Ebola, and everything you need to know

     If you live in the United States, which statistically, most of the people who read this blog do, you've undoubtably heard news about the Ebola epidemic ravaging West Africa. And well, if you haven't, you need to crawl out from the rock you live under and turn on the news.

     The Ebola outbreak originated some 55 odd years ago on the Ebola River, with no significant threat to large numbers of people, and for a long time, there were small outbreaks, but really nothing to be worried about. However, as all diseases do, it mutated to become a perfect killing machine, first shutting down the immune system, leaving the body defenseless. Ebola works its magic extremely quickly, killing its victims in little under a week, with symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, internal and external bleeding, etc. Ebola can only be spread through direct contact with bodily fluids (which means not by coughing or sneezing), but this poses a greater threat in West African than in America, where we like to keep our personal bubble in tact at all times. It's traditional of a burial ceremony in much of Africa to wash down the loved one's body, and perform rituals, which if the personal died of Ebola, likely spreads the disease. When people in countries like Liberia began collecting bodies of those killed by Ebola, many residents were devastated and uncomprehending, some even going so far as to claim Obama himself had constructed the disease. Despite peoples' efforts, the disease is spreading, with more than 4,000 deaths in the last 6 months, and has even spread outside of Africa, to places like Spain and the United States.

     The first case of Ebola found in the United States was that of Thomas E. Duncan, a Texan resident just returned from Liberia, one of hardest hit countries in West Africa. Of course, with this recent development, many Americans were launched into a frenzy. Ebola in America, how could this happen? Am I safe? Is my family safe? How can I protect myself? While these are somewhat valid concerns, there is a very low risk of an everyday American contracting Ebola. How often does one come into contact with a random stranger's bodily fluids? I'd say not too often. Furthermore, unlike the flu, one is only contagious if showing symptoms. This does not mean that you shouldn't be cautious, as the threat of the spread of Ebola is not unrealistic.

     One way to help stop the spread of Ebola at its source is to donate to the foundations that are doing all they can to help the people of West Africa. They have hospitals set up, but they are few in number, and all filled to capacity. They turn away countless people every day for lack of room, and with nowhere else to go, they return home and spread the virus. Ebola is completely ravaging the countries of West Africa, with the country in turmoil as people die on the streets. It may not be a big threat in America at this time, but it is a very palpable threat to West Africans. Personally, I will be making a contribution to an organization to try and help as best I can in aiding the fight against Ebola. I think it's frustrating that often one of the only ways to help a cause is to open up your wallet, but really when a situation as dire as this comes along, we all really need to band together in order to put a stop to it.

Love Always,

- Nargles 10/13/14

UPDATE: Breaking news! Ebola virus rumored with the capability of being transmitted airborne! Get you masks, folks, we may end up needing them. - Nargles 10/16/14

Ebola: Airborne?

The Fight Against Ebola

Ebola Facts