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Ebola

So, I just read a work of fiction where a terrorist group used weaponized Ebola virus to initiate a biological attack on the United States. Interesting read, that, because it talked about how horrible a death is involved with Ebola. Apparently, Ebola attacks one's internal organs, causing bleeding internally until one literally bleeds to death. It sounds like a particularly horrid, evil way to die.

However, it's not that particularly robust of a bug. It is deadly - around 80% mortality - so you definitely don't want it. But there is no evidence that the virus can be transferred through casual, incidental contact, and it is very unlikely that it can be transferred via aerosol (sneezes, breathing, etc). Our skins provide a very excellent defense against most viruses, and Ebola is no exception. The Ebola virus is transferred through contact with body fluids of an infected person. If basic precautions are taken, including washing one's hands frequently, there's no real reason for panic.

It is instructive to point out that more people have died of the flu in the same time period than have died of Ebola. The same precautions that one would take to prevent or reduce a flu outbreak/possible flu contamination are the same things that will be effective against Ebola.

I don't understand why there's so much concern about this. Scary? Yes. Should we be aware of it? Yes. Should we take basic precautions? Absolutely. Should the markets tank and people worry about entire governments collapsing? Yeah, I don't think so.

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