Seems like people's fear of the Ebola epidemic around the U.S. has not been overhyped by the media without a good reason. According to a new NPR/Truven Health poll, more than three-quarters of Americans support an Ebola travel ban, most likely wanting the deadly disease to stop spreading and get contained.
Seventy-seven of Americans "believe the U.S. should take measures, such as suspending travel to affected areas, to prevent the spread of Ebola to the U.S," according to the poll, which also indicated that 97 percent of Americans are aware of the Ebola outbreak.
In October, Liberian immigrant Thomas Eric Duncan became the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola after showing symptoms of the deadly disease on U.S. soil. Following his death, two nurses who had been treating the 42-year-old patient were also diagnosed.
For weeks, multiple number of people have been quarantined in order to contain the rare virus, further intensifying calls for the U.S. government to ban travelers from Ebola-ravaged countries and start additional screening of those traveling from West African nations.
In comparison, African nations have been able to control the spread of Ebola by placing travel restrictions between its borders, Breitbart News reported.
However, the Obama administrated has repeatedly struck by its belief that a travel ban would cause more harm than good, with President Obama stating last week that even though he was not "philosophically" against a travel ban, instituting one would not keep Americans safe.
Still, five U.S. airports have been appointed as entryways for travelers coming in from Ebola-infected countries, where they will go through additional screening before being allowed to enter the country.
According to Truven Health Analytics' October report, here are some other findings:
- 49 percent believe that the U.S. response has been adequate.
- 53 percent believe the U.S. has taken a leadership role addressing the outbreak; of those who did not believe the U.S. has taken a leadership role, 65 percent think the U.S. should take a leadership role.
- 60 percent agree with the decision to bring U.S. aid workers back to the U.S. for treatment; Millennials are least likely (47 percent) to agree with this.
- 56 percent are either "Very Concerned" or "Somewhat Concerned" that Ebola will spread to the U.S.; this rate tends to decrease with increasing age and income.
- 51 percent believe the U.S. healthcare system is properly trained/equipped to deal with Ebola in the U.S.
- 44 percent believe the U.S. is spending the right amount of money on Ebola; 36 percent believe the U.S. is not spending enough.
The poll was conducted Oct. 1-15 and has a margin of error of +/- 1.8 percentage points.
