• Question: how does ebola spread?

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      Asked by 746newg29 to Aoife, Brian, Conor, Louise, Matthew on 16 Nov 2016.
      • Photo: Aoife Lucid

        Aoife Lucid answered on 16 Nov 2016:

        Ebola is spread through bodily fluids, that’s why it was such a big problem in places where they do not have good sewage or plumbing systems as there is often sewage running in the streets which spreads the disease rapidly.

      • Photo: Matthew Kitching

        Matthew Kitching answered on 16 Nov 2016:

        Hi

        the ebola virus is pretty nasty – and it can be spread really easily. The world health organisation say – close or direct physical contact with bodily fluids (blood, etc) – you can even catch it from surfaces that have been in contact with these fluids.

        but good news! you can’t catch it through coughs and sneezes! (like some movies say you can)

        hope this answers your question – let me know if you want to know more 🙂

      • Photo: Louise Mc Grath

        Louise Mc Grath answered on 16 Nov 2016:

        Hey!

        When an infection occurs in humans, the virus can be spread to others through direct contact, i.e we touch them. Direct contact includes through broken skin or mucous membranes in, for example, the eyes, nose, or mouth with blood or body fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola.

        Or else it can be spread through the use of objects (like needles and syringes) that have been contaminated with body fluids from a person who is sick with Ebola or the body of a person who has died from Ebola.

        Sometimes even infected fruit bats or primates (apes and monkeys) can spread the virus onto us!

        If you stay away from people and things that might have Ebola then you should be safe!

        Louise =)

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