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HIV/AIDS is primarily an intimate contact, lifestyle related disease. Since exposure is primarily the result of certain behaviours, exposure can be limited or eliminated by not engaging in those behaviours and avoiding people (as much as is possible) who do.

Piece of cake, especially for those in a rural setting.

However, (and especially in situations where there are large numbers of people transiting choke points) in urban areas limiting exposure to the virus may become problematical.

While all the basic hygenic safeguards one would use against the flu or to prevent catching a cold work to some extent, the virus is present in virtually any secretion, including sweat, from an infected person. Those secretions will be transferred to surfaces, and if you think about someone ill, the surfaces they are most likely to touch are those virtually everyone touches--especially handrails, counters, doorknobs, restroom fixtures, even elevator buttons. This is far more easily spread from human to human--no sexual contact or blood transfer required--although those would guarantee infection.

HIV/AIDSdoes not worry me. I don't hang with the people in the risk groups. For me, they are easily avoided.

However, avoiding the residues left by someone infected with Ebola may not be so simple.

Touch nothing you do not need to touch, wash your hands before touching your face, eyes, mouth, or any mucous membrane. Be especially careful to keep any wound, no matter how minor, from making direct contact with any surface, and for that matter, avoid becoming abraded, cut, or scratched.