The Ebola Crisis

Whispering in the Wind (WITW 50) October 22, 2014

A number of global events have unfolded in the past year that for me can only be described as disturbing and dangerous.  The Ebola crisis in West Africa; the war effort against the ISIS terrorist group in the middle east; the falling international price for oil; the imperialistic, threatening moves made by the Chinese in Hong Kong and the Russians in Ukraine are individually and collectively showing that the international organizations set up to deal with global threats, issues and conflicts are being severely challenged and could very well prove inadequate without strong, intelligent leadership.  In this column I want to comment on the event that has occupied most of the news headlines in the past two weeks and how Canada and the prime minister is reacting.   

Ebola Crisis in West Africa 

The Ebola hemorrhagic fever virus was first identified in 1976 with records indicating that the Ebola virus caused the death of some 50 people in March of this year, in Guinea.  The virus moved into Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Senegal – the outbreaks in Nigeria (20 cases) and Senegal (1 case) have apparently been contained and are now considered Ebola free.  As of mid-October the World Health Organization is estimating that there are now 8900 reported cases of Ebola in West Africa with 4,447 recorded deaths.  What is chilling is that the WHO is forecasting the Ebola infected cases in West Africa could rise to 10,000 cases a week by the end of the year if appropriate measures aren’t taken.  As to the spread of Ebola virus outside of West Africa; three cases have been identified in the United States and one in Spain.  In Canada 25 tests have been analyzed by the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, all the tests were judged to be unrelated to the Ebola virus.  As to Canada’s role in fighting the Ebola virus in West Africa, the prime minister has committed amongst a number of specific initiatives, an impressive $65 million to support aid agencies working in the most affected countries.  As to protecting Canadians, in Canada the government has beefed up protective measures at five airports.  As well the government is establishing five emergency response teams to support local health authorities should an Ebola emergency incident occur in Canada.  From a political perspective I am very disappointed in a statement made by Prime Minister Harper last Saturday when he warned Canadians not to be complacent when it comes to the threats of the Ebola virus, a virus that “could arrive at our shores very quickly.”  Simply put Mr. Harper played the FEAR card and that’s not prime ministerial.  It’s understandable for a guy like me to be paranoid and fearful of the Ebola virus and reconsider my air travel plans, but for a prime minister, it’s different.  It’s Prime Minister Harper’s responsibility, if not his duty to offer as much support as possible to countries in dire need.  Further it is Prime Minister Harper’s responsibility and his duty to prepare the country for any set of circumstances that might occur.  It’s Prime Minister Harper’s duty to explain to Canadians that all that needs to be done to protect Canadians has been done and do it in a reassuring manner without sowing the seeds of apprehension and fear.