Governors take charge and put fear above science

Despite the top Ebola expert at the CDC, and the established, effective protocols of Doctors Without Borders, and the advice of the World Health Organization;  and despite President Obama urging not to set up these quarantines, Republican governors are rushing to jump on the ship of fear -- which will just increase the chances of its sinking.

Gov. Christie of New Jersey, Gov. LePage of Maine (who sent state troopers to blockade the home where the Christie's Ebola nurse detainee is now residing), Gov. Jindal in Louisiana, Gov. Deal in Georgia, Gov. Scott in Florida -- and others are reacting out of fear.

Is it fear of Ebola, really?    Or is it fear of political blame if they don't ride the way of hysteria trumped up by FoxNews and the conservative blogosphere?

The worst yet is a letter that went out to members of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, which is holding its annual meeting in New Orleans next week.  The letter, which came from the state Secretary of Health and Hospitals and from the state Office of Homeland Security, has disinvited any members who have cared for people with Ebola in that past three weeks.

You see, the reason this is especially a terrible idea is that Ebola is considered a tropical disease.  These are the very people who need to hear about what is happening in West Africa and to contribute ideas.    Now there may be some vital scientists who will not be able to attend this meeting.

Here's the message to the selfless, courageous humanitarians who have given up three to six weeks of their income and home life to volunteer to go half way around the world to help with a medical crisis -- and they're told they're not welcome back home, even though the medical science tells us plainly that, without symptoms, none of these people are risks for spreading the virus.

Shameful.   Mass hysteria. 

OR:   Is this another Republican attempt to undermine President Obama, make him look ineffective, and then turn around and blame him for the shambles they make of anything they touch?   In truth, he cannot overrule them if they want to set more restrictive public health standards for their states.

Ralph