News on Wednesday that a second health care worker in Texas has tested positive for Ebola has further raised fears of an outbreak in the U.S.
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Two-thirds of Americans are worried about an Ebola epidemic in the U.S. and more than 4 in 10 are "very" or "somewhat worried" they or a close family member might catch the virus, according to a new poll from Washington Post-ABC News.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said the risk of Ebola spreading in the U.S. is extremely low. Still, some people are rushing to cash in on the panic, bringing a variety of Ebola-related products to the market place, from the dubious to the kitschy.
1. "Preparedness" Kits
The "XL Ebola Survival Preparedness Medical Kit EMS Complete Prepper Travel" can be purchased on eBay for $99.99. The "specially designed kit," includes a few pairs of latex gloves, wet wipes, two packages of Emergen-C and the claim that you are getting the "most comprehensive kit on the market."
Amazon is also selling an Ultimate Pandemic Virus Kit Module at $74.98. According to the website, only six are left in stock.
2. Ebola Reading Materials
For people seeking tips on Ebola prevention, a plethora of independently published books have emerged on Amazon. At least 84 people have published books on Ebola prevention on Amazon in the last 90 days, according to The Washington Post. Few of the authors, though, have any proven expertise on the subject, with advice ranging from stockpiling rubber gloves to taking vitamins to survive an epidemic.
These are the items people are buying after viewing the Ebola Survival Handbook on Amazon pic.twitter.com/ZDXRe4hWBH— Lexi Mainland (@lexinyt) October 15, 2014
One self-published guide called the "Ebola Survival Handbook" is now number three in the entire "Diseases & Physical Ailments" section of Amazon. According to the CDC, misinformation has been a major obstacle to containing the Ebola outbreak.
3. Ebola Tracking App
For $2.99, the newly developed iPhone app Ebola Tracker will tell you how close you are to the nearest Ebola case.
The "only up to date mapping application of the 2014 Ebola outbreak currently spreading throughout the world" has a 2.5 star rating, with some accusing the developer of being opportunistic.
"My guess is the developer was in such a rush to cash in, he never completed the job and released this app before it was ready," said one of the reviews of the app.
A similar app, Ebola Near Me, also uses location services to identify the nearest Ebola outbreak. Another app, Ebola: All You Need To Know, costs 99 cents and features a short list of commonly-known information about Ebola. All of these apps were launched within the last two months, the Daily Dot reported.
4. Ebola Decorations
If function isn't the primary goal, plenty of other products related to the outbreak are available online. Etsy offers a wealth of Ebola-related goods, including wall decorations, housewares and a $40 prayer candle.
This $40 sushi dish features an image of the Ebola virus. "Hand washing recommended," the product's description reads.
[img src="http://admin.mashable.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/ebola6.jpg" caption=""Hand washing recommended."" credit="Trilobite Glassworks" alt="ebola"]
This Ebola-themed cutting board also features Salmonella, Swine Flu, Bird Flu, and Meningitis.
4. Ebola Halloween Costumes
Perhaps inevitably, Ebola-related Halloween costumes have also begun to pop up.
5. Ebola T-Shirts
Ebola-themed t-shirts, of questionable taste, have also gone on sale since the Ebola outbreak began.
6. Ebola Bumper Stickers
Some have taken the Ebola outbreak as an opportunity to make political statements and a variety of anti-Obama, Ebola-related gear has popped up online.
