Health officials say Ebola threat low in Alaska

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — State health officials say Alaska is at a lower risk of an Ebola outbreak than Lower 48 states but they're not taking the threat lightly.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports the Division of Epidemiology within the Department of Health and Social Services last week listed steps it has taken to prevent an outbreak.

They include distributing guidelines to health providers for early recognition of patients who may be infected.

The Ebola virus spreads through direct contact with blood or body fluids. It spreads only when a person is showing symptoms. It's not spread through food, water, air or casual contact.

Alaska health officials say the state's remote location, sparse population and few ties to affected countries put Alaska at a lower risk than other states.