And against that is the fact we have one of the most mobile populations in the world, who also feel vastly entitled. If some major epidemic started people would quickly scatter around the country spreading it overnight. One of the major reasons Ebola has been containable in the past is it struck small rural areas. If you tried to quarantine anyone they would ignore it. Despite any announcements to stay home anyone with so much as a sniffle would be running to the ER, or dialing 911 and demanding an ambulance.
The flip side of that is the US Public Health Service, which our entire medical system obeys without question.
In past it has been noted that during an epidemic, the USPHS can assume more authoritarian power than any other government agency. We almost never see it, fortunately, but when it happens it is pretty awesome.
And their orders are enforced at the point of a gun. Be it police or military.
Right now, about the only group that they apply this to are people infected with tuberculosis. If it is determined to be “ordinary” TB, if the person is compliant and takes their medicine, they are allowed to live their normal life, once they are no longer infectious. However, if they have a drug resistant form, they are quarantined in a medical ward facility, if necessary, until they die.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_tuberculosis_scare