3 ms·
One of the factors that keeps Ebola from causing massive epidemics and pandemics is it's rapid mortality rate. It kills people relatively fast and consistently,
by mayneack 13y ago
One of the factors that keeps Ebola from causing massive epidemics and pandemics is it's rapid mortality rate. It kills people relatively fast and consistently, so outbreaks often burn themselves out.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebola_virus_disease#Epidemiology https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebola_virus_disease#Epidemiolo...
If you're curious, The Coming Plague is a very interesting book that covers many hemorrhagic fevers like Ebola: http://www.amazon.com/The-Coming-Plague-Emerging-Diseases/dp/0140250913 http://www.amazon.com/The-Coming-Plague-Emerging-Diseases/dp...
- marvin 13y agoMost previous outbreaks have been in rural areas, though. So depending mainly on the mortality for containment doesn't sound like the most prudent strategy. The incubation period of Ebola virus can be quite long (more than two weeks) which is more than enough time to spread the disease geographically far. EVD/EHF is also contagious during the incubation period when no symptoms are present.
- timr 13y agoIt doesn't kill people faster than a flight to a major international airport. That's all that matters.