Worrisome

U.S. Health Care Unprepared for Ebola

Could not cope with outbreak.

A review by the Associated Press finds that the U.S. health-care apparatus is so unprepared and short on resources to deal with the Ebola virus that even small clusters of cases could overwhelm parts of the system. AP examined such indicators of readiness as training, staffing, funding, emergency-room shortcomings, supplies, and health-care workers, and also interviewed dozens of top experts. It found that among other problems: Supplies, training, and funds are all limited, the emergency-care system is already overextended, and there are concerns over whether health-care workers would refuse to treat Ebola patients. The news service frequently heard assessments that the smaller the facility, the less prepared it is to fight Ebola. The U.S. has many more midsize and small medical centers than large hospitals.