I must note that the code phrase "bodily fluids" which is so often translated as sharing needles or sexual contact in American medicine and in the mind of the average American (thanks to AIDS), really means ALL bodily fluids in the case of Ebola, from tears and sweat to saliva, blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and by the time someone is symptomatic, feces as well.
Fomites are generally ignored, even though the virus is known to survive on surfaces (even dry) for hours up to indefinitely if the temperature is cold enough. For that reason, though, hotter temperatures more likely lead to perspiration, thinner clothing (and outdoor activities which could lead to open scrapes and cuts) which could lead to viral transfer from common contact surfaces (counters, handles, benches, etc.) and infection.
The whole concept that Ebola is "hard to catch" works best when you are an ocean away.
The people on the ground in Africa have described it as "extremely contagious".
I believe that most of these fluids must be contaminated by trace amounts of blood in order to become infectious. In this paper, virus was not found in acute phase sputum, tears, vomit, or sweat, and only 1 of 8 saliva samples tested positive for infectious virus. Some of these samples tested positive by RT-PCR, but that does not differentiate between live virus and nucleic acid from inactive viral particles. True, sample sizes are small. I have not seen a study that systematically addresses the question of infectivity of various bodily fluids (that isn't to say there is no such study--if there is one, I would love to see the reference).
Given that so few virus particles are necessary to establish an infection, infection control measures must be strict and thorough to prevent transmission.
I think it is easy to contain, but extremely virulent. Who is going to put their kids in the shed in the back yard waiting to see if they die? Sure, you might remain well, but you will go insane.
The body fluids come from every opening as your cells are destroyed. Not just the “obvious” ones at your ends. Sweat, tears, finger nails, nose, etc all leak. Your vomiting is projectile and ferocious. The diarheria is explosive. You thrash about in convulsions. This stuff is whipped all over the room.
Keep in mind at the beginng stages the medical personnel die first. Then, a good portion of them take off.
These are the facts as I have seen then described in Preston’s book and other, more recent publications.
Now, picture that scenario in a subway train. Or in Times Square.
In Preston’s book the army said that they had not done a lot of testing to see how long the virus remains virulent in a dry form. They indicated that would be deemed weaponization work. My guess is that they are full of crap and know exactly what it would do. tHAT is the part of this that scares the hell out of me when we see breakouts of multiple strains.
You forgot the most potent and overlooked of all, believe it or not.
Earwax.