At first, the search was going to be aimed at only several hundred, but now they've multiplied the hysteria factor.

Here is one predictable outcome: at clinics and hospitals, frightened people who arrive with what are labeled "early signs" of Ebola will be labeled as probable cases. What are those symptoms? Fever, chill, sore throat, cough, headache, joint pain. Sound familiar? Normally, this would just be called the flu.

What's (intentionally) missing in all this an understanding of the immune system. Generally speaking, a germ doesn't stand a chance of causing serious illness when the immune system is strong.

Of course, you won't hear about that. Instead, news accounts will feature shock and awe: "perfectly healthy people" who suddenly succumbed to the "killer germ."