In the United States, caregivers working closely with Ebola-afflicted patients have contracted the virus, in spite of wearing protective clothing and following CDC suggested protocols for avoiding infection. Loose monitoring of those who have had patient contact has already lead to local hysteria in communities where Ebola patients have been or are being treated. The media warns of doomsday scenarios, ramping up our anxieties.
How Safe Are We?
In fact, most of us in North America have little to fear from Ebola. To date, only four cases of the illness have been diagnosed outside of West Africa - three caregivers who had close contact with Ebola patients from Africa, and a man who arrived from Liberia after assisting an Ebola patient there.
There have been a total of 17 cases of Ebola treated outside of West Africa, mostly international aid workers who were brought back to their home countries for treatment after contracting the illness from patients they were assisting in West Africa. At present, a total of 400 caregivers have contracted the virus from close contact with their patients - two in the United States.
The chances of contracting Ebola in America are "extremely low," according to Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Though there have been and will continue to be a few isolated cases of local transmission, a wide-spread outbreak like the one occuring in Western Africa is not likely here.
Here's why.
How Do You Catch It?
Ebola can only be contracted by close contact with a patient actively suffering from Ebola symptoms. You cannot catch the virus prior to the onset of its symptoms, which are severe. You must have direct contact with bodily fluids, which will enter through a cut or fissure in your skin or your mucous membranes. Touching the bedding or clothing of an infected person can put you at risk, since even small amounts of body fluids on fabric can be infectious.
Patients who recover from Ebola can remain infectious for up to three weeks after the symptoms have improved. Because of that, they are kept in quarantine and closely monitored during this time. Unlike Western Africa, the United States has numerous large, well-equipped hospitals, where patients can be isolated and treated by top-notch physicians and nurses, with optimal resources. Careful monitoring and follow-up means that patients who have recovered from the illness will not have contact with the general public until at least three weeks after their symptoms have improved.
If you have not had direct contact with a person suffering from Ebola, you're probably good.
What Should We Worry About?
- Enterovirus D68 has affected roughly 700 children in the United States this fall. Its symptoms include extreme respiratory distress and rare instances of muscle paralysis. But even when the virus remains relatively symptomless, it can be deadly. Recently, a four year-old boy from New Jersey went to bed with a touch of what his parents thought was pink-eye and died in his sleep. A 21 month old toddler succumbed to the virus in Michigan. The virus may also be linked to several recent cases of neurological dysfunction in Colorado, Michigan, and Boston children. Though the Enterovirus is common in children, with somewhere between 10-15 million infections each year in the U.S, this particular strain is unusually fierce, and there is no vaccine or effective treatment.
- Influenza kills roughly 23,000 Americans every year, according to the CDC. Unlike Enterovirus D68 or Ebola, the flu is largely preventable through annual vaccinations. If you haven't had your family vaccinated against the flu, it isn't too late.
- Diabetes currently afflicts over 215,000 children and teens in the United States, according to the CDC. Complications of diabetes may include: glaucoma, cataracts, neuropathy, gangrene, amputation, skin disorders, heart and circulation problems, hypertension, depression, anxiety, mental disorders, loss of hearing, gum disease, gastroperisis, stroke, frequent infections, and other physical ailments. Of the 25.8 million adults and children in the U.S. that have diabetes, an estimated 7 million of those have yet to be diagnosed. Type 2 diabetes is largely preventable with a healthy diet and exercise. Drinking only one can of non-diet soda a day will raise your chances of getting Type 2 diabetes by 22 percent. Ninety (90) percent of diabetes cases in the U.S. are Type 2.
Increase Your Odds Of Staying Healthy
- Wash your hands often, especially after being in public places or caring for someone who is ill. Use regular soap; lather and scrub under the water for at least 20 seconds.
- Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, grains, and vegetables. Limit your consumption of red meat, sugar, and soft drinks.
- Get a yearly flu shot.
- Avoid direct or close contact with sick people, and stay at home if you feel sick.
- Drink plenty of water (up to 8 , 8 ounce glasses a day), and get 8 hours sleep every night.
- Exercise at least 15 minutes, three times per week.
- Take walks, and spend some time every day outdoors in the fresh air. Breathe. Relax.
Resources & Further Reading
The World Heath Organization: Ebola Virus Fact Sheet
Diabetes.Org: Are You At Risk of Diabetes?
The New Yorker: Ebola Vs. Flu
The New York Times: Ebola Facts
