Title: The Ebola virus: How is it contracted? What are the symptoms? How is it treated? - New York Daily News
Headings: The Ebola virus: How is it contracted? What are the symptoms? How is it treated?
The Ebola virus: How is it contracted? What are the symptoms? How is it treated?
HOW DO YOU GET IT?
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
HOW LONG BEFORE SYMPTOMS SHOW?
WHAT DISEASES SHOULD BE RULED OUT FIRST?
HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOURSELF?
HOW IS IT TREATED?
WHERE ARE THE OUTBREAKS?
HOW ARE U.S. OFFICIALS HANDLING THE VIRUS' POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FROM OVERSEAS?

Content: The precaution comes as nearly 900 people have died from the Ebola virus. ( Sunday Alamba/AP)
HOW DO YOU GET IT? Advertisement
Human-to-human transmission, primarily through direct or indirect contact with bodily fluids such as blood, saliva, urine, feces, or semen
Contact with contaminated objects such as needles and/or soiled bedding or clothing
It's not airborne like the flu
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? Sudden onset of fever, weakness, muscle pain, headache, sore throat
Followed by: Vomiting, diarrhea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, some cases internal and external bleeding
HOW LONG BEFORE SYMPTOMS SHOW? Anywhere from 2 to 21 days, though 8 to 10 days is most common
WHAT DISEASES SHOULD BE RULED OUT FIRST? Malaria, typhoid fever, shigellosis, cholera, leptospirosis, plague, rickettsiosis, relapsing fever, meningitis, hepatitis and other viral haemorrhagic fevers
HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOURSELF? Avoid direct contact with bodily fluids, someone suffering from Ebola or already deceased from it
Wash your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when in risk of such contact
Wear gloves, a mask, and a long-protective gown if coming within a meter of an infected patient
Anyone suspected of contracting the virus should be isolated and public health professionals notified
HOW IS IT TREATED? Balancing the patient's fluids and electrolytes
Maintaining their oxygen status and blood pressure
Treating them for any complicating infections
There is no licensed vaccine available though several are being tested
WHERE ARE THE OUTBREAKS? Primarily in remote villages in Central and West Africa, near tropical rainforests
In Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone there have been 1,440 suspect and confirmed cases and 826 deaths as of July 30
HOW ARE U.S. OFFICIALS HANDLING THE VIRUS' POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FROM OVERSEAS?