On September 30th, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the first confirmed case of Ebola diagnosed in the United States in a person who traveled from West Africa.
The recent news of Ebola entering the United States has understandably raised fears in many. Ebola, although a serious virus, is not highly contagious. Ebola is passed by blood or bodily fluids through broken skin or unprotected mucous membranes. It is much harder for the general public to catch a virus like Ebola, than a virus that is spread through airborne particles like Influenza. Thanks to the United States’ sophisticated hospitals and medical facilities with appropriate sterilization and isolation processes, protective equipment like gloves, mask and and gowns; the chances of an Ebola epidemic here are slim. Those affected by the current West African outbreak have access to very few of these medical necessities, making it much easier for any disease to be spread in that area.
Still, it’s important to know the facts about a virus that has made such big headlines. Knowledge of Ebola, how it’s transmitted, and how to protect yourself is important in easing the fear of this virus. The infographic below includes answers to the most common questions about Ebola.
However, the most important thing for people in Northwest Arkansas to know is that we have no local cases, that you cannot catch Ebola from someone who has no symptoms, and that Ebola is not spread through the air.
The Truth about Ebola – An infographic by the team at http://www.datatrouble.com