My dad pondered something like this at the weekend. Ill tell you what i told him. (This may not be word for word, bht captures the spirit of what i said to him)
Point 1, this outbreak has been so deadly because of the lack of care patients have had. They are either too far from healthcare, too afraid to use it, or it has closed /been abandoned due to the risk (and reality) of healthcare workers getting it, which in turn leads to point 2
Point 2 is that it has infected so.many, including healthcare workers, due to lack of basic hygiene and specialised equipment.
In the uk we have better hygiene (better access to running water, soaps, sanitiser, better knowledge in the general public of how disease spreads, less greeting with kissing and hugging etc) and more money in the healthcare system meaning more / better equipment for barrier nursing, protective clothing etc. Also, more medications, rehydration drips etc.
Ebola is pretty hard to catch and its transmission rate is pretty low from what i gather. I think i read that on average each person suffering ebola has infected 2 others, as opposed to something like 10 others for measles. You need infected body fluids to reach your mucous membranes. So if we all stand a little further from people, dont shake hands, dont hug or kiss as greetings, stop touching your face and FOR FUCKS SAKE WASH YOUR FUCKING HANDS FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST, we should be pretty ok. If an outbreak began in the uk, continue to not fucking touch people and carry hand sanitiser for use after touching door handles, taps etc. Use condoms. Dont lick sick people etc.
And get a flu jab, coz flu can fucking kill you dead, and in recent years there are strains that disproportionately kill young, healthy people.
If most people practice excellent hygiene, transmission can be reduced drastically and perhaps even stop the virus in its tracks. Thats ebola or flu or whatever other shit starts making the rounds.
And see a dr if you get sick, dont wait till youve spluttered your sickness over half of your city. See a dr, get treatment, hopefully live and also, save others lives by not fucking making them ill too.
My dad was actually surprised that basic handwashing etc would distrupt transmission so easily. The media has people panicked.