The latest media panic over the very serious matter of Ebola Virus Disease has implications for employers. Ebola is not to be taken lightly, but neither should we join those in the media metaphorically running around theirs desks, flailing their arms, and shrieking in hysteria.
Here are two articles examining risks and precautions from a more reasonable point of view.
The first offers a legal perspective and is aimed at helping employers evaluate the risks of workplace exposure, as well the legitimate measures a responsible company needs to consider taking in dealing with the possibility of an exposed employee.
The second is a medical view. The most important point this author makes is conditions in the United States are vastly different from West Africa. The level of sanitation and medical care in the US makes the probability of an Ebola outbreak here much lower than in Africa. This is a point that often escapes those members of the media seeking to sensationalize the misfortunes of others and stampede the public. Another important point this author makes is that even in Africa, Ebola is responsible for far fewer deaths than malaria.