ABC Medical Editor Dr. Richard Besser Talks Medical Issues in Providence

 Twitter: @markcurtisABC6 

As of now, 23 thousand people in West Africa have contracted Ebola, and 9 thousand have died.

But reports of new cases have dropped dramatically in places such as Liberia, and there has not been a new Ebola case reported in the United States, since last fall.

We got some perspective from ABC News Chief Medical Editor, Dr. Richard Besser who is visiting Providence.

“There was so much fear in America about Ebola coming here. I think a lot of it was misplaced fear. But it is a great sign that there are still Americans going over to help and we’re not seeing any disease here,” said Dr. Richard Besser of ABC News.

Doctor Besser was lecturing at the Brown University Medical School and Rhode Island Hospital.

ABC6 Chief Political Reporter Mark Curtis said, “Another recent health issue of local interest involved cases of meningitis being discovered at Providence College.”

Well over 3,000 students were immunized for meningitis at PC, after two cases were confirmed on campus.

But it’s critical that all of the students get their additional immunization shots at two and six month intervals.

“It’s very easy to let it slip because when there aren’t cases occurring, you think the risk isn’t still there. But the reason you give the three doses is to give full protection. If you don’t get all three doses, you are not going to be fully protected,” Dr. Besser said.

Dr. Besser, is the former acting director of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.