Protect yourself from common contagious viruses other than Ebola with these expert tips

Another worrying episode is ebola hemorrhagic fever. rare, contagious hantavirus Flashy headlines about deadly virus outbreaks in faraway places may make you feel unnecessarily scared.

“The headlines are frightening, but the truth is that the risk to the average traveler from these viruses is essentially non-existent,” said Dr. Thomas Moore, a clinical professor at the University of Kansas Wichita School of Medicine.

But people are always concerned about viral “everyday germs,” ​​said Dr. Ronald Nahas, president of the association. Infectious Disease Society of America He is also a clinical professor of medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

“The virus is invisible, and it’s a big concern for a lot of people because you can’t see or feel it until you get sick. I call it the ‘invisible enemy,'” Nahas said. “And what makes matters worse is our collective PTSD around coronavirus, so we immediately start worrying about the next pandemic.”

Dr. William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases, health policy and prevention at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, said fear of one virus should not lead to anxiety about another virus because each virus has its own “personality.”

“Think of all your cousins. They may all have the same last name, but each one is distinct and individual,” Schaffner says. “The coronavirus may have spread around the world, but Ebola is very different.”

Why we don’t need to worry about the Ebola pandemic

Infection with Ebola requires direct contact with skin, blood, or body fluids such as feces or vomit. In Africa, Ebola is often spread due to local burial practices. Mourners wash, touch, and kiss the still-infectious remains as a final farewell.

“Furthermore, families are caring for loved ones with advanced disease at home, which is where caregiver infections occur,” Schaffner said.

Still, he said, many people worry about being exposed to Ebola by flying with people from Central or East Africa, the epicenter of the current outbreak.

“A person who has Ebola on a plane and is perfectly healthy and has no symptoms is not a danger to anyone else on that plane,” Schaffner said.

“Remember, an infected person becomes a danger to others only when they become seriously ill. This is a very difficult concept for people to understand.”

Why you don’t need to worry about a hantavirus pandemic

Most strains of hantaviruses in North America are not transmitted from person to person. Infection occurs when particles in the urine, feces, or saliva of infected mice or rats are inhaled. Cases of common hantavirus are rare. According to the report, only 890 cases were reported in the United States over the 30-year period ending in 2023. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A rare strain of hantavirus called Andes is The only type of hantavirus Human-to-human transmission is limited. Found in Argentina and Chile, of Andes stock was the culprit. Recent hantavirus outbreaks that killed 3 people He was on board the Dutch luxury liner MV Hondius. Officials say some of these people were likely exposed to the Andes before taking the cruise.

For Andean hantavirus to spread, it must: “Direct physical contact, prolonged stay in a confined space, and exposure to the body fluids of a sick person,” the CDC says. on its website.

“I want to remind people that this is a cruise ship, and people are going cheek to cheek, so to speak,” Schaffner said. “They were constantly interacting with each other and the crew, but so far, The number of infected people is small. So, while Andes is a contagious virus, it may not be very contagious. ”

In June, the World Cup will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada, with millions of soccer fans screaming germs in packed stadiums.

In the medical world, this is the perfect scenario for a “mass contamination incident.” So which contagious viral diseases are of most concern? world cup health officials Do we have a responsibility to protect the people?

The same virus experts say we should also be concerned at home, work and school.

measles is one of most contagious virus It exists and can be easily contained with a simple vaccine. but, vaccination rate Because measles and other common viruses are rapidly declining in the usaCanada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and parts of Europe.

“For those of us in the infectious disease community, the biggest concern right now is measles, and vaccinations are in short supply in some parts of the United States,” Nahas said. “Unvaccinated people attending the World Cup could bring measles back to under-vaccinated areas, potentially causing fires.”

influenza and New coronavirus vaccination Infection rates among children are also declining, with deadly consequences, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a professor of medicine and infectious disease expert at the University of California, San Francisco.

“Child mortality and influenza hit hard Best ever “If you look at the numbers from before 2019 to now, the drop in childhood influenza vaccination coverage is about 10%,” Chin-Hong said.

As Ben Franklin said, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Experts told CNN they want to focus efforts on these key areas.

practice regularly hand washing. “Washing your hands with plain soap and water is the best way to protect yourself from not only viruses but also bacteria and other infections,” Schaffner says.

Try using disinfectant Where others may have left germs, Nahas added. “Wipe the handles before using the grocery cart and avoid touching your face or nose until you wash your hands. Touching our faces is an important way these viruses are transmitted.”

Get vaccinated. There are good vaccines for many of the most contagious viral diseases, including measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, shingles, polio, RSV, HPV, rotavirus, influenza, and COVID-19.

“The best way to protect yourself, of course, is to get all the vaccines you need and to stay informed about those vaccines,” Moore said.

I have a stash of N-95 masks. “When the virus is active, take off your mask and wear it,” Schaffner said. “This is especially important for people who are at high risk of serious infection: young children, pregnant people, people over 65 and people with weakened immune systems.

“This also applies to people with heart disease, lung disease, diabetes and other chronic conditions,” he says. “People with underlying health conditions are more susceptible to more severe influenza and coronavirus infections that can result in hospitalization.”

Please be careful what you eat. Traveling to certain countries can expose you to diarrheal diseases, Moore said. “Be especially careful when eating and drinking abroad,” he said. “We always tell people: Cook it, peel it, boil it, or forget it.”

Avoid crowds when the virus is circulating. Like the World Cup, going to local sporting events or concerts held indoors can expose you to the virus, especially during the winter months when respiratory virus outbreaks are at their peak, Schaffner said.

“Unfortunately, I think this also has implications for religious ceremonies, especially in high-risk cases,” he says. “Maybe you can be religious at home. It all depends on how risk-averse you are.”

Editor’s note: CNN’s Jen Christenson and Deirdre McPhillips contributed to this report.

Fix:
A previous version of this article incorrectly listed the rate of decline in pediatric influenza vaccination and Dr. Chin-Hong’s title.

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