With the recent Ebola epidemic spreading across Liberia and trickling into the U.S., a panel featuring information about Ebola took place in Maucker Union Wednesday to address concerns of staff and students.

Among  the panelists sat Michele Devlin, professor and director of the Iowa Center on Health Disparities and Catherine Zeman, professor and director of the UNI recycling center.

Ebola broke out earlier this year in West Africa, infecting thousands of people. The news hit closer to home when the first person in America was diagnosed with the disease in September after traveling to West Africa. 

“Students should not, in general, be worried about their personal health from an Ebola epidemic in the United States at this point in time,” Devlin said. 

However, Ebola is a very serious worldwide threat that is more immediate in other regions, especially West African countries such as Liberia and Sierra Leone, and it’s something students should be aware of, Devlin said. 

Panelists advised getting a flu shot, practicing good hygiene by washing hands regularly and covering mouths when sneezing and coughing to boost public health.

Prioritizing prevention of spreading the virus to other regions is what we should focus on first, Zeman said.

If the virus becomes widespread in the United States, the CDC would most likely recommend avoiding skin contact with anyone exhibiting symptoms of Ebola, notifying authorities if you show symptoms and separating yourself from others, Zeman said

Symptoms of Ebola must be present in an individual before it can spread to others. The CDC website lists the symptoms of Ebola, which include high fever, muscle pain, general weakness, stomach pain and unexplained bleeding.

“I’m very glad I attended the Ebola discussion,” said Samantha Pederson, freshman criminology major. “I learned the signs and symptoms of Ebola and how the situation is being handled.”