Hot Topic: Ebola

We at St. Louis Public Library have received several questions about the Ebola virus over the last few months, as the hemorrhagic fever has infected and killed thousands in Africa. On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control announced that a patient in Dallas, Texas, was diagnosed with the disease, following a trip to Liberia. That patient is being treated in isolation at a hospital in Dallas, in the hopes of decreasing the chance of exposure to other people.


While this is certainly a scary disease, it is well worth taking a moment to step back and learn about what exactly Ebola is and how it is spread.

According to the National Library of Medicine, Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a virus that affects humans and other primates, and is spread through direct contact to blood and other secretions from an infected individual, thus making it not nearly as contagious as other diseases (such as the flu or measles). A couple of things make this virus a bit scarier though:

• First, the early symptoms of Ebola are similar to other, less severe conditions and include fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and lack of appetite. Symptoms can appear anywhere from two to 21 days after exposure to the virus. The fact that these symptoms also occur in several milder viruses makes it hard to diagnose someone in the early stages of Ebola. However, the CDC has urged those who have any reason to suspect that they may have been exposed to Ebola and is experiencing these symptoms to be treated in isolation and get blood tests done.
• Second, there is no cure for Ebola, and approximately 50% of those infected die of the disease. There have been some experimental treatments developed, although they have not been tested in humans, nor have they been produced in significant quantities. Right now, the CDC is urging healthcare workers to treat symptoms as they appear.

It is important to remember that there has been just one diagnosed case of Ebola in the United States, and the CDC has stressed that the chances of an outbreak here are low: "Ebola is not spread through casual contact; therefore, the risk of an outbreak in the U.S. is very low. We know how to stop Ebola’s further spread: thorough case finding, isolation of ill people, contacting people exposed to the ill person, and further isolation of contacts if they develop symptoms."

For additional information on Ebola, visit the CDC's page dedicated to the virus, which includes tips on preventing exposure. Another great resource is Kidshealth.org, which has a page devoted to explaining the disease to children.

Got a Cold? Here Are a Few Ways to Feel Better Soon

According to the National Library of Medicine, Americans get over one billion (yes, you read that right, with a “b”) colds every year. And although colds and cold weather are not necessarily synonymous, right now is the height of cold season, so it seems appropriate to take a closer look at the common cold and see what we can do to stem the spread of the highly infectious disease, and to help those who are suffering from a cold feel better soon.

For some general information about colds, check out this page from the National Library of Medicine, as well as this one from the American Lung Association. Keep in mind that even if you are sneezing, coughing, stuffed up, or suffering from a runny nose, it may not actually be a cold — the common cold can look an awful lot like an allergy, or even the flu. Check out these handy tables from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to help figure out what you might be dealing with. 

As they say, there is no cure for the common cold. But that doesn’t mean you can’t treat it. Here’s a list of ways you can help alleviate suffering from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. If you’re looking at trying some home remedies, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine has a couple of pages in which they assess different treatments, here and here. 

Or perhaps you’re thinking that a good ol’ antibiotic might be able to wipe it out for you. Not necessarily, as colds generally are caused by viruses, which aren’t responsive to antibiotic treatment. Check out this article from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help determine if antibiotics will help whatever bug you’re fighting.

After all this, perhaps you’re one of the lucky ones that hasn’t caught a cold yet. If so, congratulations! And here’s a list of ways to avoid getting and spreading the disease. 

Best of luck this cold season, and here’s to staying healthy!

Flu season is already on its way. Be prepared!

It seems like we were just sweating it out in the hot St. Louis summer, but flu season is just around the corner. In preparation for that, we’d like to shine a light on the flu and how you can stay a step ahead of it this fall and winter.

So what exactly is the flu? According to the National Institute of Health, influenza (AKA the flu) is “a respiratory infection caused by a number of viruses [that] pass through the air and enter your body through your nose or mouth.” Symptoms of the flu include: body or muscle aches, chills, cough, fever, headache, and sore throat. The NIH adds that the flu almost never includes an upset stomach. If you can’t tell if you’ve got the flu or a common cold, check out this handy comparison from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. However, it’s always best to check with your doctor if you’re not sure. The National Library of Medicine has some good guides for how to talk to your doctor about the flu, including what you need to ask to get the best treatment. Here’s the guide for adults, and here’s another one for kids.

Photo copyright Blake Patterson, 2010.     
Used under Creative Commons.

The best ways to keep from getting the flu? Again, the NIH: “get a yearly flu vaccine. Good hygiene, including hand washing, can also help.” In an article released last week, the Centers for Disease Control notes that, after receiving a flu shot, it takes up to two weeks for your body to develop an immune response. It’s also important to get a flu shot each year, as the disease changes constantly and each year presents different virus strains. If you’re wondering where you can get a vaccine, the CDC has a cool online tool to help you find locations at http://vaccine.healthmap.org/

If you’d like a bit more information, SLPL has some books focusing on the flu, including:

• 100 Questions & Answers About Influenza by Delthia Ricks
• The Germ Freak’s Guide to Outwitting Colds and Flu: Guerilla Tactics to Keep Yourself Healthy at Home, at Work, and in the World by Allison Janse and Charles Gerba
• The Good Doctor’s Guide to Colds and Flu by Neil Schachter

For kids, we have:

• Influenza and Other Viruses by Judy Monroe
• Investigating Influenza and Bird Flu: Real Facts for Real Life by Evelyn B. Kelly and Claire Wilson
• Let’s Talk About Having the Flu by Elizabeth Weitzman

You can find each of these books and more (including several on the history of the flu) on our catalog at www.slpl.org. Just search for “influenza.” Stay healthy this flu season!