Graphic courtesy of The Truth Uncensored.

By Kristen Watson

After the first confirmed, human case of Ebola hit Texas, University of North Texas students from both the concerned and unconcerned sides are raising their voices.

 State and local health officials admitted to monitoring more than a dozen people, including five Dallas schoolchildren, resulting in heaps of local and national media attention, causing many to panic.

“I’m staying away from Dallas to avoid Ebola because of the outbreak…and I don’t want to be any part of that. They need to keep it contained.” UNT public relations major Cleo Armsted, a 22-year-old junior said.

On the other side of the spectrum, others are more nonchalant about the possibility of a large-scale outbreak.

 “I’m not concerned because the man who came in contact with allegedly 80 people is not in the same condition that we have in West Africa right now,” UNT journalism major Joshua Oldfather, a 23-year-old senior said. “Their quality of life and their standards for hygiene just aren’t quite the same.”

Others question the ease in which someone from an epidemic-ridden country could travel to the United States.

“Whenever people come over here and they know they’re from a country that has this disease they should probably do some extra screenings or doctor’s appointments to see if they have any of the symptoms.” UNT communication studies major Taylor Bell, a 22-year-old junior said.