Obama: ‘Hiding’ won’t stop Ebola spread

President Barack Obama says US politicians are following policies to tackle the Ebola virus disease that would “have us running in the opposite direction and hiding under the covers.”

He made the remakes on Wednesday after meeting with doctors and nurses who have volunteered to fight Ebola in West Africa, where the epidemic has already killed about 5,000 people.

Obama called the American medical workers “heroes” who deserve to be treated “with dignity and with respect.”

He also warned states like New Jersey and New York that have imposed mandatory quarantines on doctors and nurses who have treated Ebola patients in West Africa.

“We have to keep in mind that if we’re discouraging our health care workers, who are prepared to make these sacrifices, from traveling to these places in need, then we’re not doing our job in terms of looking after our own public health and safety,” he added.

“I put those on notice who think we should hide from these problems,” Obama said. “This is America. We do things differently.”

“We don’t run and hide when there’s a problem,” he said. “It’s because we don’t react to our fears but instead we respond with commons sense.”

Obama has authorized the Pentagon to deploy troops to West Africa to fight the spread of the deadly disease. Under the president’s order, some 3,600 troops could be sent to West Africa. Hundreds of US soldiers have already been deployed to Liberia.

There is currently no known cure for Ebola, which is a form of hemorrhagic fever with diarrhea, vomiting and bleeding as its symptoms.

The Ebola virus spreads through direct contact with infected blood, feces or sweat. It can also be spread through sexual contact or the unprotected handling of contaminated corpses.

GJH/GJH