[ElenaM]

The fact is, we don't have experimental data on transmission in humans. We have experimental data on transmission in non-human primates and other animal models. The claims of transmission are based upon epidemiological information collected during outbreaks in central Africa. Epidemiological data is by definition incomplete and cannot answer questions like:

A. How much virus is required in a fluid millimeter of bodily fluid (saliva, blood, vomit, etc) to transmit the virus in X manner (contact, droplet, etc.)?

B. Which surfaces of the human body are capable of absorbing the Ebola virus and which are not?

C. At what point of infection is the virus able to passed to an uninfected human via which transmission vectors? What are the relative probabilities of each possible transmission vector?

Frankly, what we don't know about this virus and its course in the human body is a much longer list than what we do know.

[John W]

U.S. stock futures are down considerably half an hour ahead of the 9:30 a,.m. ET opening bell. Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq indexes are all off about 1.3% or more.

Stock markets in Asia tumbled earlier after Wall Street saw wild swings Wednesday before ending down 173 points.