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. With more than 10,000 confirmed cases, it is now one of the largest Ebola outbreaks on record. 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 US. 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) remains the epicenter of the outbreak, which began in May. The latest situation report from the DRC’s public health institute put the number of cases at 10,060, with those killed by the virus reaching 4,887. According to the CDC, the outbreak is spreading substantially faster than previous Ebola outbreaks and is now the second-largest on record.
This outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a rare form of Ebola for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment. That’s an important detail for anyone who assumes the existing Ebola vaccine will stop it. Researchers have begun testing vaccine candidates in a Phase 2/3 clinical trial in the DRC.
The virus has also spread beyond the DRC’s borders. As of Oct. 25, Kenya had reported nine confirmed cases, including two deaths, and Nigeria reported one case on Oct. 20. Uganda also recorded cases earlier in the outbreak, but its outbreak has ended.
The WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on May 17, and health officials continue to warn that cases could keep rising.
Complicating the containment effort is the fact that the virus is circulating in a part of Africa that is considered a conflict 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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