Ebola in OH – A Common Sense Perspective

I've avoided writing about this topic for about as long as possible, but with my entire family being in Ohio, two nurses in the family, and the recent revelation about a second Dallas nurse who tested positive for Ebola a day after visiting family in Akron, OH, it seems like a good time to finally broach the topic. This isn't to say we've not had our share of call from people concerned with Ebola, because as the days have ticked by the frequency of calls has steadily climbed. So I wanted to go over a few things about Ebola, how it spreads, and touch on some things in terms of prevention. And keep in mind, while the first part of this is rather serious (and should be), there is some levity at the end.

_Halloween is Almost Here, but This Is NOT Gummy Worms - The Ebola Virus Under a MicroscopeFirst, though cases have been numbered in the single digits here in the U.S., Ebola has affected the African continent for the better part of four decades. Though known for that long, what this latest outbreak has shown us is that the American public knew little of the disease and that while infections can spread quickly in an increasingly interconnected world, panic and fear always spread faster.

Ebola is a virus that first made itself in 1976, and as of now, unless you're one of the tiny percent of East Africans who are naturally immune or have had and survived the disease, there is no known immunity or vaccine.

Just as a disclaimer, this description can be a bit intense for some readers. The Ebola virus attaches itself to cells, then once inside the cell replicates and causes the cell to burst, destroying the cell and spreading further. This bursting of cells is what triggers your body's inflammatory reaction – the flu-like symptoms of a fever, vomiting, severe headache, and weakness. The virus then attacks the immune system and uses it spread throughout the body. Ebola attacks all organs and disrupts the natural blood clotting process, causing what appears to be a rash under the skin and other internal bleeding. This is also where the name ‘hemorrhagic fever’ comes from. The destruction of cells and organs (organ failure) coupled with bleeding internally and externally is what causes the high mortality rates (nearly 60%) that we see with the Ebola virus.

So how does Ebola spread? It is EXTREMELY important to remember that though deadly, Ebola can only be spread by coming in contact with the bodily fluids of someone who is infected or items that have been contaminated by these things. It is NOT spread through the air. It is NOT spread through water. Symptoms can occur any time within twenty-one days of infection, but up until someone exhibits symptoms, they are not contagious.

Not to make light of the situation, but before fear completely takes hold, it's a good idea to ask a couple questions. Have I been around someone who has Ebola? Have I been in contact with the bodily fluids of someone who has Ebola? If I answer ‘no’ to these questions, then good news, I'm very likely ok! Yes, that's simplistic, but when you consider that this virus ONLY spreads by coming in contact with these things, you can see why it's a good idea to ask these questions before becoming overly fearful. As of this moment in time, you're more likely to be bitten by Luis Suarez (soccer player from World Cup) than to contract Ebola.

Still, with sensationalized coverage on every cable news channel, it's not difficult to get swept up into the fear of ‘what do I do?!’ And it's at this time, that it is good to remember the basics, some of the very same things that are recommended to help prevent the spread of other viruses.Combatting Ebola - Overkill For Most of Us

  • Wash your hands. Scrubby, scrubby! Thoroughly washing your hands is the most basic and easiest way to prevent the spread of any virus. Remember, hot water, and you don't have to do this aloud, but sing through ‘Happy Birthday’ twice, and you've likely got them good and clean.
  • Use hand sanitizer. Avoid ones with triclosan if possible and instead opt for an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Stop touching your face. At the very least, pay more attention to how often you do this. The average person touches his/her face 3-4 times per hour. Assuming you sleep eight hours, that's 50-60 times a day! Viruses enter the body, most often, through the mucous membranes of your eyes, nose and mouth or through broken skin.

There are additional things you can do, but the three listed above are the most basic and most helpful. Face masks are an option, but since the virus isn't airborne, wearing a mask most likely helps you by preventing you from touching your face. For healthcare professionals dealing with someone who is actually infected with Ebola, a HEPA respirator is a critical piece of personal protective gear, but for most of us however, an N95 (or better rated) mask will be very helpful in preventing the spread of the flu or Enterovirus D68.

Sign in Africa Telling You Handshakes Are Out But 'A Node' Is OK!You can also cut back on the handshakes. Seriously, limiting personal contact can be helpful in preventing the spread of any virus, but again, if the other person doesn't have the flu, Ebola or some other virus, or if you're not currently living in East Africa, this may be helpful but not terribly so.

Would an air purifier help? For Ebola, no. Again, it's NOT airborne. However, an air purifier equipped with UV or with antimicrobial filters WILL help with the flu and other airborne, seasonal viruses. Cleaning more is also good general advice. Disinfectants, when used properly, can kill microbes and germs that spread viruses. Lastly, avoid contact with bats. Bat soup should be off the table this Halloween.*

Is Ebola scary? Yes. Is it easy to catch? Unless you work in a profession where you are likely to come in contact with it, no. Common sense can be a very good friend when it comes to things like this, while fear and panic can spread faster and farther than any virus.

My mother is a nurse, but where she works, she is highly unlikely to come in contact with anyone remotely affected, so honestly, I worry more about her catching the flu repeatedly. My family all lives in Ohio, but again, the likelihood of any of them coming in contact with the bodily fluids of someone who has the virus is remote. A family member of mine will be flying in the coming weeks, and for her I've a bottle of hand sanitizer, and a mask – the exact same things I used when I flew this past spring, when Ebola was but a passing story on a far away continent.

*Seriously, ‘avoid contact with bats… and raw meat prepared from these animals’ is stated on the CDC site.

For more information, visit the CDCs Ebola site or for more information on this current outbreak, I

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.