The Ebola virus, which has taken an estimated 4,447 lives as of Oct. 14. Photo courtesy of CDC Global.

Ebola is a disease that can only be contracted from direct contact with blood, vomit and saliva.  According to AL.com, the areas affected the worst by Ebola are the West African countries Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. The Ebola death toll had risen to 4,447 as of Tuesday Oct.14, according to the World Health Organization.

Governor Robert Bentley on Monday Oct. 13, toured the emergency department of UAB hospital according to ABC3340.com. The news outlet also reported during the tour that Bentley was shown areas where potential patents would be kept and the equipment used to prevent infection if a potential outbreak does occur.

Bentley commented on preparation for a potential Ebola outbreak. The citizens of Alabama should not overreact, but still be prepared according to AL.com. Tom Frieden, Director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, urged all United States hospitals to think about Ebola.

The students of Montevallo had mixed views on Ebola.  Bradly Thrower, freshman and Spanish education major, stated, “Its a more serious threat.” Others were less worried, such as junior social studies major Jim Ray who said, “It’s not airborne… and I don’t watch the news, so I don’t get afraid of things.” Sascha Kirkham, freshman and psychology major, expressed the same opinion, by saying, “Because it’s not an immediate threat to me.”

    Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly spelled Gov. Bentley’s name in its headline. This error has been remedied here.