You probably have been hearing a lot of alarming stories about Ebola lately. There is an outbreak of this virus disease in west Africa and it seems to be spreading, infecting thousands of people. A number of them unfortunately have died. There have also been confirmed transmission cases in the USA and Europe.
Although these facts create a lot of fear and anxiety, the truth is that people all over the world are taking measures to stop it and treat those who are sick. According to the World Health Organisation there are currently no licensed Ebola vaccines but two potential candidates are undergoing evaluation.We can also protect ourselves by taking simple steps like washing our hands regularly. The best thing to do is get informed, because “false knowledge is more dangerous than ignorance”.
Read some relevant articles at
dogonews.com (there are comprehension and challenge questions at the end of this article)
student.societyforscience.org (there is glossary for relevant vocabulary)
Lesson plan for teachers at pbs.org
Poster: ebolaposter_dosanddonts-update_unicef_final_16042014 from CDC.gov (www.cdc.gov) is your online source for credible health information and is the official Web site of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).