General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: What We’re Afraid to Say About Ebola [View all]magical thyme
(14,881 posts)until it didn't. And "she" is named Michael. Which leaves me wondering exactly how closely you read the posted article or your linked articles.
Here is what the CDC has to say about it:
Although in the laboratory the viruses display some capability of infection through small-particle aerosols, airborne spread among humans has not been clearly demonstrated.
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/virus-families/filoviridae.html
"Has not been clearly demonstrated" is not the same as "Is not transmitted."
The pig-monkey experiment is not the only one demonstrating the potential for airborne transmission. In the laboratory situation it has been demonstrated that it can be aerosolized:
"One hundred percent mortality was observed in all groups of KO mice that were administered with a range of challenge doses of MARV and ZEBOV by either IP or aerosol routes."
http://jmm.sgmjournals.org/content/61/1/8.full
Right now it likely doesn't transmit airborne because it doesn't directly attack the upper respiratory system or the upper digestive system; it specifically attacks the liver. So the viral load is heaviest in blood and feces.
It also didn't mutate much (or at all) for its first few decades. Now it is mutating rapidly, which potentially can change everything, including its transmission and the ability to develop a reliable vaccine.