Flu epidemics spread at the same speed now as they did 100 years ago says the above. The question is where the PEOPLE to whom it spread can go which is way, way farther than THEY could 100 years ago.

The point is the speed of transport makes no difference. Compare the current ebola epidemic to the 1918-19 flu pandemic: there were tens of millions dead all round the globe within six months from the first known cases (about the time that's elapsed since the ebola epidemic started). Steam was plenty fast enough. The only places to escape were islands that shut themselves off, like American Samoa.

I suspect the very worst measure that could possibly be taken would be to involve the military, as some control freaks here are suggesting. Historically soldiers have been among the worst disease vectors ever to prey on humanity. It only takes one psycho uniformed rapist thinking "that one's too cute to waste" and down goes a regiment.