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The USAMRIID BlueBook does NOT confirm natural aerosol transmission of Ebola virus. The fact that infection can occur in a highly artificial laboratory environment using mechanically generated aerosols sprayed directly into animals’ faces does NOT establish that aerosols can be generated in the respiratory tract during the course of a natural infection. Some hospital procedures can generate aerosols or droplets (physician colleagues tell me that droplets are generated, not aerosols)—but, again, that is not something that we would ever see outside of a health care facility.

**IF** you happened to be sitting on a bus next to someone with Ebola, and **IF** that person happened to sneeze on you (Ebola does not cause sneezing, but something else could make them sneeze) and **IF** their snot contained blood, then you possibly could get Ebola. And that would be a direct transmission, not aerosol. That is why the CDC guidelines say that a high-risk contact is someone who has spent a prolonged period of time within 3 feet of an Ebola patient.

I am genuinely curious about why people want so desperately for Ebola to be an airborne disease. Despite the many efforts of the CDC, WHO, etc., to inform people how Ebola is actually spread, and how to protect oneself (stay away from Ebola patients, DOH)—people still want to believe that Ebola is airborne, and seem upset that no one who is familiar with the disease will ever say that it is. Why? This makes no sense to me.

If Ebola transmitted naturally by an aerosol route, we’d currently be picking up the pieces following a worldwide pandemic with millions or hundreds of millions of deaths. That is assuming that it would have the same CFR if it were a respiratory disease, which is a big assumption. Even in the cities where Ebola continues to spread—places with rather high population densities—Ebola has not spread to engulf the entire city (as it would have already done if it were highly contagious), but has affected relatively few people.

There is, however, a disease that is thought to transmit by aerosols, and causes thousands of deaths in the US alone every year. It’s called influenza. People who desperately want to be scared of an airborne disease have a perfect candidate right there. This year, the predominate strain circulating is H3N2—which usually causes a more severe flu season with higher numbers of deaths. I know, influenza is a killer but it is a familiar killer, so it is not scary.

I am genuinely curious about why people want so desperately for Ebola to be an airborne disease...

I've seen no evidence that anyone wishes for Ebola to be an airborne disease. Can you point someone out?

Despite the many efforts of the CDC, WHO, etc., to inform people how Ebola is actually spread, and how to protect oneself (stay away from Ebola patients, DOH)

All the 'experts' involved have admitted they dropped the ball...Obama says they should have geared up the CDC for the first case in Texas...the CDC assured us virtually any hospital with a private room and toilet is capable of handling Ebola cases...OOPS! Obama has spoken about incorporating "lessons learned" going forward.

The head of WHO says they dropped the ball, too...they didn't realize how hard and fast it would hit...she says the transmission rate is unlike anything they've experienced before regarding Ebola...the doctor who discovered Ebola has been scathing in his criticism of all the professionals involved.

So, if there's any lesson to be drawn, it's that the "experts" are not up to the job. During the same press call Dr. Tom, the head of the CDC said you didn't have to worry about catching Ebola from riding on public transportation...then said if you believe you may have it you shouldn't use public transportation, so you don't pass it on to someone else.

Obama spoke of "lessons learned." The public are the ones who should be "learning the lessons," not the "experts."

They have no credibility, which is why it's sensible to prepare for the worst.