Editorial: 'What if' scary words about Ebola

It would be all too easy to dismiss this thing they call the Ebola virus as thus far the only news we have had of it has been from overseas.

But within the past few days that "overseas" part of the equation has included Australia and that's just four hours' flying time away.

Not to mention being the largest coming-and-going continent we deal with in terms of travellers.

There have been concerns raised about the health of a Cairns nurse who had been working in Sierra Leone for the Red Cross and part of that work was the treatment of Ebola patients.

Of course, she took all the right precautions while on duty, but shortly after arriving back in Australia began to feel slightly unwell, and realised she had a fever.

She put herself into isolation at her own home and arranged for a blood sample to be taken and began the waiting game.

Kiwis, too, work for the Red Cross and other agencies in Ebola-risk lands and, accordingly, extensive screening programmes have been introduced as part of the "welcome home" upon arrival.

So far, so good.

According to medical authorities, it is likely to remain that way, with the director of public health saying it was unlikely anyone with the virus would arrive here.

That is good news, and reassuring, although in the back of many minds that unsettling little word "but" sort of emerges.

Or two equally unsettling little words - "what if?"

However, we are fortunate in this country that we have first-world measures in place. Many parts of Africa do not have that medical luxury and the virus does strike with alarming regularity.

It also has to be weighed up against other viruses which have emerged during the past decade or so and which caused alarm, and in some cases mild panic.

But the avian (bird) flu and swine flu failed to sweep across the globe like a 21st century Black Death and, apart from isolated cases which pop up from time to time in the Far East, have all but been forgotten.

If there is any positive angle to the deadly Ebola strikes it is that health authorities like ours react accordingly and quickly put strong measures in place.

Because (time for a three-worder here) ... you never know.