If I read it correctly it's akin to cigarette or cigar smoke in relatively small space where the smoke swirls in the inital turbulence and resolves into a cloud. A cloud which is sustained for rather long periods of time as in a bar with several smokers.
Following that train of thought it may well be that in the open air there is quicker and higher dispersion of smaller contaminated droplets.
Search for the Ebola photos and you will see that many if not most of the field hospitals are very light gauge tents with plenty of air getting through.
If this is the case than it may well have been overlooked and underestimated as a mode of transmisability of this flavor of Ebola, and maybe previous ones, Reston standing out. An enclosed space may be the very worst place to be absent strict isolation protocols.
Now multiply the 36" by the factor 200 mentioned in your article we faced with an outer limit of an astonishing 600 feet, or two foot ball fields. How the hell do you test for that in labs?
My quick seat of the pants summary thought is that the lingering and dispersed cloud effect may explain the high casualty rate among the health workers.
Again I refer to the photos on the web. We see health workers being sprayed down with 10% bleach solutions (low velocity hand sprayers) before removing their PPE kit. How far removed are they from the infected patients? Do they remain within range of the "ebola mist cloud"? Seems like it from the photos doesn't it?
That's close enough for me to call it air borne.
I felt about the same about it. Airborne for minutes may not be the same as for hours in the case of influenza, but it still means that I can cough or sneeze it into the air, and someone who doesn’t touch me can still get it.
Again I refer to the photos on the web. We see health workers being sprayed down with 10% bleach solutions (low velocity hand sprayers)
before removing their PPE kit.
How far removed are they from the infected patients?
Do they remain within range of the "ebola mist cloud"?
Seems like it from the photos doesn't it?
That's close enough for me to call it air borne.(Emphasis mine )
EXACTLY my thought as well !
These treatment areas are generally hastily set up temporary emergency bivwac centers of convass, tyvek, or other collapseable fabric.
Little thought is given to positive airflow pressure in the staff medical unit, and rarely is the bottom of the bivwac secured to the ground.
Given the hot climatic tempertures, then add the heat and humidity (human activity) of the PPE suit and eagerness to get out of the PPE ,
I am sure that they are in close proximity to treated patients , and therefore more probably exposed to suspended droplets in the air.
Let's at least hope that the CDC has bio-suits that use the airhose 'tail' for climate control and positive pressure air flow