Attention YSU undergraduates and graduate students!
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| Dr. Nathan Wolfe |
This year's Skeggs Lecturer is Dr. Nathan Wolfe, a renown "virus hunter". Tickets for his lecture at Stambaugh Auditorium on October 8th will undoubtedly go fast. Moreover, opportunities to interact with him will be limited. However, here is a chance for three fortunate individuals to not only meet Dr. Wolfe, but also get reserved seats to his lecture, receive a book autographed by Dr. Wolfe, and attend the pre-lecture dinner in his honor.
To do so, follow the Essay Guidelines above to submit your response to the following question below:
“What would you speculate to be the most significant societal
impact(s) [e.g., economic, political, cultural, etc.] should a national epidemic
arise from a previously unknown, Ebola-like virus?”
Be sure to follow the guidelines as detailed in
the above tab. You brief essay is due no
later than 5:00 PM on Monday, September 28th.
Should you have any questions, please send an email to
nathanwolfeessay@gmail.com.
Best of luck!
There are various societal impacts that would be significant should a national epidemic arise from a previously unknown, Ebola-like virus. The most significant societal impact would be cultural wise. Many cultures do not have the resources necessary to handle unknown viruses. Without the necessary resources, this unknown virus could have the potential to cause a worldwide epidemic. Cultures also practice medical sciences from different perspectives and do not necessarily know how to handle the vast unknown in the world of viruses. Economic status would also be a societal impact. The economies are not all efficient as we would like them to be and may not necessarily be equipped to handle the unknown, Ebola-like virus. The economy may not have the necessary skills to keep society safe and unharmed. Preparedness is one battle that can be fought in society should a national epidemic arise from a previously unknown, Ebola-like virus. This can also be a learning experience for how to better handle epidemics and how society can make a large impact culturally and economically.
ReplyDeleteShould a pandemic occur because of an Ebola-like virus, societies downfall would be the media.
ReplyDeleteAfter Texas Ebola patient Thomas Duncan died, Nurse Amber Vinson, who had treated Duncan, flew to Ohio, causing panic and closing schools.
Mass media used the travel of one person, showing no symptoms, to spread fear that Ebola would quickly spread throughout the United States. There was little to no scientific evidence to back the theory. Those infected in the U.S. had been in long-term contact with patients, most treating the disease; such as doctors, nurses, and missionaries who returned to the U.S. from West Africa before symptoms appeared.
With social media becoming more accessible, misinformation in the 21st century spreads faster than ever. Sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit make it easy to pass information to other users. According to Time, a 2011 University of Michigan study of five rumors on Twitter showed 43% of users studied believed the false information they were posting.
The media have been inflating the severity of conditions for years; including Africanized bees, West Nile Virus, Swine Flu, and Anthrax.
Should an Ebola-like virus cause a true pandemic, the media may have exaggerated one too many times.
Laura McDonough
Journalism Major
I would speculate that the most significant societal impacts, should a national epidemic arise from a previous unknown, Ebola-like virus, would vary across the playing field in numerous industries. Any epidemic could cause social, political, health and economic disruption and devastation. All of the concerns overlap into each industry causing a massive disease Venn diagram. Several of the social issues that would develop would be strained personal relationships, modified food consumption, travel (either nonexistent or mass migrations of people), altered mental statuses, and adjusted daily routines. Some of the political factors that would result would be the government implementing limitations on important resources, controlling the release of valuable information updates to the public, infiltrating the military into the crucial areas, and govern the people through to emerge and recover from the desolation. The most obvious, would be the health concerns. Humans, as well as possibly animals could suffer and fall ill from an epidemic of any magnitude. Lastly, the economic matters that would be affected, which intersect with the other industries, would be financial restraints, education of the crisis and work force numbers would diminish due to illness. Overall, an Ebola-like virus could overwhelm humanity in a multitude of aspects.
ReplyDeleteGiven past national catastrophes, people first react with fear, then faith, during the first 72 hours. This sequence stems from a lack of certainty regarding the source of danger and its targets. During 9/11 and with Ebola, the public reaction was not chaos but bewildering insecurity, due to excess of unanswered questions and a need for reassurance.
ReplyDeleteIn the event of a pandemic, society behaves predictably: people seek answers through science or religion, their efforts spurred by political leaders as they realize the value of human life. Constituent unrest motivates the political system to drive medicinal research further. During such times, science serves as a beacon of hope: it contains infection and ultimately produces a cure. A cure, though, is often interpreted as an answer to prayer; thus, faith is considered responsible. In the case where a virus can duplicate exponentially and mutate randomly, more credence is given to science. This is illustrated by vaccines serving as legacies to scientific labor. However, in the grand scheme of life, the three pillars of human values come together to find a cohesive solution for human sustenance.
-Andrew J. Whipkey
Combined Science Major