So how at all is Ebola transmitted? Series Two

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Transmission of Ebola Virus.

There has been so much media hype and scare about the transmission of the Ebola virus. Ebola is not airborne and so containment is very possible. The situation is not as bleak as the hype puts it.

The first contact leading to an outbreak is believed to be zoonotic – from an infected animal (mostly bats) to human. This is tentative though as researchers have not yet been able to pin down on this hypothesis. It thus remains hypothetical for now.  

Following a successful zoonotic transmission, the remainder of the epidemic remains human to human though fresh zoonotic transmission is still possible. Once EVD is established, the possible routes of transmission are;

• ·         direct contact with the blood or secretions of an infected person
• ·         exposure to objects (such as needles) that have been contaminated with infected secretions.

Friends and family are the nearest at high risk of contracting the virus in the home setting as they are closer to the patient. The patient’s contacts in bus stations and public gatherings are also at risk but depend on the stage of the progression of the virus in the patient’s body. It takes approximately three weeks within which one can break down with EVD. You are less risky to the public if you have the virus and do not bleed or secrete body secretions or have family and friends come into contact with your body fluids. 

Health workers need to up their emergency response protocols. Adequate protective clothing are essential to gaping the spread of Ebola in health care workers.

Avoid body contact with travelers in the outbreak belt.

Stay tuned.