Ebola, the fatal disease that is ravaging three rampant West Africa nations, recently made its debut in the United States, and it is hitting pretty close to home for many OU residents, as the first diagnosed case was discovered in Dallas. It is important to be educated about the disease and become aware of symptoms to keep yourself safe from catching the virus with a 50 percent fatality rate and no known cure.

Ebola is a deadly disease if untreated. The current outbreak in West Africa is the largest and worst epidemic in the history of this particular disease that first developed in 1976. According to the World Health Organization, over 4,000 people have died from Ebola, so far, in this current outbreak.

Ebola is transmitted through contact with the blood or bodily fluids of people who are infected. Humans are not contagious with Ebola until they show the symptoms of the disease; however, they can remain infectious long after they recover from the disease. For example, the virus can still be spread through the semen of men for up to seven weeks after they recover.  

In order to be on the lookout for carriers of Ebola, you have know the signs. Symptoms of Ebola begin with a fever, muscle pain, a headache and sore throat. These are all common symptoms for many illnesses, so the next round of symptoms is what is really important to recognize. These more serious and telling symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, impaired kidney and liver function and internal and external bleeding. While there is no licensed vaccine to cure the illness, there are treatments to cure specific symptoms that have significantly improved the survival rate of people infected with Ebola. There are also potential vaccines for the virus that are currently being tested for human safety.  

The reason it is so important for US citizens to be informed about this disease is, because it now directly affects us, as the first case of Ebola in the U.S. has been diagnosed in Dallas. The man who was diagnosed with Ebola, Thomas Duncan, contracted the disease in Liberia and flew to the U.S. However, he did not develop symptoms until after he was on U.S. soil. He was treated in isolation in a Dallas hospital and recently passed away. The people he came in contact with are being closely monitored. 

Doctors at the Dallas hospital are confident that they can prevent the spread of the virus. The first diagnosis of Ebola in the U.S. put the country on high alert. Outside of the Thomas Duncan case, there are as many as 100 other reported potential cases of Ebola in our country. Each of these 100 cases have been assessed with laboratory tests and been proven negative for Ebola.

The effect of Ebola on the U.S. has not yet taken a toll in terms of death of citizens, but it has taken an emotional toll. Awareness of the disease has increased dramatically, now that we know it has arrived in our country. It is affecting the way we live our lives, and has placed an element of fear in our hearts. This fear has already caused some Texas parents to pull their children out of school for fear they might contract the disease, according to ABC News.

Although hysteria over Ebola is understandable, we should not let it dictate the way we live our lives. There are prevention methods that can be taken to avoid contracting the virus.  Reduce contact with the human bodily fluids of others, such as blood and vomit, and also avoid touching surfaces that have been contaminated with bodily fluids. Washing hands frequently is also a good precaution to take.

The chances of an Ebola outbreak in the U.S. are highly unlikely. Our modern medical facilities are top notch and we have the means and ability to prevent the spread of Ebola. Anyone who came in contact with patient, Thomas Duncan, is being monitored. According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control) we will be able to successfully contain Ebola in the U.S.