TOW #6 Post (Article): Ebola Outbreak

     In a recent article by CNN, there has been talk about yet another victim, a nurse, who tested positive for Ebola. The woman is the second person inside the United States to get the virus, so citizens have been having panic attacks about how much longer this outbreak could last. The nurse supposedly got contaminated by the virus during her "extensive contact" at a Dallas hospital with a patient who tested positive for the virus. This marks the first known transmission of Ebola in the United States, and the third diagnosis in the country. Other staff members and the CDC are confused about one detail during her contact with the patient: where she went wrong. The woman had on a mask, gloves, and numerous shields to protect her from any contamination. The main concern with this new outbreak is the fact that the virus was caught by a simple preach of protocol. Even the President stated that he "wants federal authorities to immediately take further measures to ensure health care professionals are able to follow protocols for treating Ebola patients" (CNN 1). Also, this worries the public even more because if simple protocol is being broken, then the faster this deadly virus will spread. The main purpose of this article was to definitely warn the public, the intended audience, of the recent outbreaks, and to let them know that they need to be extra cautious. At a time where nurses, who are trained to deal with these kinds of events, are getting the virus, extra procedure needs to be taken. One of the strategies the author, Elizabeth Cohen, uses to communicate her purpose is a very serious tone. She mentions things like "The World Organization estimates more than 8,300 people have contracted Ebola during this year's outbreak" (CNN 1). This appeal to not only tone, but logos. By using logos to appeal to her serious tone, Elizabeth is able to explain to the public the cold hard facts about the virus. People need to be more careful everyday or else more outbreaks could happen causing an even greater risk of getting Ebola. With these two strategies, quotes by the President to represent ethos, and numerous case studies, Cohen is able to communicate her purpose to her audience, the general public, of the new outbreaks of Ebola, and to approach everyday situations cautiously and calmly.