There has been a lot of talk about the Ebola virus lately, especially with Americans who have contracted the disease coming back to the states. Many people are not quite sure how it spreads. We got the chance to talk to an expert on the topic.
Josiah Alamu, a University of Illinois Springfield professor from West Africa, explained to us how the disease spreads, and how the cultural aspect contributes to the rapid spreading of the disease as well.
"Ebola is extremely infectious when somebody shows signs and symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea during the later stage before death," Alamu said. "So people who are caring for these people have already had contact with the fluid, the secretion, the urine, the vomiting, you know all those things, and they also have been exposed."
Alamu says caretakers share the news of the patients with families of friends and spread the disease to even more people during this time. He also says it was difficult to get a handle on Ebola sooner because they don't trust other countries, so it was hard for them to get the assistance.
Alamu was featured by WICS-TV 20 on August 6, 2014.
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