Once an individual is identified as carrying an infectious disease that seems to be rapidly spreading and life-threatening, how does one balance individual freedom with the protection of the community? Compare this example to other recent outbreaks, such as the H1N1 virus (“swine flu”) and the case of Andrew Speaker who had drug-resistant tuberculosis and traveled internationally by plane in 2007 before being detained. Consider also how during the 19th and 20th centuries, outbreaks of tuberculosis led to many states and communities in the US requiring people to be quarantined in sanatoriums. When it is unclear how dangerous an illness may be, how quickly should health officials step in with preventive measures (e.g., mandatory vaccines, quarantines)?
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