Unlike respiratory illnesses like measles or chickenpox, which can be transmitted by virus particles that remain suspended in the air after an infected person coughs or sneezes, Ebola is transmitted by direct contact with body fluids of a person who has symptoms of Ebola disease. Although coughing and sneezing are not common symptoms of Ebola, if a symptomatic patient with Ebola coughs or sneezes on someone, and saliva or mucus come into contact with that person’s eyes, nose or mouth, these fluids may transmit the disease.
What does “direct contact” mean?
Direct contact means that body fluids (blood, saliva, mucus, vomit, urine, or feces) from an infected person (alive or dead) have touched someone’s eyes, nose, or mouth or an open cut, wound, or abrasion.
How long does Ebola live outside the body?[/h]Ebola is killed with hospital-grade disinfectants (such as household bleach). Ebola on dried on surfaces such as doorknobs and countertops can survive for several hours; however, virus in body fluids (such as blood) can survive up to several days at room temperature.
Just saw on the news this morning, the guy threw up in the parking lot of the apartment as he was heading to the hospital. I think the situation is worse than they are saying.
The hospital completely blew it. Wonder after the authorities found out he vomited at an apartment if they sent out a hazmat team or decontamination crew.
Texas officials announced they have placed the family of the man diagnosed in Dallas with Ebola under quarantine just as the Liberian government said he will face criminal charges.
Officials hand-delivered the order to Thomas Duncan's relatives Wednesday night after they reportedly violated an official request to not leave home, WFAA reported. The Liberian citizen reportedly lied on his health form to gain entry to the U.S.
Duncan's family is now under a strict quarantine until October 19. They are legally prohibited from leaving their Dallas home for any reason.
"We have tried and true protocols to protect the public and stop the spread of this disease," Dr. David Lakey, Texas health commissioner, said in a statement posted to Facebook. "This order gives us the ability to monitor the situation in the most meticulous way."
Duncan lying on his health form has prompted Liberian officials to announce they will file criminal charges against him for carrying the deadly virus through Europe and two U.S. cities, the Associated Press reported.
The exposed family members have not yet shown symptoms, but officials announced Wednesday plans to keep them under observation for 21 days. Included in the quarantine are five schoolchildren.
The order covers Ebola's incubation period. Individuals infected with the deadly virus often do not show symptoms for several days.
Those relatives are also required by law to provide blood samples for testing as requested by health officials and also to immediately report symptoms.
Officials also announced Thursday morning they believe as many as 100 people were exposed to Ebola by Duncan since his arrival in the U.S.
Infected people are not contagious until symptoms are visible. Those symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever and headache.
Individuals under quarantine face criminal charges and even jail time if the order is violated.
When an infection does occur in humans, the virus can be spread in several ways to others. Ebola is spread through direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with
- blood or body fluids (including but not limited to urine, saliva, feces, vomit, and semen) of a person who is sick with Ebola
- objects (like needles and syringes) that have been contaminated with the virus
- infected animals
- Ebola is not spread through the air or by water, or in general, food. However, in Africa, Ebola may be spread as a result of handling bushmeat (wild animals hunted for food) and contact with infected bats.
The hospital completely blew it.
I think we should get tough and prevent ALL travel from infected countries, to include those who took a circuitous route through Belgium or wherever, or at least require quarantine before passengers can board a plane. And surely airport officials can determine where a traveler's journey began! From what I read, this disease is so bad that we need to take whatever steps are indicated to keep it from getting a foothold here, whether politically correct or not. Of course people are going to lie about being in contact with the disease -- they are trying to get away from it, and to admit they've been in contact with it will keep them off the plane. Quarantine for the incubation period is the only solution to keep infected people from just coming here.
An NBC camera man is now infected... The News crew is being put in quarantine and will then be brought home.