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Worst Ebola Outbreak Ever In Africa
Topping the news, over even all the wildfires and floods and climate-driven natural disasters all over the world (which ARE regularly big news stories now) and even the war between the Israelis and Palestinians in Gaza, the Ebola virus outbreak in western Africa is raising concerns.
Ebola was the star of a couple of epidemic books and movies. Its a scary one as diseases go– a 90% death rate as victims bleed out when their tissues lose cohesion and they sort of melt internally. YUCK. Luckily, it only passes through contact with contaminated bodily liquids. In Africa, funeral practices tend to help this illness spread.
However, 2 American health workers were stricken and have been flown to the U.S. to be treated in these special plastic tent chambers to help prevent contamination. Though its hard to get, some experts think bringing ill people into the U.S. is just plain stupid, and I can't blame them.
Ebola pops up periodically in Africa, kills a few dozen people or even over a hundred, and disappears again. However, this time its killed several hundred and has spread over a wider area than ever before during an outbreak.
The bad news is that there is up to a 21 day incubation period, so a carrier of Ebola can pass it around through sexual contact, even deep kissing, or if they become injured and bleed, etc. So it doesn't catch easily, but it can get passed around family and loved ones and go from there. Especially in areas where personal hygiene isn't a priority.
So… I'm not freaked out or anything. The only way I would be truly concerned is if a variation of the virus developed to spread through the air. Its a remote possibility- such things happen every now and again. Still, its wise to keep an eye out for such news and keep track of how its all playing out.
Source: http://lucretiasheart.livejournal.com/1057438.html
