Americans love a good panic these days, it seems. The national news media and its tunnel vision coverage of news stories helps to fuel the hype surrounding controversial subjects.

Likewise, social media provides an easy way and often an unverified way to spread rumors, resulting in unnecessary fear among the masses.

The story about the very real concern over the Ebola epidemic seems to be a case in point. The outbreak among African nations and the thousands of victims it has claimed there is tragic.

However, we have no reason for fear or panic here.

The Centers for Disease Control and Natchez area hospitals seem to have a plan and be on the same page in working to protect our community from this and other contagious illnesses.

If a patient at Natchez Regional Medical Center or Natchez Community Hospital presents symptoms, both hospitals are armed with infectious disease protocols established by the CDC, which begins with isolation.

The Mississippi Department of Health reminds us that only those who have traveled to Liberia, Sierra Leone or Guinea in the past 21 days and who have had close contact with confirmed Ebola cases should be concerned about having contracted the disease, which presents itself in early stages with flu-like symptoms.

If you haven’t had such contact, you don’t need to be worried.

We as consumers need to work hard to be calm and follow the advice and guidance of our health care professionals.