Fearbola: Irrational Fear Now Sweeping U.S.

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fearbola [firbōlə]

noun

Fear-bola is an airborne disease that spreads through conversation, entering your brain through your ears. Fear-bola is so contagious that some victims have contracted it by simply seeing images and videos about Ebola.Once inside your body, Fear-bola attacks the part of the brain responsible for rational thinking. It starts with a low-grade concern about the two health care workers diagnosed with Ebola in Dallas and slowly builds into fear of a widespread epidemic in the United States. Almost half of the people affected by Fear-bola are also "very" or "somewhat" worried they themselves will catch the virus.Fear-bola is dangerous because it leads to confused decision-making and illusions. People who favor travel bans, for example, suffer from Fear-bola. Anyone convinced Ebola is an airborne virus is suffering from the disease. If the news that a second health care worker in Dallas diagnosed with Ebola made you think you're in a real-life "Contagion" or "Outbreak" movie, you suffer from Fear-bola.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/15/opinion/robbins-ebola-fear/

Despite assurance that an outbreak is unlikely & that Ebola will not suddenly mutate to become airborne, I'm hearing a lot of comments regarding the nature of the threat that aren't aligned with reality. It is my hope that those 2 nurses recover soon & any problems with infection control quickly identified. My heart goes out to them. In the meantime, I think we should arm ourselves with facts about Ebola pathophysiology, transmission, & prevention.

Do you have Fearbola? What do you think of our country's response?

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I agree to some degree. I think what the nurses here are concerned about is possibility of it showing up in their hospital knowing that their hospital would handle it equally badly… The CDC sent out the information to be prepared last summer but until this patient showed up with Ebola most hospitals had not actually considered it a real possibility and had not ordered the appropriate protection for their nurses. Literally NOONE knew what to do and the nurses were begging administration to take the lead. They were let down. Only time will tell if more victims come down with it or not. This disease has shined a bright light on the way that hospitals throw nurses under the bus by the initial blame of the the R.N.'s caring for the patient. This week has been a process and not an easy one for any nurse who has been in the trenches. I hope to God that there are no more but again, only time will tell. If any thing can be learned from this I think America got schooled. We just had an epic fail on so many levels it's not even funny. I think that all these blatant errors are contributing to the fear and anxiety especially for nurses. Since 2 nurses were infected by this one patient we should NOT brush it under the rug. We need to learn from this terrible disease in order to win the battle. Now there are 100 people being 'monitored'. Having had the 2nd nurse choose to get on an airline twice after being infected, then another healthcare member on a cruise ship, the public is rightfully concerned about how this is being handled. No one thought it would happen the first time, I don't think we should be naive and think concern is unwarranted.

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Specializes in LTC.

I heard this the other day "if I get it just take me out back and shoot me". This isn't 100% deadly, it's actually treatable. People survive. Wth smdh.

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Specializes in School Nursing, Public Health Nurse.
I heard this the other day "if I get it just take me out back and shoot me". This isn't 100% deadly, it's actually treatable. People survive. Wth smdh.

I wanted to scream when someone said that everyone who gets Ebola should just be shot dead on confirmation of having the disease. I remember hearing something similar about those who are HIV positive almost a decade ago.

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I wanted to scream when someone said that everyone who gets Ebola should just be shot dead on confirmation of having the disease. I remember hearing something similar about those who are HIV positive almost a decade ago.

What can I say, unfortunately there’s no shortage of ignoramuses in this world :banghead: :(

OP I like your post, it’s spot-on. Fear and ignorance are formidable opponents. When you combine this with a virus that’s undetectable to the naked eye and has the potential to kill many people, it can be a recipe for disaster.

I completely understand the concern that nurses and other healthcare workers have. We absolutely must make sure that we have adequate staffing levels, appropriate space, knowledge, personal protective equipment and the required training needed to safely

care for Ebola infected patients.

But I must admit that it worries me to see many wild speculations and accusations on a nursing message board. This is a time when a clear, level head is needed. You can’t take whatever the media puts out there, as gospel truth. There’s so much speculation, rumors and plain wrong information flying around. It’s the time to put our knowledge and rational thinking to good use. If we “the experts” can’t do this, there’s not much hope for the part of the public who don’t have the benefit of microbiology classes and who aren’t research savvy.

