CDC Report on West Africa Ebola Outbreak

The CDC reports 1975 cases of Ebola with 1069 suspected deaths in the West Africa outbreak as of August 13. Guinea accounted for 510 of the patients with 670 in Liberia, 783 in Sierra Leone, and 12 in Nigeria. Although this is the world’s largest Ebola outbreak, the CDC predicts no significant risk to the United States. The only cases in the US are Nancy Writebol and Dr. Kent Brantly who were transported from Liberia following treatment with the experimental drug Zmapp.
The disease is not felt to be contagious until the patient has symptoms, and it is not transmitted through the air or in food or water. Spread occurs from an infected person or animal via direct contact with broken mucous membranes or skin or through body fluids such as blood, saliva, feces, urine, etc. or with needles or other objects that have been in contact with the virus.