Ebola danger is low
Q.I’m scared of Ebola. My dad is a truck driver. He goes everywhere. What if he brings it home to my mom and sister and me?
11-year-old
Mary Jo’s response: What an excellent question!
No, I don’t think your family is in danger of infection from the Ebola virus, but I understand why you might be frightened.
Facts are important. Rumors are often myths spread by misinformation or fear. I went directly to the Centers for Disease Control’s website (http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/2014-west-africa/qa.html) and the World Health Organization (http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/) for facts.
Here’s the most important fact: The Ebola virus is not airborne. Unlike the common cold, the virus isn’t spread through the air. Standing across the room from a person infected with the Ebola virus will not cause someone to become ill unless direct contact with the infected person happens.
Direct contact means touching the patient or things the patient touched while infectious. Infectious means when the virus can be spread from one person to another. Unlike many other viruses, the Ebola virus is only infectious when an infected person is showing symptoms. Symptoms of the Ebola virus are fever (temperature of 101.5 degrees F/ 38.6 degrees C), headache, muscle pain, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain or unexplained bruising or bleeding.
The CDC said, “Ebola is not spread through the air or by water, or in general, food.”
The World Health Organization said, “The safest thing anyone can do is avoid direct contact with bodily fluids of people who have Ebola, and with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with fluids.”
Bodily fluids is a weird phrase referring to any fluids (liquid) that come from the body. The Ebola virus can be found in the following body fluids: saliva, stool, semen, breast milk, tears and nasal blood.
The virus was also found on a skin swab (a culture of a person’s skin). An interesting fact is that a man who survives an Ebola virus infection can spread the virus through semen up to seven weeks after recovery.
Hospitals in the United States are prepared for patients infected by the Ebola virus. As I write my answer to your question, there is one confirmed U.S. case of Ebola infection, in Dallas, Texas. The infected person returned to the U.S. from Africa, where he had contact with Ebola patients. The CDC quarantined anyone in the United States with whom he had direct contact. The quarantine will last for the incubation period of 21 days. An incubation period is the time between a when a person is exposed to a virus or bacteria and when an infected person shows symptoms. Ebola’s incubation period is two to 21 days. The CDC does not consider the people who flew on the same airplane with the Texas Ebola victim to be at risk. He was not showing any symptoms when he flew, so he was not able to spread the virus.
The CDC lists the following ways to protect yourself from the Ebola virus:
• Wash hands frequently or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid contact with blood and body fluids of any person, particularly someone who is sick.
• Do not handle items that may have come in contact with an infected person’s blood or body fluids.
• Do not touch the body of someone who has died from Ebola.
• Avoid hospitals in West Africa where Ebola patients are being treated. The U.S. Embassy or consulate is often able to provide advice on medical facilities.
• Seek medical care immediately if you develop fever (temperature of 101.5 degrees F/ 38.6 degrees C) and any of the symptoms of Ebola virus infection.
Unless your dad is traveling to West Africa, the odds are extremely good he won’t have any direct contact with an infected person.
I’d like to ask you a favor. Please share your fears with your family, especially with your dad. I think he will be happy to know how much you are concerned about his health and your family’s well-being. I also think your parents will be able to reassure you and make you feel safer. Please keep in touch and continue asking great questions!