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How Contagious is Ebola?

Written by Sky Taylor, Diet Bites

What We Know About Ebola & Potency of Infection

We know that at this point about 9,000 people have contracted Ebola.

We know that about 500 healthcare workers have contracted Ebola - or about 16% of total cases. The workers consist of humanitarian volunteers, doctors, and nurses.

We know that the people who lived in close quarters and shared the same bathroom with the first US Ebola patient and who were quarantined did not succumb.

We know that nurses who worked with this patient in his sickest, failing hours of life AND who wore protective gear did succumb to Ebola.

We know that the people who disinfected the apartments have not succumbed. We know that the individuals who served quarantine notices and government representatives as well as city officials to the apartment did not contract Ebola. Note that these people had visited the apartment BEFORE decontamination.

We also know that the first Ebola patient [Mr. Duncan] on American soil flew to the United States from his native country of Liberia. It has been reported that he lived with his landlord whose pregnant daughter contracted Ebola. There, they shared the same bathroom.

Although the young woman was ill, it wasn't until Mr. Duncan assisted the family in getting her help that he contracted Ebola. Supposedly from witnesses in Liberia,they assumed the young woman was having issues with her pregnancy. She was seven months along.

The family ordered a taxi, asked Mr. Duncan to accompany them - to help carry her. He did and when they reached the pregnancy clinic she was placed on an IV. She became worse - so the medical team advised them to take her to an Ebola hospital. They did. Sadly, it was full.

The Ebola hospital told them to take her to another Ebola hospital. They did. It was also full. They had to return home and it was reported that the woman died at 3 a.m. in the morning, just hours after seeking treatment. It was also reported that she vomited on Mr. Duncan.

In addition, the young woman's brother succumbed to Ebola - the same time that Mr. Duncan started having symptoms. Unfortunately, the brother died shortly afterwards, in addition - sadly Mr. Duncan also succumbed.

There were also reports that family members came from far and wide to the young woman's funeral - and were not told that she had died from Ebola. It was also reported that the family members became furious when they learned how she had died.

It is customary in that culture for the dead to be kissed and handled. They are often bathed as preparation for burial.

Much of this story requires verification. Perhaps in time we will learn if these events were true, or not. BUT what we can decipher is that it appears from all of the above - that when the Ebola patient is at their sickest state, this is the most potent time that the illness can be contracted. However, most infectious diseases have stronger disease-spreading abilities before an individual knows they have been infected.

While Mr. Duncan lived with the family, it wasn't until he made contact with this young woman during her final hours that he became infected. We can gather this from the timeline of Ebola - that 2-21 day window before symptoms appear.

We also see that the nurses who succumbed to the virus had been listed as treating Mr. Duncan when he was at his sickest and near death. This is also the case of the nurse in Spain who attended to the dying priest.

In addition, the photographer who contracted Ebola and treated in the United States supposedly washed the car of a person who had died from Ebola - or who had occupied the car.

The water supposedly splashed onto the photographer and after that, he started showing symptoms. So handling a patient at their sickest - as well as handling a dead Ebola patient pose the highest risks - from what we've witnessed thus far.

Surfaces & Items Contaminated With the Ebola Virus, How Infectious Are These Items?

We've been told numerous stories and fed different information regarding this topic. The public has asked about door knobs, airplane seats, ambulance stretchers, porch and stair railings, and other surfaces that could become contaminated at the local market or other business - and the risk involved for touching these surfaces which may have been contaminated by an individual who has Ebola.

Only Bleach Kills Ebola Virus?

We were told that the virus does not survive long outside of the body, so there was nothing to worry about. We were then told that if we washed our hands, that would kill the virus in the event that we'd touched a contaminated surface.

Then we were told that only bleach would kill the virus. We were told that sunlight would kill the virus - as well as other cleansers. So many different stories and recommendations - it's all made this major health issue very confusing for the public - who only wants to learn the truth so that they can take precautions to protect themselves and their family.

Nonetheless, we've also been told that in certain circumstances the Ebola virus can survive for several days outside of the body, particularly when wet and not subject to light. An example might be an infected person vomiting on the sidewalk and another individual unknowingly coming into direct contact with the vomit.

For now, perhaps a good solution would be wearing protective gloves when mingling with the public - particularly when among a crowd. In addition, wash hands frequently with soap - at least half a minute before thoroughly rinsing.

Are Ebola-Contaminated Items Still Contaminated?

We don't understand the controversy of destroying the items which were removed from the apartment that the Ebola patient was living in - if the virus has a limited shelf life. At this point, it should be dead - yet no one wants to take care of the refuse because of its 'contaminated state'.

Boosting Your Immunity, Your Best Effort in Fighting Ebola

Until a vaccine is developed - and we feel that in 2015 that is a probability, the best method for reducing your chance of contracting Ebola - other than avoiding infected people, is to boost your current immunity level. A virus or bacterium is challenged when attempting to enter the healthiest of bodies.

Ebola in the United States: Boosting Your Immunity - Tips for boosting your immunity to avoid a potentially deadly virus.

In Summary

From what we have witnessed, Ebola is very difficult to catch in its early stages but highly contagious in its later stages. But who wants to take risks, right? Even the CDC has stated that unless temperature is above 101.5º it is not cause for alarm.

Yet, the nurse who contracted Ebola from treating Mr. Duncan - and who flew from Cleveland, Ohio to Dallas, Texas with a 99.5º fever has caused the CDC's actions to speak louder than words. While their guidelines state that the low grade fever isn't at the level of meeting actual 'symptoms' of Ebola, they are seeking to talk with passengers who shared the flight with the nurse.

Let's start to use our brains, shall we?

One final note about fever level and the CDC guidelines. Just a few days ago we penned an article and the CDC guideline symptoms for Ebola stated 'fever over 101º.

Since, it has amended the guidelines to 101.5º. We've also heard from doctors that the critical stage is 104.5º. In other words, it doesn't appear that the health community had agreed on this - and so no one knows that 'critical' degree of fever.

 

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