Is Ebola Airborne?

Scientists have demonstrated in lab testing that the virus can pass from one animal to another through the air but only over short distances. So if you are in the same room as someone with Ebola you are in danger. If you are on the same plane or bus you are in danger. However if the guy living a few houses down your street has Ebola you are safe.

The current Ebola outbreak has spread quickly, with almost 9,000 confirmed and suspected cases across West Africa and almost 4,500 deaths. Experts say there could be as many as 10,000 new cases per week in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone by the end of this year according to the World Health Organization. This outbreak has the potential to kill millions in Africa in the next year if things continue to go the way they are.

Guinea Ebola Outbreak. Over 50 Dead.

Ebola Has A Death Rate Of 90%

There have been 29 confirmed deaths from hemorrhagic fever among 59 people killed by a mysterious illness in southeastern Guinea since early February. At least five of the dead in Guinea have been medical officials.

Health officials are trying to fight the outbreak of Ebola in Guinea and have dispatched specialized medical equipment, imposed restrictions on funerals and are seeking to contain the panic in order to prevent the fever from spreading.

Ebola has a fatality rate of 90% and U.N. health officials have expressed great concern that the disease may spread to Sierra Leone after cases showing similar symptoms, including diarrhea, vomiting and bleeding, were reported there.

Fortunately Ebola in its present form spreads only from direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected individual. However some experts fear the virus could mutate and become airborne. This would represent a hazard on a global scale. 

Ebola outbreak in Uganda said to be under control

World Health Organization officials says that authorities are halting the spread of the deadly Ebola disease. At least 16 people have died so far in this latest outbreak.

Ebola was confirmed in Uganda on July 28, several days after villagers started dying in a remote village. Ugandan officials were at first slow to investigate possible Ebola because the victims did not show the usual symptoms, such as coughing blood.

This is the fourth known outbreak of Ebola in Uganda since 2000, when the disease killed at least 224 people. Ebola is extremely infectious and kills its victims quickly.