Ebola USA: Facts Not Fear

With the death of the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola in the United States, as well as its first transmission in this country, concern about the deadly virus is growing.

The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working with other groups to clear up myths and quiet fears about the spread of Ebola in the U.S.

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The numbers are staggering -- at least 8,033 people in West Africa have been infected with Ebola and more than 4,000 have died, according to the World Health Organization. The WHO notes that these figures underestimate the true scope of the outbreak, as overwhelmed responders fall behind in their ability to report cases. Health care workers also continue to fall ill: 232 of the 401 health workers stricken by Ebola in West Africa have died.

With the spread of the virus to the U.S. can be cause for alarm, CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden said there are protocols in place to stop Ebola.

"The existence of the first case of Ebola spread in the U.S. changes some things and it doesn't change some things," Frieden said on Oct. 13. "It doesn't change the fact that we know how Ebola spreads. It doesn't change the fact that it's possible to treat Ebola safely. But it does change substantially how we approach it."

What are the symptoms?

Initial symptoms include fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. These symptoms are followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function and sometimes internal and external bleeding, according to WHO.

Symptoms usually appear 8-10 days after infection, according to the CDC. WHO says lab tests of contaminated individuals find low white blood cell and platelet counts.

Ebola only spreads when people are sick, the CDC says. A patient must have symptoms to spread the disease to others.

After 21 days, if an exposed person does not develop symptoms, they will not become sick with Ebola, according to the CDC.

What are the effects of Ebola on humans?

Ebola can be spread to others only after symptoms have begun. Symptoms can appear from two to 21 days after exposure. There is currently no vaccine for the Ebola virus.

Progression of illness if left untreated:

Days 5 to 9: Fatigue, headache, fever, chills

Day 10: High fever, vomiting, blood, rash, passive behavior

Day 11: in a small fraction of cases, bleeding from nose, mouth eyes and anus.

Day 12: Patients may develop seizures, internal bleeding, loss of consciousness, death.

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