re: Dallas Ebola patient to be prosecuted, circle of contact increased to 100

quote:

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Is it because you feel that it might be more contagious, possibly even airborne?

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Ebola is a virus - one which mutates. Now HIV mutates very rapidly as well, and has never become airborne. Because of the structure/mechanism, I think it is unlikely for either, but the potential is definitely there.

Currently, Ebola is relatively infectious/contagious for a non-airborne pathogen. However, the real concern is the lethality.

People aren't scared of getting Ebola, yet (at least I don't think) - they're scared because they know that if they, or someone they know, get it, it is likely fatal.

Am I getting through to you?

I'm not scared of catching a cold because I've had colds before. Eat some soup, drink flat Sprite, stay warm, watch Star Trek: The Original Series - in a couple of days, I'll be fine. Ditto for the flu, although it will be worse and maybe take 3 to 4 days.

But, Ebola is a life or death struggle between patient and virus. I think this fact is what makes this different than the annual flu scare, or even something a little more serious, such as MERS.