Ebola: Should I be Worried?

As of Oct. 28, 2014, at least 18 Ebola cases having been treated in Europe and the United States, leaving many people feeling concerned. However, Stephen Blatt MD, of TriHealth Infectious Diseases, tells Local 12’s Liz Bonis that while we should be alert, we should not be alarmed.

“Although Ebola is a scary disease, because it has a high mortality rate, the risk of getting it is incredibly low,” he explains. “For the people who are living in West Africa, it’s a real threat. For people living in the United States, it’s not an issue.”

Dr. Blatt has been tracking diseases similar to Ebola in the Cincinnati area for years and says there’s a vaccine, similar to the flu vaccine, in the works. It would be administered to people in Africa and other countries who have a higher risk of contracting the disease.

How to Defend Yourself from Ebola and Other Disease

Right now, regular, thorough hand washing is your best defense against both Ebola and other viruses.

• Learn more about Ebola prevention at www.cdc.gov.

The flu, however, can be contracted through something as simple as a cough or sneeze. So sneeze or cough into your sleeve to avoid catching it.