By: Rachael Rettner
Published: 10/10/2014 11:33 AM EDT on LiveScience
The Ebola outbreak has been escalating in the past few months, but could it cause a global pandemic similar to that of AIDS, as was suggested today by a top public health official?
Speaking at a meeting in Washington, D.C., today (Oct. 9), Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, compared the two diseases. "In the 30 years I've been working in public health, the only thing like this has been AIDS," Frieden said, referring to the Ebola outbreak. "And we have to work now so that this is not the world's next AIDS."
Ebola and HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, have a number of similarities. Both are spread through blood and bodily fluids, both have high fatality rates, both emerged out of Africa and researchers have not developed a vaccine against either virus, said Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious-disease physician at the University of Pittsburgh. [5 Most Likely Real-Life Contagions]
But there are also major differences between the two viruses that would prevent Ebola infections from becoming as widespread as AIDS, experts say.
HIV has a long latency period during which people are able to spread the virus — for example, through sexual activity or sharing hypodermic needles — but do not yet have any symptoms of the disease, Adalja said. In contrast, the Ebola virus does not spread from people who do not yet have symptoms, and once people do get sick, they feel too ill to go about their usual activities, Adalja said.
The fact that Ebola does not have a latency period "will be one of the limiting factors of its spread," Adalja said.
Dr. Bruce Hirsch, an infectious-disease specialist at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York, agreed. "I do not think that Ebola has the potential to be the world's next AIDS," Hirsch said.
Unfortunately, Ebola is a quick killer, but this means the outbreak will eventually burn itself out, Hirsch said. "That's both its terror and also the advantage we have, in terms of public health measures to control the virus," Hirsch said.
Still, the Ebola outbreak is similar to AIDS in the lessons it holds, he said. "I do think that Ebola has the potential to teach us the same message that AIDS has taught us," which is that the health of humans around the world is connected, Hirsch said.
"If anyone is deprived of appropriate health care … everybody on the planet is going to pay the price for that," Hirsch said. "We need to think about our health globally."
The Ebola outbreak had sickened more than 8,000 people in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, and killed more than 3,800 people as of Oct. 5, when the numbers were last updated, according to the CDC. The United States recently had its first case of Ebola (a man named Thomas Eric Duncan, who died this week), and Spain also has a case of Ebola.
The projected worst-case scenario is that 1.4 million people in Liberia and Sierra Leone could be infected with Ebola in four months, according to a recent report from the CDC.
It is essential to prevent a worst-case scenario in these countries, Hirsch said, not only because the death toll would be a human tragedy, but also because the outbreak puts people around the world at risk. "We are not safe from Ebola until everyone is safe from Ebola," Hirsch said.
Follow Rachael Rettner @RachaelRettner. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science.
Copyright 2014 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.