again, for the slow:
number of ebola deaths to date: less than 2,500
number of flu deaths on an average year: 23,607 (can be as high as 48,000+ on a bad year)
ebola has been bouncing around Africa for a long time and hasn't killed everybody. do ya really think it's gonna slam the U.S if Africa can survive decades of it?
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There is speculation that Ebola may be evolving and can be transferred through droplets, that means sneezes and coughs etc..
If that is true it may become as common as the flue?
I am a little slow, so what am I missing?
Here's an official CDC position about airborne transmission of Ebola:
CDC Q&A on Ebola transmission quote:------------------
Can Ebola spread by coughing? By sneezing?
Unlike respiratory illnesses like measles or chickenpox, which can be transmitted by virus particles that remain suspended in the air after an infected person coughs or sneezes, Ebola is transmitted by direct contact with body fluids of a person who has symptoms of Ebola disease. Although coughing and sneezing are not common symptoms of Ebola, if a symptomatic patient with Ebola coughs or sneezes on someone, and saliva or mucus come into contact with that person�s eyes, nose or mouth, these fluids may transmit the disease.
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That's not so worrisome - a little worrisome, but not too bad.
From the same Q&A webpage, here's CDC's official position about how long Ebola virus can live outside its host mammal:
quote:----------------
How long does Ebola live outside the body?
Ebola is killed with hospital-grade disinfectants (such as household bleach). Ebola dried on surfaces such as doorknobs and countertops can survive for several hours; however, virus in body fluids (such as blood) can survive up to several days at room temperature.
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Yes that's right, according to CDC, the Ebola virus could be alive and transmittable on surfaces in public places for several hours or even several days, depending on the situation. That info is not some sensationalized hype from a fear-mongering media outlet, it's from the foremost public health organization in the world.
These facts as presented by CDC show why we need to be aggressive with quarantines and travel restrictions before we have a problem here in the U.S. Not panic, just responsible aggressiveness is what we need and aren't getting from D.C.
