The Ebola outbreak in West Africa continues to rage and has now claimed the lives of more than 1,100 people. Is that a lot? It depends. In context, that is 10 percent of the lives France lost during a heatwave in 2004 while they protested American foreign policy in the streets, so clearly it is a matter of priorities. Unlike France, Africa regards preventable deaths as a priority but there are lessons for developed nations in there also.
First, and most importantly, is that American health care is quite good. Yes, it's expensive, but this outbreak really can't happen here, no matter how much the instant news cycle wants to hype it up.
Second, we see once again that GMOs save lives. While anti-science hippies protest them in developed nations, it is only because they have the luxury of a full belly and air-conditioned offices to put stamps on fundraising brochures. It was genetic modification that made the antibody cocktail possible.
Third, we don't let Donald Trump determine medical policy...oh heck, just go read Alex Berezow's article on Real Clear Science.
