Important Things You Need to Know About the World's Deadliest Ebola Outbreak [Read More]

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The deadliest Ebola outbreak in history is currently underway, according to the CDC, with the virus infecting victims in four African countries: Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and most recently Nigeria. So far, 672 people have died from the disease since the outbreak began this past winter, and over 1,200 have been infected. It was also recently reported that two American aid workers in Liberia have tested positive for the virus, according to NPR.

Ebola virus is an often fatal infection transmitted through direct contact with blood, bodily fluids, or tissues of infected animals or people, according to the World Health Organization. People infected with the virus can have horrific symptoms that start with fever, headache, muscle aches, stomach ache, and that can transform into vomiting, diarrhea, and even hemorrhagic symptoms (bleeding both internally and externally). 

So how worried should you be about contracting this deadly virus? For now, experts say that unless you live or travel to one of the afflicated countries, you are not at risk. "I want to underscore that Ebola poses little risk to the U.S. general population," said Stephen Monroe, deputy director of the CDC's National Center for Emerging Zoonotic and Infectious Diseases, during yesterday's CDC telebriefing. 

"Transmission is through direct contact of bodily fluids of an infected person or exposure to objects like needles that have been contaminated with infected secretions," said Monroe. "Individuals who are not symptomatic are not contagious. The mortality rate in some outbreaks can be as high as 90 percent, but in this outbreak, it is currently around 60 percent, indicating that some of our early treatment efforts may be having an impact."

The two American workers who have contracted the virus are still in Liberia, and at this time, no Ebola cases have been reported in the U.S., according to Monroe. "While it's possible that someone could become infected with the Ebola virus in Africa and then get on a plane to the United States, it's very unlikely that they would be able to spread the disease to fellow passengers," said Monroe, since the virus spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids. However, that doesn't mean that it's completely outside the realm of possibility. In fact, the first known Ebola case in Nigeria occurred when a man infected with the disease traveled via plane from Liberia to Lagos, Nigeria, where he later died, according to the CDC.

That being said, precautions are being taken to keep the outbreak contained, including border closings in Liberia and travel advisories from the CDC. They have also asked healthcare workers in the U.S. to make special note of the recent travel histories of their patients and watch out for the symptoms, including fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, lack of appetite, and in some cases bleeding.

For more information, you can visit the World Health Organization's update page on the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.