Ebola Fact Sheet : Texas Tech Edition

With flu season beginning soon, many Americans may confuse their symptoms with those of the Ebola virus. Although it is highly unlikely that a Lubbockite may contract Ebola, it is important to know the facts about the potentially deadly virus.

History 

  • First discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Previously referred to as Ebola hemorrhagic fever
  • Can be contracted by non-human primates, such as chimpanzees
  • Origin unknown
  • Possibly carried by bats

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By the Numbers

  • People affected by Ebola in 1976: 318
  • Worldwide, people affect by Ebola in 2014: 8,914
  • Average death rate of people who contract Ebola: 68 percent
  • Country’s most affected: Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone
  • Projected weekly deaths from Ebola in Africa by December: 10,000

In the United States 

  • Number of people diagnosed: 3
  • Number of deaths: 1
  • Number of hospitals currently treating Ebola: 5

Symptoms 

  • Fever
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Severe headache
  • Muscle pain
  • Weakness
  • Stomach Pain
  • Unexplained bleeding or bruising

Transmission 

  • Blood
  • Bodily fluids
  • Needles and syringes infected with the virus
  • Infected animals, which is not a concern in the United States

How to Protect Yourself 

  • If traveling to Africa, avoid healthcare facilities
  • Wash hands regularly
  • Practice basic hygiene

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How This Affects Texas Tech Students 

  • There are currently no Tech students studying abroad in an affected country
  • The Center for Disease Control is currently recommending students avoid non-essential travel to West Africa
  • The CDC recommends students should only be quarantined if they exhibit symptoms, not based on travel history
  • Doctor Victoria Sutton, a biodefense law professor at Tech, is currently on the Texas Ebola task force

Bottom Line 

Although it is unlikely an Ebola case will be diagnosed at Tech, student should always remain vigilant.

About Sarah Self-Walbrick

Graduate Executive Director — Mass Communication Graduate Student, Class of 2017
Sarah, a Lubbock native, has two bachelor of art degrees in electronic media and communication and journalism, and is pursuing a master's in mass communications. She loves Texas, her husband and dog, and good storytelling.