As the Centers for Disease Control appears to be scrambling to figure out how to handle Ebola in the United States, Americans learn more and more about a deadly virus most had probably never heard of a month ago. Next come the commercial ventures: New vaccines. Protective equipment. Plush toys. Yes, you read that right. An Ebola plush toy.



The giant Ebola plush toy, from Giant Microbes. Source: Giant Microbes

In what some may be tempted to call the least tasteful advertising campaign in the history of marketing, a website called Giant Microbes, which promotes "learning & fun," is selling an Ebola plush toy for $9.95. "Since its discovery in 1976, Ebola has become the T. Rex of microbes," reads the product write-up. "Share the love!" Giant Microbes has been around for a long time, known for selling plush toys representing everything from HIV to botulism. As for the Ebola toy, "We are currently out of stock worldwide," said Laura Sullivan, vice president of marketing for Giant Microbes. "We have continued to sell out a number of times over the last couple of months." Read More Cramer: Why Ebola is behind the selloff