World News – Around the world and especially in the United States we are being bombarded with news about the Ebola virus. Yes, the Ebola virus is a serious issue and it needs to be contained, but “Is it easy to contract this virus?”.
What is Ebola?
The Ebola virus is the cause of a viral hemorrhagic fever disease. Symptoms of Ebola include fever, muscle pain, vomiting, severe headache, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and unexplained bleeding or bruising.
How is Ebola Transmitted from One Person to Another?
This is directly from the CDC……although we may not have much confidence in the entity in general these facts about Ebola are true.
The Ebola Virus is spread through direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes in, for example, the eyes, nose, or mouth) with
- Blood or body fluids (including but not limited to urine, saliva, sweat, feces, vomit, breast milk, and semen) of a person who is sick with Ebola
- Objects (like needles and syringes) that have been contaminated with the virus
- Infected animals
- Ebola is not spread through the air or by water, or in general, by food. However, in Africa, Ebola may be spread as a result of handling bushmeat (wild animals hunted for food) and contact with infected bats. There is no evidence that mosquitos or other insects can transmit Ebola virus. Only mammals (for example, humans, bats, monkeys, and apes) have shown the ability to become infected with and spread Ebola virus.
When Will I Start to Show Symptoms of the Ebola Virus?
Symptoms for Ebola normally appear 8 to 10 days after you contract the virus
How Contagious is the Ebola Virus?
People only become infectious once they start to have symptoms. The risk of being infected in the early course of the disease is low. The risk of infection is much higher in the later stages but can be effectively addressed with the proper use of protective equipment.
Watch this 60 Second Video to Get The Information You Need to Know About Avoiding Ebola