses to American cities. 

Cities, with their large and dense populations, appear to be likely places for a disease to spread. In fact, a recent study of the spread of AIDS in Kinsashsa suggests that rapid urbanization and developments of public transportation contribute to the spread of contagious diseases.  However, Will Doig of Next City also asserts that while urban areas are prone to contagious diseases, American cities are well protected from viruses like Ebola because they developed infrastructure relatively recently. For instance, water systems were built with a modern understanding of bacteria and limit the risk of spreading diseases. Olga Khazan of The Atlantic also explained how hospitals in the United States are better equipped to treat patients with Ebola and to take measures to ensure that the virus does not spread. A much greater risk occurs when cities grow rapidly without an adequate health infrastructure.

One tool that may help limit the risk of contagious diseases in these cities is open-source data. A recent report by PBS highlighted a new website called Healthmap which culls information about emerging infections from various sources and maps out their spread. The information could help public health officials target potential outbreaks and allow travelers to take preventive measures.

Ebola is also unlikely to spread throughout American cities because it is less contagious than reports might suggest. Unlike many other viruses, it is not airborne and requires contact with bodily fluid. Lawmakers, however, are suggesting additional measures to combat the spread of the disease including a ban on travelers from the countries that have had high numbers of Ebola cases.  A number of African countries have already done so, and a few airlines have also suspended flights from the countries struggling with the epidemic. Abby Phillip of the Washington Post, however, reported that banning entrants from these countries would make the crisis worse as travel restrictions would severely impact the economies of these countries and make it harder for humanitarian aid to reach sick individuals.  While it does not seem likely that the US will completely restrict travel from these countries, JFK airport in New York has begun screening all arriving passengers from the region affected by Ebola.

Ultimately, the threat of Ebola to American cities seems somewhat overstated by media outlets. With that said, the virus has made a deep impact in the West African countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. As such, a greater focus on how these countries are dealing with the virus and what measures other nations could take would better address a real threat to human life.