Saturday, August 9, 2014

How Dangerous Is the Ebola Virus?

The two American aid workers who contracted the disease are being treated at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. What's preventing them from setting off an outbreak in the U.S.?
Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol, who were working with a missionary aid group called Samaritan's Purse, were accompanied by personnel wearing protective clothing. And the hospital has a containment unit for dangerous infectious diseases.

"The staff is practicing stringent precautionary techniques," Dr. Murthy says.

So there's virtually no chance of an outbreak?
That's right.

"Catching Ebola requires extremely close contact with infectious body fluids," Dr. Klausner says. "It's not an airborne infection, and it's not carried by a tick or mosquito."

How is the outbreak being contained in Africa?
The WHO plans to provide $100 million for additional medical experts and supplies, and the CDC is sending 50 more experts to the region in the next few weeks. These workers will improve laboratory operations in an attempt to speed up Ebola testing.

The CDC also is helping with airport screenings to prevent sick people from traveling out of the affected areas.

But even in the best-case scenario, it will take least 3-6 months to stop further spread of the disease, warns CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, M.D.



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