By JOSHUA RUBIN

On March 25, 2014, the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced an outbreak
of the Ebola virus in West Africa. Since that time, as of Oct. 16, 8,900 people in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria,
Senegal, and Sierra Leone have contracted the virus, and more than 4,400 people have died from it,
according to the New York Times. Thomas Eric Duncan, a Liberian nationalist, was the first Ebola patient
to be diagnosed in the United States after returning to Dallas from Africa to visit family on September
20. Six days later, Duncan went to the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital where he received antibiotics
for a fever. On Sept. 29, Duncan becomes the first person to be diagnosed with the Ebola virus in the
States. He died on Oct. 8, 2014.
How does this relate to the Bubble?
Students are known for their service to others, including people in developing countries like
Africa. One well-known example is Brin Enterkin, alumna of the class of 2012 and founder of The African
SOUP (Sponsorship of Orphans in Uganda Project), a nonprofit that works to improving the lives of
Ugandan orphans. Another example is current junior Nikki Winton. Winton is a camp counselor for
Camp BlueSky. She and her campers, whose ages range from 7-18 years, spent two weeks of mission
trips in and around Nairobi, Kenya. Kenya borders Uganda, which is a country that is reported to have
cases of Ebola.
Since its really not easy to catch, I dont think it would be too much of an issue if you went to
travel in those countries. I think you would be pretty safe unless you came into contact with someone
[infected]. Ebola is transferred through having direct contact with the body fluids of someone who has
had the disease. In the late stages of the illness, the virus can be found on the skin of the infected
person.
I think if enough people come back with the disease, it could become a problem. Or, if they
dont separate those people [infected] immediately. The CDC started implementing new layers of entry
screening at five U.S. airports that receive over 94% of travelers from the countries in West Africa that
are central to the Ebola outbreak: New Yorks JFK International Airport, Washington-Dulles International
Airport, Newark Liberty International, Chicago-OHare International, and Hartsfield-Jackson International
Airport in Atlanta.
I think in Nairobi, its pretty shelteredespecially at camp. Its like the Berry Bubble, in a way.
Once youre in the camp environment, you dont really think about the outside too much or anything
coming in. I think it would be pretty safe there.