Hi. I am actually pretty phobic about epidemic illness and contagions. I wanna know about the Ebola outbreak u wrote about but am too scared of how I may react to the way news may sensationalize or editorialize possible futures. Any way I could ask u for just the basic deets and any food/behaviors I should avoid?

heroes-get-made:

No problem.

Basically, there’s been an outbreak of the virus in Africa since February. So far, more than 700 people have died. The outbreak among humans has been caused by an outbreak among animals, particularly a few species that are commonly eaten, especially in rural, western Africa. These are not typical sources of meat like cows or goats or things you’d find on the farm. It’s what some people call “bush meat.” Anything you can eat to supplement your diet with some protein. This includes monkeys and rodents. People ate them and got sick. Then, their families and villages tried to help, and THEY got sick. 

Slowly, the disease spread. People have been quarantined. Some have survived. There’s about a 60% death rate for this virus in this particular outbreak, which is actually much better than the 90% that has happened in earlier outbreaks.

The disease is still reaching outward, and though is not blockbuster-level fast, it is steadily increasing, not decreasing, in the amount of people who are becoming infected. Recently, some doctors contracted the virus, and one very good specialist died from it.

Now, there are two infected Americans. These Americans are being flown in special airplanes operated by the Centers for Disease Control to an equally special facility in Atlanta, where it is hoped that their lives can be saved.

As of right now, there is no cure or vaccine, only treatment for the symptoms. However, a lab in Texas, several pharmaceutical companies, and the CDC itself are all working on treatments and vaccines, so it’s possible there will be a cure on the horizon.

Treating viruses is difficult, though. And if the World Health Organization can’t control the human infected (which it now says it can’t), then it’s daunting to suggest that it could control the animal infected. With that said, the mammals in question cannot simply go wherever they please. They are limited by climate and habitat. And people are being told not to eat bush meat during the outbreak.

Point being, don’t be scared. There are plenty of things you can do to protect yourself if the disease comes to wherever you are, but it’s quite possible it won’t, or if it does, we’ll be ready for it.

Just wash your hands, eat normal food, and keep yourself updated on the status of the infection.

Oh thank god in heaven there are scientists that are working on a vaccine. Thank you for clearing this up. I’ve been scared shitless. I am glad there are people like you on Tumblr