Ebola: Parents Remove Children From School

If I had a child attending a school where a student had contact with the diagnosed Ebola patient, I would definitely pull my child out immediately.

Is that overreacting?

I really wouldn't care.

I would do anything to protect my child.

I also wouldn't trust what the school district or the government is telling me.

From the Star-Telegram:

Parents on Wednesday were removing their children from a Dallas school where a student may have had contact with the Ebola patient diagnosed Tuesday.

A letter to parents of children at L.L. Hotchkiss Elementary School, 6929 Town North Drive, says in part:

“This morning, we were made aware that one of our students may have had contact with an individual who was recently diagnosed with the Ebola virus. This student is currently not showing any symptoms and is under close observation by the Dallas County Health and Human Services Department. As a precautionary measure, the student has been advised to stay home from school. Since this student is not presenting any symptoms, there is nothing to suggest that the disease was spread to others, including students and staff.”

At a news conference at noon Wednesday, Dallas Independent School District Superintendent Mike Miles said students attending four different Dallas Independent School District schools possibly have been exposed to the Ebola virus.

He said the district was informed the five students were in contact with the Ebola patient over the weekend. They have been in school since, but are now at home and likely will be kept there for 21 days.

This Ebola patient gets around, doesn't he?

The parents keeping their children out of school are doing the right thing.

I expect the government to keep people from Ebola hotspots out of my country.

Period.

If such steps aren't taken, I don't think it's a good idea to go out to eat or use public transportation. God forbid you find yourself in need of a public restroom.

And if you go out in public, hope no one sneezes anywhere near you.

The line is the flu is much more of a threat to the public than Ebola.

That's stupid.

We have a flu vaccine. I already got my shot for this season, and so have all members of my immediate family.

The flu isn't a death sentence. The odds of recovering from the flu are dramatically better than surviving Ebola.

Give me an Ebola vaccine and I'll relax.