Ebola is a deadly virus that has been spreading through Africa and has made a few appearances in the United States. The presence of the disease in this country has struck fear in many people, but whether or not we have to be afraid is up to the individual.

According to the Center for Disease Control, the total number of Ebola cases as of Oct. 25 is 10,141. The number of deaths so far is 4,922.

Most of these deaths have been in west African countries. Only one person in the US has died from Ebola.

Two imported cases and two locally acquired cases have been reported in the United States in Dallas and New York City.

“People shouldn’t be scared,” senior Riley Foster said. “There is no chance of it coming anywhere around here.”

Many believe that being scared of Ebola is fairly ridiculous. According to the CDC, one can only contract the virus through direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with an infected person’s blood or other bodily fluids such as urine, saliva, sweat, feces, vomit, breast milk and semen.

One could also get Ebola from being injected with needles or syringes that have been contaminated with the virus or coming in contact with fruit bats or primates that have it.

Symptoms of Ebola appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure. Some symptoms include: fever, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain and unexplained hemorrhage.

“I think people should be taking this seriously,” freshman Greg Cole said.

Some find the outbreak to be terrifying and nothing to joke about.

“I think people should be concerned,” sophomore Alana Arnhold said. “It’s a lethal disease and it’s spreading.”

Though Ebola is a disease that has been killing thousands of people, a majority of students seem to shrug it off and not worry about it.

“People shouldn’t be so scared about it,” freshman McKenzie Hooper said. “It’s just another disease they’ll find a cure for.”

16bmathias@usd489.com