Some libertarians might think that epidemics and the panic associated with them might be some kind of government scam. Yes, government can and will exploit crises, maybe using them to accomplish its own ends more so than even solving the problem. However, an anarcho-capitalist world would certainly respond to severe epidemics.
In anarcho-capitalism, authority does in fact exist. Private authority. A mall owner can close the mall. A train company can close the train. A neighborhood organization can define the terms by which people use common property like roads. Rights Protection Agencies would have sufficient cause to track down and isolate infected persons who are bucking a quarantine since there is provable harm they might cause to others.
