Oh well...bound to happen eventually... Ebola is not spread like the cold or the flu. You could be sitting next to someone who is infected and still not contract the virus. It’s transmitted by very close contact with people who are sick or with their bodily secretions, such as blood, urine, and feces. It isn’t spread through the air like most other viruses. It’s usually contracted by people who are taking care of a sick person – either a health care worker in a medical setting or by someone taking care of a sick family member at home.
Or driving someone to the airport as happened recently over in Africa..
“You could be sitting next to someone who is infected and still not contract the virus.”
Then how did Patrick Sawyer (Nigeria patient 0) infect the Nigerian doctor sitting next to him on the flight? And then 18 others?
Famous Last Words
d:^)
Not so.
Nancy Writebol wasn't in contact with patients, but caught Ebola from contamination on protective gear others had worn, for one well documented instance. The virus remains active for hours outside the human body in secretions, the ID50 dose is one to ten viral organisms, and any mucous membrane, inhalation of droplets, contact with the eyes, or any open wound can lead to infection. There is debate about transdermal infection, as motorcycle cab drivers in Liberia were coming down with Ebola, possibly by contact with sweaty passengers.
In short, we know what vectors definitely deliver a high viral load, but we are still sketchy on how little and what low load vectors effectively transmit the virus, mainly because most of those who were in low contact situations in Africa were also in high load contact situations as well.
It took Kimberly Bergalis being infected with AIDS with a dentist's drill before anyone believed that anything but IV drug use or sexual contact would spread that disease.
With the CDC downplaying the danger and doctors in Africa describing the disease as "highly contagious", who are you going to believe?