Ebola: What You Need to Know
There is much talk of Ebola and the current cases being treated in the US. We thought it might be helpful to provide some information on this situation, since topical education is important. As usual, practice careful hygiene, wash your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and avoid contact with blood and body fluids. Remember, Ebola is not airborne, you must have contact with bodily fluids of an infected person. The following information comes from the CDC website page for Ebola Transmission When an infection does occur in humans, the virus can be spread in several ways to others. Ebola 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 - not likely here in the US · 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. Symptoms Include · Fever (greater than 38.6°C or 101.5°F) · Severe headache · Muscle pain · Weakness · Diarrhea · Vomiting · Abdominal (stomach) pain · Unexplained hemorrhage (bleeding or bruising) Symptoms may appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure to Ebola, but the average is 8 to 10 days. Recovery from Ebola depends on good supportive clinical care and the patient's immune response. People who recover from Ebola infection develop antibodies that last for at least 10 years. As always, if you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us. We will do our best to answer your questions or direct you to further sources.