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> Doctors who knew they were working with Ebola still managed to get infected.

Yes, but these doctors often don't even have the equipment to provide proper antiseptic medical care let alone containment-type biosuits.

In addition, quarantines can be rolled out quickly and effectively in modern countries with well-developed communication infrastructure.

This is not to say that we should be complacent. However, a bad flu epidemic poses more direct hazard to the modern world.

Keep in mind these doctors were surrounded by hundreds of cases and potential cases, in field hospitals without even running water. It's quite understandable that they would be at risk even while taking what precautions they could.

They may have known they were dealing with Ebola, but they didn't have the equipment or facilities to take all the steps necessary to prevent transmission.

I'm not arguing for complacency, but comparing the transmissibility of ebola to the flu is just simply inaccurate.