First Ebola infected patient reported in Dallas
SAN ANTONIO As the first U.S. Ebola patient is being treated at a Dallas hospital there are concerns about how far the virus will spread.
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People that need to be concerned would be those that have family members that have just come back from Africa or people who were exposed to the patient in Dallas that we know has Ebola said Dr. Anthony Hartzler an infectious diseases expert at the UT Health Science Center.
Ebola comes on like the flu with headaches body aches and fever but then causes bruising bleeding and organ failure.
Chances of surviving it are low but the good news is that it's not easily spread.
It's only spread by being in direct contact with people who are ill Hartzler said. By 'direct contact' that means touching them or being directly exposed to them or (their) bodily fluids.
In addition the virus is only spread when a patient is showing symptoms.
Since Ebola is not an airborne virus it's not spread through air water or food.
Hartzler said it's much harder to contract Ebola than the common cold or flu.
For example if someone with Ebola were to touch a door handle that would not mean it's contaminated. Even if someone with Ebola were to sneeze next to you Hartzler said it's still not likely you would contract the virus.
Although Hartzler said it is likely there will be more cases of Ebola related to the patient in Dallas he doesn't believe it would ever reach epidemic proportions.
In Africa they don't have resources. We have the resources we need to contain it. so there are very low chances of this becoming an outbreak in the United States he said.
The best way to avoid Ebola according to Hartzler is to avoid direct contact with anyone infected and avoid traveling to areas of Africa that are dealing with Ebola outbreaks.
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