Published on 13 October 2014, by M. Tomazy.
“The Ebola virus caused disease is not very contagious but relatively deadly. 40-70% of the Ebola infected people are likely to die from it. (That is not as deadly as life, mind you, as life has a total fatality rate of 100%.)
... The means of infection are well known, in general body fluids of all kinds from an infected person will carry the virus. That knowledge alone will help enough to decrease the number of newly infected people as more are warned and protect themselves when caring for an infected person. The epidemic will thereby die out within a few weeks.”
In the same topic, the Guardian is also mixing things up:
Discussion:
What does the term "contagious" mean? and what is the difference between contagious disease and infectious disease?
In the above mentioned pieces, the authors do not distinguish between contagious and infectious diseases as scientific terms.
Guardian's author titled a paragraph as "Ebola is highly contagious" while he begins talking about INFECTIVITY, he says: “Compared with most common diseases, Ebola is not particularly infectious”
In Moon of Alabama (one of my favorite and recommended blogs), the author is talking about MORTALITY, he says: “40-70% of the Ebola infected people are likely to die from it. (That is not as deadly as life, mind you, as life has a total fatality rate of 100%.)”, afterwards he wrote about mode of transmission.
The difference between infectious disease and contagious disease:
Infectious diseases are caused by microscopic germs (such as bacteria or viruses) that get into the body and cause problems. Some — but not all — infectious diseases spread directly from one person to another. Infectious diseases that spread from person to person are said to be contagious.
Some infections spread to people from an animal or insect, but are not contagious from another human. Lyme disease is an example: You can't catch it from someone you're hanging out with or pass in the street. It comes from the bite of an infected tick.
Contagious diseases (such as the flu, colds, or strep throat) spread from person to person in several ways. One way is through direct physical contact, like touching or kissing a person who has the infection. Another way is when an infectious microbe travels through the air after someone nearby sneezes or coughs.
Sometimes people get contagious diseases by touching or using something an infected person has touched or used — like sharing a straw with someone who has mono or stepping into the shower after someone who has athlete's foot. And sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are spread through all types of sex — oral, anal, or vaginal.
You can help protect yourself against contagious diseases by washing your hands well and often, staying away from those who are sick, making sure you're up to date on all vaccinations, and always using condoms during any type of sex.
—Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD
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| Ebola virus under microscopy |
