Expert: People Are Much More Likely To Die From The Flu Rather Than Ebola
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — During concerns over a handful of Ebola cases in the United States, some are turning to the Internet for medical supplies they believe will help keep them safe.
Jim Serre is not surprised at the fear over Ebola, but he's concerned that fear is steering many people to incorrect information.
"I would not get an Ebola kit, no," he said. "I've seen some kits that have vinyl gloves in them which are essentially the same type of gloves the food servers would wear at fast food restaurant."
As a Red Cross instructor and owner of a company selling emergency preparedness kits, Serre is urging people not to panic.
"Look at sites like the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization," he said. "Don't go to the other websites that talk about having Ebola information."
He points out the kind of equipment medical professionals need working directly with Ebola patients is not the same as what is being offered online and not necessary for the public to own.
"This is specialty equipment and fabrics you can only get at the professional level and very expensive," he said.
Lifesecure.com is one company selling infection protection kits. Its founder says sales shot up 45 times what they were after news of the first Ebola victim in Texas
"We expect that these type of supplies would indeed be of help to people in a real world environment in case of a large scale outbreak," said founder David Scott. "These kits were never meant for a medical environment nor have we ever made any claims about Ebola."
Serre believes its smart for families to be prepared, but for him that does not include this kind of kit.
"It's actually more likely that the flu is going to kill more people in the U.S. than Ebola will," he said.
