Ebola In The Air: What Science Says About How The Virus Spreads

Written on . Posted in Breaking News, Health News, Personal Safety.

Viruses can spread through the air in two ways: Inside large droplets that fall quickly to the ground (red); or, inside tiny droplets that float in the air (gray). In the first route, called droplet transmission, the virus can spread only about 3 to 6 feet from an infected person. In the second route, called airborne transmission, the virus can travel 30 feet or more.

Here’s an Ebola puzzle for you: If the virus isn’t airborne, why do doctors and nurses need to wear full protective suits, with face masks, while treating patients?

After we dug through studies and talked to scientists, the answer slowly emerged.

Ebola does spread through the air. But not through the airborne route… (read more)