[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

I certainly don't want to blow smoke up anyones azz so please clarify this for me: If I am sitting next to someone with a regular old stomach virus, and they cough, isn't there a "spray" of that virus immediately in the air that I can breathe in? Isn't that how a cold or a stomach virus is transmitted?

And if my very small amount of knowledge about ebola is correct, the virus is transmitted through fluids, such as spray from a sneeze or a cough, or I am assuming fluids coming from the stomach or intestines. Would vomit not have a spray or splash as well, sending the virus into the air?

[palmer]

Isn't that how a cold or a stomach virus is transmitted?

Bronchial influenza infections transmit more easily with sneezes and "stomach" viruses are often influenza as well. Other stomach viruses spread from contact. The influenza viruses can aerosolize, IOW the viruses survive floating through the air. Ebola does not aerosolize but will survive within droplets.

Would vomit not have a spray or splash as well, sending the virus into the air?

The Ebola virus can be in the patient's saliva. Vomit also, but bloody vomit would have the most virus. Patrick Sawyer vomited blood flying into Nigeria and infected and killed the woman sitting next to him. Some flight attendants died too after clean it up with no protection or knowledge that it was Ebola. But 46 other people on that flight survived.

The bottom line that infection through the air at a distance is possible but droplets or direct contact is much more likely.

[tomkat]

Until irrefutable proof is presented to the contrary, I'm going with the assumption that ANY viral infection has the potential for airborne transmission.

And F the CDC toadies ..