This past couple of days (after one patient’s death and two nurses have been infected) there’s been a veritable explosion of Ebola threads. Some I believe bring up valid points, but others I feel only serve to feed the Ebola-frenzy.

I’m going to quote myself from one of my older Ebola threads:

Remember, not only viruses are contagious. Fear is a potent contagion, and it might actually be the most destructive of all.

I’ve seen a few posters accuse the authorities of only being interested in avoiding panic among the public. I don’t believe that that’s correct. I think that their work is complex and multifaceted, and they are juggling many tasks and objectives. Combating panic is just one of them.

Actually, preventing widespread panic is a worthwhile goal. As healthcare professionals,

it’s definitely in our best interest. I can absolutely guarantee that in a situation with widespread panic, a lot of the anger and violence would be aimed right at us.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
What can I say, unfortunately there's no shortage of ignoramuses in this world :banghead: :(

OP I like your post, it's spot-on. Fear and ignorance are formidable opponents. When you combine this with a virus that's undetectable to the naked eye and has the potential to kill many people, it can be a recipe for disaster.

I completely understand the concern that nurses and other healthcare workers have. We absolutely must make sure that we have adequate staffing levels, appropriate space, knowledge, personal protective equipment and the required training needed to safely

care for Ebola infected patients.

But I must admit that it worries me to see many wild speculations and accusations on a nursing message board. This is a time when a clear, level head is needed. You can't take whatever the media puts out there, as gospel truth. There's so much speculation, rumors and plain wrong information flying around. It's the time to put our knowledge and rational thinking to good use. If we "the experts" can't do this, there's not much hope for the part of the public who don't have the benefit of microbiology classes and who aren't research savvy.

This past couple of days (after one patient's death and two nurses have been infected) there's been a veritable explosion of Ebola threads. Some I believe bring up valid points, but others I feel only serve to feed the Ebola-frenzy.

I'm going to quote myself from one of my older Ebola threads:

I've seen a few posters accuse the authorities of only being interested in avoiding panic among the public. I don't believe that that's correct. I think that their work is complex and multifaceted, and they are juggling many tasks and objectives. Combating panic is just one of them.

Actually, preventing widespread panic is a worthwhile goal. As healthcare professionals,

it's definitely in our best interest. I can absolutely guarantee that in a situation with widespread panic, a lot of the anger and violence would be aimed right at us.

Well said. :yes:

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Specializes in RN, CHPN.

Fear of Ebola is at irrational levels. The risk to the public is small, but the two nurses who were infected added fuel to this fire, along with hundreds being 'monitored.' HCWs are the ones who are at risk. Protecting us also protects the public.

The latest move of appointing a political spin-master as the Ebola Czar doesn't seem like it will do much to allay the panic. People don't trust lawyers or politicians.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Ahhhhhhhh......humans in america addicted to media driven propaganda=scared and stupid masses....just where the oligarchs want us....time to buy my ebolaprotectiongun!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Instead of focusing on the sick, let's focus on who is not sick with Ebola:

1. The fiancee of Thomas Eric Duncan, who had close contact with him and shared living quarters with him while he was sick.

2. The son of Thomas Eric Duncan, with whom he spent plenty of time prior to succumbing to Ebola virus disease.

3. The multitude of people who were in the Dallas Presbyterian ER waiting room during Thomas Eric Duncan's two visits.

4. The multitude of people who boarded the airplane with Thomas Eric Duncan and landed at Dallas/Fort Worth Intl. Airport.

5. 300+ million other Americans are presumably free from Ebola virus disease. Hallelujah, it's morning in America again.

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Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

Not to minimize Ebola and it's seriousness, but discussing Ebola is like rehashing the latest episode of The Walking Dead.

It's the "what would you do" attraction.

My sister and I discuss Ebola all the time, and neither of us is hysterical.

Maybe those people who are scared imagine an air born Ebola.

In that case, the hysteria would be appropriate.

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Specializes in School Nursing, Public Health Nurse.

Is there already a thread where we can post and laugh at all the non-nursing/medical theories on Ebola? If not I should start one. I have a FB friend who is a fantastic Internet Microbiologist. Sometimes we just need laughter to get us through.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Is there already a thread where we can post and laugh at all the non-nursing/medical theories on Ebola? If not I should start one. I have a FB friend who is a fantastic Internet Microbiologist. Sometimes we just need laughter to get us through.

I say, post away. :yes:

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