With midterm elections so close, it was inevitable that Ebola would become another depressing political point of division. A scary disease, a scare-mongering media and an easily scared American people make the politics of fear its own epidemic.

Republicans in Congress have led the charge to exploit the moment, calling for a ban on travel between West Africa and the United States. In response, the Obama administration has appointed an Ebola “czar” with a political background.

None of this inspires confidence. While a travel ban is an option that can’t be ruled out, attempting a quarantine of several West African nations now is premature and could encourage more travelers to be evasive.

The United States is a nation of more than 319 million people; so far, three cases have been diagnosed here and one visitor from Liberia subsequently died. Five Americans infected in West Africa were successfully brought home for treatment.

Ebola shouldn’t be a red state, blue state issue. Most politicians — including Rep. Tim Murphy, the psychologist who led an Ebola hearing last week — are no more qualified to determine the best public health steps for containing the disease than a person on the street.

Which brings us back to the Ebola czar. With the Centers for Disease Control having not inspired confidence with its early efforts, the administration could do with someone who has the ear of top administration officials and the ability to speak with medical authority.

Instead, President Barack Obama asked Ronald Klain to do the job. While he may be a talented lawyer and manager, he is the former chief of staff to Vice President Joe Biden and previously to former Attorney General Janet Reno and Vice President Al Gore.

For the nation’s political fever, Obama, sadly, has prescribed one more political tablet.

Editorial by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


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