EbolaContrary to scientific evidence, the media continue to fan fears of airborne Ebola infection

Despite solid evidence presented by scientists to quell rumors that the deadly Ebola virus could be passed through the air, many American media outlets continue to raise alarm and fuel debates with flimsy sources.

As Global Bio Defense reports, media outlets including the New York Times and the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) have released articles which revive an earlier scientific debate over whether the Ebola virus can be transmitted through the air.

Both sources cite the non-human 2012 Canadian Pig Study and information from a 1994 book called The Hot Zone,which documented the Reston, Virginia Ebola epizootic. Both sources claim evidence that the virus could indeed spread in such a fashion.

Despite the argument by some that this is clearly the case – ultimately raising unnecessary concern in the media and public – scientists respond that a closer look into the materials will show that the results are inconclusive.

In The Hot Zone, a non-fiction account of the Ebola outbreak amongst quarantined monkeys, the tale is ultimately not a peer-reviewed study, but rather a dramatization. In addition to that book, there are more scientific studies that ultimately conclude that “aerosols or droplets” were more than likely responsible for the transmission. It may be a delicate distinction, perhaps, but as Heather Lander at Global Bio Defense argues, it would not be defined as airborne.

In addition to this work, the 2012 Pig Study is a more peer-reviewed piece of information, but never directly states the Ebola strain observed in the animals was contacted via airborne routes. Further, the very nature of the strain observed in the study, and the one currently affecting humans throughout parts of Africa and beyond are different, even down to the symptoms.

“This phenomenon can be linked to different clinical pictures in the two animal species: Respiratory distress in pigs versus systemic disease with no respiratory signs in [others],” the study said.

During a 2012 interview discussing the paper, Gary Kobinger, the PI on the study reported that, “What we suspect is happening is large droplets – they can stay in the air, but not long, they don’t go far”

More importantly, Kobinger and others repeated the study in July of this year and found that “No transmission of [the] virus…was observed suggesting limited containment protocols. The results support the concept that Ebola virus infection is self-contained…”

While the media continue to hype the scare-value for ratings purposes, perhaps, the science they use shows the opposite of what they say is the case.