Look for those familiar For Dummies icons to offer visual clues about the kinds of material you’re about to read.
In addition to the content of this book, you can access some valuable related material online.
You can read a free Cheat Sheet at www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/ebolamythsandfacts that gives you all the information you want the most in a fast and easy way (like a list of Ebola symptoms and what to do if you think someone you know has it), without having to go through pages and pages of text. Remembering all the facts about Ebola can be difficult, so the cheat sheet is also a great tool to recollect what you read here.
You can also access some additional helpful bits of information at www.dummies.com/extras/ebolamythsandfacts. I cover some extra topics, such as common scenarios from which you can’t contract Ebola and how to fight the stigma of Ebola.
The book is about as modular as you can get with this topic. Each chapter contains a bunch of information and is self-contained, meaning that you don’t have to read one chapter to understand what happens in the next. If there’s something you saw on TV or you only care about how not to catch Ebola, use the table of contents as your guide and skip right to the appropriate chapter to read about it.
Chapter 1 is a great place to start to get your bearings in the book. Suppose you do want to read about the symptoms of Ebola and how to prevent getting it, you can head to Chapter 5. Start with Chapter 3 if you want all the details on the current situation in West Africa. If you’re a healthcare worker who’s heading to an affected area and need to cut right to the chase so you can prepare yourself, go to Chapter 7. And if you want to explore the science and evolution of Ebola, your starting point is Chapter 2.
The easiest way, though, to use the book is to start turning pages and read the content. And because I know that this topic is very important and concerning to many folks, don’t be shy about making notes in the chapters, highlighting information, and putting flags on the pages so you can come back later.
Oh, and one more note: If you’re reading this because you feel ill, put this book down and get thee to a doctor!
Part I
Getting Started with Ebola Myths & Facts
In this part …
✔ Explore how Ebola was discovered and what scientists have been able to figure out about the virus.
✔ Chronicle the historical Ebola outbreaks since its discovery more than 35 years ago and identify the different countries of the world that have had confirmed cases and deaths.
✔ Uncover the parts of the world where Ebola affects people and what makes those people the most vulnerable.
✔ Examine the 2014 outbreak, including how it started and how it spread so quickly.
Chapter 1
The Lowdown on Ebola
In This Chapter
This chapter serves as your road map to everything Ebola related. Some of the details about Ebola can be a little confusing or upsetting, but I try to make it as easy as possible to understand what’s happening.
Researchers and scientists are still discovering so much about Ebola (after all, the virus isn’t even 50 years old), but I can promise you that I share with you what is known. Keep in mind that things are changing rapidly because of the current active outbreak. This chapter gives you the basics of Ebola and serves as your jumping-off point.
You may have heard of the 5 Ws of journalism – the who, what, when, where, and why of the story. The H of how usually gets thrown in there, too. The concept is meant to make sure journalists get all the important stuff into a news piece without leaving their audience hanging. These sections answer these questions to make sure that you have all the basic information before diving into all of the many details about Ebola.
Grasping what Ebola is
Ebola is a virus that results in a hemorrhagic fever (which is called Ebola). People can give it to one another, but it isn’t very easy to contract. However, if someone does get it, it can be very serious. If not treated, Ebola causes flulike symptoms at first, then more serious organ failure, which can result in death. Ebola is in the news right now because of a large outbreak in West Africa that has spread slightly onto other continents, including North America.
If you’re interested in the full evolution and behavior of the virus, Chapter 2 has more about the history and science of Ebola.
Understanding who Ebola affects the most
Currently, Ebola affects West Africans in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia – and the healthcare workers taking care of them – the most. These folks are right in the line of Ebola fire every day. They get no break. No reprieve. They’re watching their friends and family members die as they struggle to survive.
Westerners in West Africa who hold different beliefs and cultural traditions than the residents are coordinating and driving a good deal of the humanitarian efforts. It can make a tragic situation even tenser, because aid workers have to be careful not to ostracize community members, but rather care for and work with them.
Many West Africans don’t even believe that