What are the chances of Ebola becoming an influenza airborne virus?

1. 76

   Oztinatoposted 9 years ago

   What are the chances of Ebola becoming an influenza airborne virus?
   
   It seems that Ebola is even more contagious than we think. Is it possible for Ebola to now mutate into an airborne virus?

   report
2. 60

   Link10103posted 9 years ago

   How is it more contagious than you originally thought? When I heard of the outbreaks resurgence, the only way to contract it from others was through bodily fluid.

   report
   1. 76

      Oztinatoposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      It seems that well protected health workers are still getting it. This seems to indicate an air borne  effect of some  kind.

      report
3. 64

   PhoenixVposted 9 years ago

   Airborne transmission has not been documented during EVD outbreaks.-----They are, however, infectious as breathable 0.8– to 1.2-μm laboratory-generated droplets.-----
   
   ------The virus has been shown to travel, without contact,----- from pigs to primates, although the same study failed to demonstrate similar transmission between non-human primates -wikipedia
   
   I would wonder if as more and more people and other hosts that are becoming sick and dying from ebola raises the chances of a mutation that makes it airborne.

   report
4. 67

   danicoleposted 9 years ago

   Yes, viruses evolve. There are many strains of Ebola, the Ebola Zaire (which is the deadliest one), the Ebola Sudan one, the Ebola Reston one. The Ebola Reston was found in Reston, Virginia, in 1989. It was lethal to imported monkeys but had no effects on humans (even though humans were exposed to it). In the book, The Hot Zone, it was suggested that the Ebola Reston virus had become airborne and jumped between caged monkeys in different rooms. Even so, when tested on humans exposed to the virus, the tests revealed it was (positive) and the virus was in their system. Even so, it didn't get them sick and is not harmful to humans. Even so, I think the virus can evolve and attack humans  If you are concerned with Ebola, read the book The Hot Zone by Richard Preston

   report
5. 94

   lisavollrathposted 9 years ago

   Logically, it wouldn't benefit the virus to become airborne, because coughing and sneezing aren't symptoms of the disease. Nature works in a very orderly fashion. In its end stages, when its host is ready to expire, Ebola causes bleeding from every orifice, to enable it to spread to the next host by contact with those fluids.

   report
   1. 67

      danicoleposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Viruses goals are to survive and jump from many hosts as they can, they aren't exactly logical. If they follow logic they won't kill the thing (host) that giving them life. I do agree it wouldn't benefit the virus, maybe evolving to be able to live?

      report