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Dr. Mallika Marshall Answers Viewer Questions About Ebola, Enterovirus

BOSTON (CBS) – Dr. Mallika Marshall answered some viewer questions about the Ebola and enterovirus outbreaks.

Q: "How long does the virus survive outside of a host, and is there any difference in this time among the various types of bodily fluids and the type of surface?" - Paula in Hyde Park

A: Scientists have looked at this issue and even though Ebola is a terrible infection to get, it's not that easy to get. Again, it's not airborne, so you're not going to get sick by breathing in the air after someone has coughed or sneezed around you.

It requires significant contact with contaminated bodily fluids from someone who is already really, really sick.

Ebola is a fragile virus, meaning that it doesn't tend to survive long outside of a host. It's vulnerable to heat, light, dryness, cleaning products and it's unlikely to last for longer than minutes on a doorknob or shopping cart handle or on the pole in a train or bus.

Q: "Granted conditions are more primitive in the African outbreak, but how big is the risk in this country to health care workers?" - Jack in Lexington

A: The areas in West Africa which have been devastated by Ebola have real serious problems with sanitation, and protective gear hasn't always been available or adequate.

Here in the U.S., we have clean hospitals, access to the best equipment, state of the art facilities. And as healthcare workers, we are used to looking out for all kinds of infectious diseases, even ones that are much more highly contagious than Ebola like influenza and tuberculosis.

Q: "My kids, 8 & 11, both have had wet coughs after a cold all week. Should we be concerned that it could turn into an enterovirus?" - Jori

A: There are so many things that could be causing your kids' coughs. It certainly could be a typical case of enterovirus D68, with runny nose and cough, but it could be another cold virus circulating this time of year. And then some kids are suffering from ragweed allergies right now.

If your children are otherwise well; no breathing problems, staying hydrated, chances are they are fine. Any change from that, take them in to see their doctor.

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