Ebola 'Airborne', Says CIDRAP; Surgical Face Masks Not Enough?

University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy believes that there is scientific and epidemiological evidence that the Ebola virus is airborne, according to a report on its own website.

Researchers at CIDRAP already advised the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about the high risk of contracting Ebola through inhaling an infected person's breath and through infectious aerosol particles, Inquisitr reported.

Because of this, CIDRAP remarked that U.S. healthcare workers should be given the best types of protection, regardless of its cost.

"We strongly urge the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to seek funds for the purchase and transport of PAPRs to all healthcare workers currently fighting the battle against Ebola throughout Africa-and beyond," the CIDRAP report added.

CIDRAP also insists that surgical face masks do not prevent Ebola from spreading because it doesn't have adequate filters against small infectious aerosols. Face masks also do not fit the face tightly. CIDRAP insists that a higher level of protection is necessary-a PAPR, for example.

A PAPR is a cost-effective powered air-purifying respirator with a full hood or helmet that protects the wearer. The PAPR has many advantages over an N95 filtering facepiece or a similar respirator. It also has a protection factor greater than 10, Inquisitr explained.

An article from Breitbart says, "CIDRAP, since 2001, has been a global leader in addressing public health preparedness regarding emerging infectious diseases and bio-security responses."

The same report from Breitbart states that major media outlets (like the New York Times) are irresponsible for downplaying how harmful and high-risk contracting Ebola can be.

"Less than two weeks ago, the NYT's 'Well' column responded to a reader's question: 'Can I get Ebola from public transportation?' with 'Implying that Ebola is caught as easily as flu or colds would be untrue and inflammatory.' The 'Well' column, again on October 13th, responded to another question: 'I'm flying soon. What is the risk of contracting Ebola on a flight?' with 'Top Ebola experts have said they would not expect to be infected even if they were sitting next to another passenger with Ebola - unless that passenger actually vomited or bled on them,'" Breitbart said in the report.

The Minnesota CIDRAP stated in its report that although they were skeptical about Ebola being transferred airborne, they are "now persuaded by a review of experimental and epidemiologic data that this might be an important feature of disease transmission, particularly in healthcare settings."

"Virus-laden bodily fluids may be aerosolized and inhaled while a person is in proximity to an infectious person and that a wide range of particle sizes can be inhaled and deposited throughout the respiratory tract," CIDRAP concludes.