Yes , Ebola is a scary infectious disease . But the first thing you should know is that it 's not very contagious -- `` Common sense and observation tell us that spread of the virus via coughing or sneezing is rare , if it happens at all , '' the World Health Organization says . It 's spread through frequent contact with bodily fluids and can be spread only by someone who is showing symptoms . So if they 're not feeling sick ... Many viruses can hide in the body and spread from person to person without causing any symptoms in the people it infects . Ebola is n't like that . `` Ebola does n't spread before someone gets sick , '' Dr. Thomas Frieden , director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , said Tuesday . `` Ebola does not spread ... from someone who does n't have fever and other symptoms . '' Symptoms generally occur abruptly eight to 10 days after infection , though that period can range from two to 21 days . As people with the Ebola virus become sicker , they become more infectious , experts say . The virus can also spread through bodily fluids after the patient dies . And by 'bodily fluids , ' you mean ? Blood , sweat , feces , vomit , semen and spit . Basically any kind of fluid that comes from the body . People in West Africa are avoiding hugs and handshakes because the virus can be spread through the sweat on someone 's hand . The uninfected person would have to have a break in the skin of their hand that would allow entry of the virus , CNN 's Dr. Sanjay Gupta says . But `` we all have minor breaks in our skin . And there is a possibility that some of the virus can be transmitted that way . '' Health care providers -- or family and friends -- caring for Ebola patients are often at the highest risk of getting sick because they are most likely to come in contact with the body fluids of sick patients , according to the CDC . People with Ebola suffer from extreme vomiting , diarrhea and high fevers , which causes sweating . In the later stages , they may start bleeding from their eyes , mouth or other orifices . Ebola virus : Nine things to know about the killer disease . Bottom line ? `` This is not an airborne transmission , '' said Dr. Marty Cetron , director of the CDC 's Division of Global Migration and Quarantine . `` There needs to be direct contact frequently with body fluids or blood . '' Close contact . While the Ebola virus is believed to be able to survive for some days in liquid outside an infected organism , Doctors Without Borders says , agents such as chlorine , heat , direct sunlight , soaps and detergents can kill it . Could Ebola spread around the world via air travel ? While the CDC acknowledges it is possible for a person infected with Ebola in West Africa to get on a plane and arrive in another country -- which is apparently what happened in the U.S. case -- the chances of the virus spreading during the journey are low . That 's unless your fellow passenger is bleeding , sweating profusely or vomiting on you , of course . `` It is highly unlikely that someone suffering such symptoms would feel well enough to travel , '' the International Air Transport Association said . Travelers should take precautions by avoiding areas experiencing outbreaks and avoiding contact with Ebola patients .
Ebola is spread by someone who has become sickened by the virus . From there , the actual transmission occurs through contact with bodily fluids . Title: Why do we have to wait for a certain amount of time before getting our first bite? The virus can also spread through bodily fluids after the infected victim dies .