Question 1

how did the ebola virus start? how did it get into the u.s.?

Accepted Answer

Ebola Virus: Ebola is a filovirus (Filoviridae). The genomic fossils of filoviruse family that impact mammals have likely existed tens of millions of years. Viruses mutate over time. The first recognized Ebola outbreak was in 1976.  Some individuals who became infected by Ebola in Africa traveled to the US  - there by leading to US cases.

Question 2

has their ever been a case of someone having the ebola virus in the u.s.?!?!

Accepted Answer

No: But there was scare about an airborne ebola virus (that luckily didn't cause illness in human) outside washington, dc in the early 1990s.  Read richard preston's the hot zone for details about that.

Question 3

is of possible for anyone in the u.s. to contract the ebola virus from just day to day contact ?

Accepted Answer

Not likely: Transmission from person to person is not from casual contact.

Question 4

what exactly is the ebola virus?

Accepted Answer

Bad: Ebola virus is a filovirus found primarily in central  africa that causes  a hemorrhagic fever that is frequently fatal.  One strain called ebola-reston caused  quite an outbreak in monkeys imported from the philippines in reston, virginia that did not cause disease in people. Spread by contact with blood and body fluids, an outbreak is currently occurring in uganda (july 2012).

Question 5

how could one avoid ebola virus?

Accepted Answer

Don't go where it is: The first and most important risk factor for Ebola is:  Travel to west Africa.  

It is really that simple.  You can't catch it by casual contact and it is not thought to be airborne.  Therefore, staying away from areas where Ebola is endemic (common in that area) is the surest way to avoid it.

Question 6

how long is an "ebola" virus alive?

Accepted Answer

Ebola: Viruses are not "alive" in the sense that they can live independently. They require a host cell in which they alter the cell's metabolism to create new virus. This will not live very long outside the body unless on moist specimens from an infected individual and is usually transmitted by direct contact with the secretions of the infected patient. Bats have been implicated in transmission.

Question 7

what is the downside of ebola virus?

Accepted Answer

Everything: There is no upside.  The downside is everything about ebola, the inability to prevent it once infected, the high virulent nature of the infection the horrible death leaving a corpse which can continue to be infective.

Question 8

how is the  ebola virus transmitted?

Accepted Answer

Human body fluids: By contact with the body fluids of infected people.  Some animals presumably serve as reservoirs of infection between human outbreaks, but the details haven't been worked out.

Question 9

can we use nano silver for ebola virus?

Accepted Answer

Ebola: Hi, there is no effective treatment to this date for Ebola although American Scientists just introduced a new experimental drug to the market recently but not sure if that's working. I'm not sure where you got the info about Nano Silver, just  wash your hands, avoid contacting with sick people body fluids, avoid contacting dead animals.

Question 10

what can you tell me about the ebola virus?

Accepted Answer

Ebola Virus: Ebola is a filovirus (Filoviridae). It can cause a hemorrhagic fever. There is currently an outbreak in Liberia, Sierra Leone &amp; Guinea of the Zaire strain. There is a separate outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with 67 cases that has been controlled. The fatality rate for the West African Outbreak has just been updated to approximately 70%.

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Ebola virus in children

A member asked:

How did the ebola virus start? how did it get into the u.s.?

A member asked:

Has their ever been a case of someone having the ebola virus in the u.s.?!?!

A member asked:

Is of possible for anyone in the u.s. to contract the ebola virus from just day to day contact ?

A member asked:

What exactly is the ebola virus?

A member asked:

How could one avoid ebola virus?

A member asked:

How long is an "ebola" virus alive?

A member asked:

What is the downside of ebola virus?

A member asked:

How is the ebola virus transmitted?

A member asked:

Can we use nano silver for ebola virus?

A member asked:

What can you tell me about the ebola virus?

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