How Ebola Spreads in the US: Myth vs. Reality

When talking about the current West African Ebola outbreak, it is important to look at the facts.

Ebola can only spread to people who have direct contact either with an infected person's blood or other bodily fluids, or with objects that were very recently contaminated with those fluids. The virus is not hardy — it does not survive long on surfaces, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Ebola is not an airborne disease, so you can't get it simply by breathing the same air or being in the same room as someone infected with the virus, provided that you don't come into contact with the infected person's bodily fluids.

Moreover, even an infected person cannot spread the virus until he or she has reached the symptomatic stage of the disease.

With that in mind, here is a useful infographic to clear up any confusion about your risk of getting Ebola.