[OneWingedShark]

I think the point is more the vector of spread: how many people are exposed to such bodily fluids? (Most people go out of their way to avoid them.)
Those that have contact [parents and baby-sitters] can be fairly sure of their kid's condition regarding Ebola-infection (unless they're irresponsible and sending them to daycare and/or public school — who knows what filth is there). And the remaining are people that have such exposure (nurses, doctors, etc) should already be aware of this.

IOW, the news-hype is just that: hype.
Take a good, calm breath and consider the actual facts and plan on that; nobody needs you running around in hysterics, not even you.

[dr_lew]

IOW, the news-hype is just that: hype.

Well, let's have the news facts. New Ebola cases per day are ... rising? falling? ... confined ? unconfined ?

I believe the latter answers pertain, so ...

[Greysard]

I think the point is more the vector of spread: how many people are exposed to such bodily fluids? (Most people go out of their way to avoid them.)

That Liberian civil worker, who flew in two airplanes and then collapsed in a Nigerian airport, is a good example. How many people were exposed to his bodily fluids? (That includes sweat, for example, that he left on every handrail and every door knob and on every cup that he returned to the cabin crew. Say nothing about the leftovers of his coffee, with his saliva in it. Where did they go?) How many people went out of their way to avoid him in the confined space of the airplane? Another concern is that initial signs of Ebola are not much different from a flu, and a person might be contagious even before he knows that he has it. This Liberian was not a slum dweller - he was an educated man; and still he did all the unsafe things that he did. What can be expected from a less educated person, from one who all his life used Aspirin as a universal cure?

The possibility of bioterrorism is also real. There is no way to detect a virus in someone's body, and there are many ways to spread that virus in a large city. Africa has no borders, and many Islamists are born in Africa; it's their home.

Nobody argues that people should run in circles, scream and shout. That is not very productive. However it is advantageous to remain informed and always have plan B just in case an unlikely unfortunate event occurs. It is true at this time that death from Ebola is not very likely (even in Africa.) However just a century ago the Spanish Flu killed from 50 to 100 million people, and 500 million were infected. Nobody expected the Spanish Flu - but it came nevertheless.

[Praxeologue]

And the remaining are people that have such exposure (nurses, doctors, etc) should already be aware of this.

What do you say to a doctor who took all the precautions and still contracted Ebola?

We are not certain about the vector. For example "bodily fluids" can be airborne as vapor.

This uncertainty is the main reason for the current concern.

[Ann Archy]

uh....viruses MUTATE and Ebola has been found to airborne!!!