With so much attention on the recent Ebola outbreak, it’s understandable that people would be worried about catching the disease themselves. However, it’s reassuring to know that this virus is much more difficult to transmit than some other diseases such as the flu or malaria. Here’s a look at the facts regarding Ebola transmission—while they may be a cause for concern, they’re by no means a cause for panic.
How It Spreads
Ebola is spread primarily through contact with body fluids, including blood, saliva, sweat, urine, vomit, feces, and semen. This contact must be direct, which means the fluids reach an open wound or the mucous membranes found in the eyes, mouth, and nose. Additionally, the virus can also be transmitted by coming into contact with materials that have been contaminated with body fluids. While this could include any number of objects, the most commonly contaminated ones are needles, syringes, and clothing. It is also possible for Ebola to spread via infected mammals other than humans, but this method of exposure is much less common than human to human transmission.
How It Doesn’t Spread
Contrary to popular belief, Ebola is not an airborne or waterborne virus, which means that being in the general vicinity of someone infected does not put a person at risk for catching the virus. Additionally, unlike other more common diseases such as malaria, mosquitoes cannot transmit the virus to humans.
How to Prevent Ebola Transmission
The best way to stop the spread of Ebola is to avoid contact with those who are suspected of carrying the virus. Since Ebola requires such specific requirements to spread, this is an effective precaution to take. It’s also important to remember that the virus can persist even after a person has died, and in the most recent West African outbreak, it’s believed that traditional burial rituals have increased the risk of transmission, as opposed to other regions where close contact with the dead is uncommon.
