Ebola is no doubt a cause for concern, but much of the fear surrounding this virus is fueled by misinformation. This not only causes unnecessary worry for people but also may actually be hindering the efforts to contain it. Here are five of the most common myths associated with Ebola.
- "Ebola causes hemorrhaging."
It’s understandable that people would assume that the Ebola hemorrhagic virus would cause uncontrolled bleeding, but more often than not, this simply isn’t the case. While it’s true that some patients do experience bleeding from regions of the body such as the gums or genitals, these cases are in the minority—as few as 40% of patients experience it. Additionally, there is no evidence indicating those who do hemorrhage are at a higher risk of dying than those who don’t. - "Ebola is easily transmittable."
The Ebola virus can only be spread from person to person through contact with bodily fluids of the infected or objects (such as needles or clothing) that have been contaminated with these fluids. Because of this, the risk of transmission is actually quite low—much lower than that of the flu. Currently, there is no evidence indicating that Ebola can be spread through the air. - "The Ebola virus is the most dangerous disease on the planet."
Because of media hype, many people understandably believe Ebola to be one of the deadliest viruses on the planet. However, that honor goes to two much more common illnesses—malaria and the flu. In the most recent Ebola outbreak, approximately 7000 people have been infected and 3300 have died. When you compare these rates with those of malaria (200 million annual infections and 475,000 deaths) or the flu (5 million annual infections and 300,000 deaths), the virus starts to seem relatively mild. - "Ebola liquefies a patient’s organs."
This bizarre myth is often used as an explanation for why people bleed uncontrollably when infected with the virus. However, there is no evidence supporting it. It’s true that most people who die from Ebola do so because of the failure of multiple organs, but there is no research to support the idea that the virus actually liquefies these organs. - "Ebola means certain death for patients."
The current survival rate for patients in the current Ebola outbreak is roughly 50%. While this is not an encouraging number, it’s incorrect to assume that everyone who contracts the virus will die from it. Additionally, there are other factors that can contribute to the survival rate of people suffering from Ebola. One of the most important being their access to quality medical care. Many experts believe that the reason the most recent outbreak has been so devastating is due to the fact that West Africa does not have the necessary medical infrastructure to deal with such a big problem.
