No, Seriously, How Contagious Is Ebola?

[longship]

9. And that is determined by a variety of factors.

1. It only takes very few viral particles to infect a person, presuming that they get within your body. That's why washing hands and not touching your face are so important.

2. But other than that, it is not easily transmitted. It is not airborne, and is not likely to become so (no matter what the screaming meemies are screeching). So we have that going for is.

One might say, but, but, but, it's spreading like wildfire in West Africa and people there are saying that it could infect many thousands within a few weeks. What if it comes here?

There was no doubt that it would come here. The question is, what happens when it does?

3. The reasons why it is spreading in West Africa are the reasons why it will not spread here.

3a. West Africa has horrible medical and government infrastructures, amongst the worst on the planet. They are uniquely ill equipped to handle this, both medically and administratively.

3b. West Africa has cultural heritage -- E.G., burial practices, distrust of government and western medicine -- which help promote the spread of the virus. For Christ sakes, they mobbed and attacked an Ebola Ward to free the patients! Not good for containing the infection.

Just for DUer's info.

Relax people.