Separating the Facts from the Fiction About Ebola as the Virus Surges
The ongoing Ebola outbreak in Africa is fueling a host of rumors about the deadly virus. While Ebola is certainly something to be concerned about, it is important to separate fact from fiction to avoid unnecessary panic. Here is the truth about some of the common misconceptions about Ebola.
Common Myths Surrounding Ebola
Myth: Ebola is airborne, waterborne, and spread through casual contact.
The truth is that, unlike more contagious viruses such as COVID-19, Ebola is spread when the bodily fluid of a person infected with the virus comes into contact with the porous mucous membranes of a non-infected individual. This means that Ebola is only spread through fluids such as sweat, blood, or urine coming into contact with membranes such as the ears, mouth, eyes, nose, genitals, or open wounds.
Because Ebola is not airborne, it takes closer contact with an infected person to pick up the virus. This mode of transmission explains why the virus is more prevalent in poorer areas of the world. Transmission is more preventable in the Western world, where healthcare workers naturally have more preventative tools at their disposal.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes on its website that casual contact with infected people is "low risk" behavior. The leading health agency defines casual contact as being within about three feet or in the room or area of care for a long period of time without the use of personal protective equipment.
Medical care providers in Africa have been working overtime to teach the community about the importance of good personal hygiene, notably washing hands with soap and water. Community members are also being instructed to bring sick family members to clinics rather than trying to care for them at home.
Myth: You can still pass Ebola to others after you beat it.
The truth is that most cases of transmission come from people who are exhibiting acute symptoms of the virus. It has been well documented over time that only those exhibiting the obvious symptoms of Ebola are contagious. This varies from COVID-19, a virus known for its asymptomatic spread.
The primary symptoms of Ebola are headache, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. The exception to this transmission generality is that a man who has had Ebola and recovered can transmit the virus through his semen for up to seven weeks after no longer showing symptoms.
Myth: It is dangerous to bring Ebola patients to the U.S.
The truth is that the U.S. is well equipped to treat Ebola patients while minimizing the risk to others. The American healthcare system is flush with an abundance of masks, gowns, gloves, and isolation units, protecting staff treating those who have contracted the virus. This is not the case in developing nations.
Related to this myth is the rumor that immigrant kids from Latin America will bring the virus into the U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita started this rumor years ago, arguing that unaccompanied immigrant children present a public health risk.
Myth: Ebola liquifies the body's organs, triggering bleeding from the orifices.
While it is true that Ebola can cause bleeding from the mouth, ears, eyes, and nose, this only happens in roughly 20% of cases. There is no truth to the rumor that the body's organs are liquified.
What does happen is that the virus generally causes multi-organ failure and shock as it weakens the blood vessels. The weakening of these vessels is what causes both the internal and external bleeding. The body is also not able to clot blood as effectively when infected with Ebola, amplifying the potential of bleeding.
Latest on the Ebola Outbreak
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is currently the epicenter of the latest Ebola outbreak. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed on social media on Sunday that “more than 900 suspected cases have been identified so far, including 101 confirmed cases.” The WHO now believes that there have been 220 deaths linked to the Ebola outbreak in DRC.
Local officials believe that the outbreak began in a rural area of the region. However, it has since spread to cities such as Goma and Bunia. Neighboring Uganda has confirmed seven cases and at least one fatality.
Last week, the WHO raised the risk level to “very high” in the DRC and to “high” at the regional level. The world's leading health agency said that the epidemic risk is still on the low end on the international level. That said, the WHO warns that the cases are predicted to continue to increase in the weeks ahead, as the virus was circulating well before the outbreak was identified.
Complicating the containment effort is the fact that the virus is currently circulating in a part of Africa that is considered to be a war zone in some areas. Thousands of displaced residents and poorly equipped medical care facilities are creating a fertile breeding ground for the virus to spread.
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