"Here's How You Get Ebola"

[Ike Bana]

Originally Posted by MikeG22

You guys are missing this big difference between Ebola and HIV. HIV is a blood borne pathogen which requires blood to transmit. You cannot contract HIV from mucus, saliva, or vomit unless there is blood in it. Ebola presents itself in all kinds of bodily fluid so it is much easier to transmit.

I think the outbreak especially in Africa is unfortunately still in its infancy.

I believe I've stated that it's not an airborne virus. And I've backed up that statement with a list of bodily fluids that carry the virus. So tell me what I'm missing regarding transmission.

HIV is blood borne and must come into contact with the bloodstream in order to be transmitted. But it can be carried in bodily fluids other than blood and can be transmitted through mucous membranes. Thus transmission in semen during sex, even though there is no direct introduction into the bloodstream. It can even be passed from mother to child through breast milk and oral mucous membranes in the child in cases where the fetus was not infected in utero.

From aids.gov...

How Do You Get HIV?

Certain body fluids from an HIV-infected person can transmit HIV.

These body fluids are:

Blood
Semen (cum)
Pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum)
Rectal fluids
Vaginal fluids
Breast milk

These body fluids must come into contact with a mucous membrane or damaged tissue or be directly injected into your bloodstream (by a needle or syringe) for transmission to possibly occur. Mucous membranes are the soft, moist areas just inside the openings to your body. They can be found inside the rectum, the vagina or the opening of the penis, and the mouth.

Mucous membrane or damaged tissue where direct contact with the bloodstream is possible are mechanisms of transmission.