Now that Ebola has hit America in two cities and dozens are under surveillance for symptoms, Americans’ fears over the deadly virus are growing. The virus has an abnormally high fatality rate and can kill a person in days. With over 9,000 infected and over 4,500 dead in Africa, the scope and deadliness of the virus is clear. However, the question becomes: Why do Americans have such a morbid obsession over Ebola?

America has little reason to fear Ebola. With one of the most effective health care industries in the world, Americans have a far greater chance of surviving such a virus. With only eight confirmed cases, Ebola is not spreading quickly, if at all, in the United States.

So why are Americans less concerned with the flu, Enterovirus-68 and other deadly diseases than with Ebola? EV-68, for example, has infected more and killed more in the U.S. than Ebola. With at least two dead and dozens infected, the virus raged around the country but has subsided in recent weeks. Unlike Ebola which fades away and even leaves you with immunity to the disease, EV-68 leaves you with side effects such as paralysis.

The answer is that Americans have an irrational fear over Ebola. Yes it is a horrifyingly deadly disease, but it is incredibly hard to spread the disease in a First World country. The media has hyped up the threat of the virus until someone sneezing causes a panic. Third World medical facilities are next to nonexistent and cleanliness is rarely observed. In America it is the opposite. America also lies halfway around the world from where Ebola is spreading. The entire Atlantic Ocean provides a formidable barrier for any disease to cross.

All of these factors continue to keep the majority of Americans safe, but the panic will continue to spread until we find something else to fear.