With the first case of Ebola being reported in the U.S., the public fears of a possible outbreak increase. Don't panic! Dustin Hoffman isn't going to capture a monkey for the antidote and save us all. This isn't Hollywood.

Ebola isn't an airborne virus. It's not contagious through the air like the flu, but through bodily fluids.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says 'Ebola poses no substantial risk to the U.S. general population. Ebola causes a lot of public worry and concern, but CDC’s mission is to protect the health of all Americans, including those who may become ill while overseas.'

Thomas Eric Duncan of Dallas, Texas contracted Ebola after a recent trip to West Africa, where the disease has killed more than 3,000 people. Despite the outbreak in West Africa, the CDC is confident they can stop the Ebola virus from spreading in the U.S.

The CDC has provided tips on reducing the risk and disease symptoms.

Ebola Prevention measures from the CDC:

-Wash hands frequently or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
-Avoid contact with blood and body fluids of any person, particularly someone who is sick.
-Do not handle items that may have come in contact with an infected person’s blood or body fluids.
-Do not touch the body of someone who has died from Ebola.
-Do not touch bats and nonhuman primates or their blood and fluids and do not touch or eat raw meat prepared from these animals.
-Avoid hospitals where Ebola patients are being treated.

Ebola Symptoms from the CDC:

-Fever (greater than 38.6°C or 101.5°F)
-Severe headache
-Muscle pain
-Weakness
-Diarrhea
-Vomiting
-Abdominal (stomach) pain
-Unexplained hemorrhage (bleeding or bruising)

Symptoms could appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure to Ebola. The average is 8 to 10 days.

Travel Alerts:

Level 3: U.S. citizens should avoid all nonessential travel to Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
Level 2: Nigeria. Travelers to Nigeria should take enhanced precautions
Level 2: Democratic Republic of the Congo. A small number of Ebola cases have been reported there.

Most people who become infected with Ebola are those who live with or care for people who have already caught the disease. So unless you've traveled to West Africa or have come in contact with an Ebola patient, you should be fine.

Learn more at CDC.gov.

 

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