As more states begin to establish policies that rely on fear and fear alone, it is clear that the conversation about Ebola in America has spiraled out of control.
Thankfully, one determined nurse has decided to fight back.
Kaci Hickox is facing severe criticism from politicians and the public after openly defying her state’s new quarantine policy, which orders health care workers returning from West Africa to stay isolated in their homes for 21 days.
Hickox attracted national attention after she arrived in a New Jersey airport on the day that the state established the new quarantine mandate. Despite testing negative for Ebola and showing no symptoms of the disease, Hickox was forced to stay as a “patient” in an isolated tent close to a hospital for three days. Although she could use the Internet through her cell phone, she had no access to a television, shower facility or a flush toilet.
Eventually, she was allowed to return to her home in Maine, but the state ordered her to remain in her house for the rest of the quarantine period.
Fear and hysteria strike again. Politicians have an obligation to make their communities safe, but under no circumstances should they craft policies that ignore medical facts. Ebola is not contagious unless the carrier is showing symptoms, and it is only spread through direct contact with bodily fluids. This explains why Thomas Duncan, the first man to die in America from Ebola, did not spread the infection to his relatives or his fiancee.
How, then, can lawmakers justify isolating health care workers who show no symptoms and test negative for Ebola? Instead of applauding Hickox for standing up for logic and science, she has been heavily scrutinized by people who seem to have forgotten both.
Outraged commenters and social media users have blasted Hickox for what they interpret as a selfish and irresponsible decision. Many people have even expressed hope that she will be thrown in jail, have her health care license revoked and be physically forced into isolation. Even the governor of Maine has accused the nurse of being untrustworthy.
These are profoundly ignorant opinions. They are especially infuriating when you consider how Hickox is doing more to prevent the spread of Ebola than all of the angry commenters put together. Selfish and irresponsible people do not risk their lives to help combat the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Selfish and irresponsible people do not endure terrifying and grueling ordeals in an impoverished country to treat the sick.
Refusing to submit to policies that do nothing but comfort the hysterical and uninformed does not mean she is selfish. It means she is brave.
Unfortunately, the sharp criticism surrounding Hickox indicates the kind of treatment awaiting many health care workers who will soon return from West Africa. Considering the careless manner in which state officials reacted to the nurse’s reasonable pleas, it is disturbing to think about how they will handle the upcoming arrival of exhausted doctors and nurses.
When Hickox threatened to sue New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie over her mandatory isolation in a tent, his response reflected just how little he respects her: “Whatever, get in line.” Is his attitude going to remain this indifferent toward every other health care worker forced into quarantine? I certainly hope not.
Fear can hold a dangerous and powerful grip on a nation. As tempting as it may be to succumb to hysteria, we must listen to Kaci Hickox and rely on science and logic.
After all, if we allow ourselves to become a nation where fear is more powerful than the facts, we will never stop being afraid.
Moriah Camenker is a UF public relations senior. Her columns appear on Tuesdays.
[The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the Alligator]
[A version of this story ran on page 6 on 11/4/2014]
