US Sen. Paul: Ebola “incredibly” contagious

KATHLEEN RONAYNE
Associated Press

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Rand Paul says Ebola can spread from a person who has the disease to someone standing three feet away, and the White House should be honest about that.

CNN video footage showed the prospective presidential candidate saying during a speech at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire called the deadly virus, “incredibly contagious” and suggested it could spread at a cocktail party attended by someone who is symptomatic.

The Centers for Disease Control, however, says Ebola cannot be transmitted through the air. The deadly disease can spread only through direct contact with bodily fluids of someone sick with Ebola, by touching contaminated objects or infected animals. Three people within the United States, all in Texas, have been diagnosed with Ebola.

Paul said Ebola is more contagious than AIDS.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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