What is it about EBOLA? In case you’re wondering!.. Ebola Virus outbreak, and Symptoms

 Ebola virus is a human disease caused by the Ebola virus. It is a severe and often deadly disease that can occur in humans and animals such as primates E.g. Monkeys. Since its discovery in 1976, Ebola has become the biggest outbreak on record, recording a high mortality rate and often killing between 50%and 90% of those infected with the virus.

 Ebola virus disease popularly known as (EVD) and Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is known to be a severe, contagious and often fatal illness in humans.

According to (WHO, 2014), EVD outbreaks occur primarily in remote villages in central and west Africa, almost near tropical rainforest. The virus is known to be

Transmitted from wild animals to people and the rate at which it spread is said to be significantly high in human population through a method of transmission

Known as human-to-human.

According to research carried out it is believed that Ebola first appeared in 1976 in 2 simultaneous outbreaks, in Nzara, Sudan, and in Yambuku, Democratic

Republic of Congo. Then the later was situated in a village near the EBOLA River, from which the disease takes its name. The genus Ebolavirus is 1 of 3 members

of the Filoviridae family (Filovirus) along with genus Marburgvirus and  genus Ceuvavirus.

EBOLA SYMPTOMS

Average time between contracting the infection and the start of symptoms is 8 to 10 days, but can occur between 2 and 21 days

with symptoms like

• 1.     sore throat,
• 
  
• 2.     fever,
• 
  
• 3.     muscle pains and
• 
  
• 4.     headache. 

The symptoms like Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea follow along with decreased functioning of the liver and kidneys.

 EBOLA TRANSMISSION

The EBOLA virus can be acquired by contact with blood and body fluids of an infected person or animal (commonly monkeys and fruit bats), including

The embalming of an infected dead person or by contacts with contaminated medical equipment particularly needles and syringes. The quick onset of disease makes it

easier to identify sick individuals and limits a person’s ability to spread the disease by traveling to other region. Because dead bodies are still highly infectious, some doctors dispose them off in a safe manner despite local traditional burial rights. Medical workers who do not wear appropriate protective clothing and gloves

may also contract the disease. It is also noted that the disease is not transmitted through the open air. Once human infection occurs, the disease may/will spread among people as well.

PREVENTION OF EBOLA

Prevention can be done in many ways which includes

1. Decreasing the spread of disease from infected monkeys and pigs to humans by regular checking of such animals for infection also killing and properly disposing the body (without getting exposed by touching with bare hands) if the disease is discovered.
2. Properly cooking meat and wearing protective gloves when handling meat as well as wearing protective clothing and gloves when around an infected person.
3. Samples of body fluids and tissues from people especially with the disease should be handled with special caution.
4. According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, it is important to wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap or, if that is not available, a hand sanitizer can be used. 
5. Avoid any contact with someone you believe is infected, especially with their bodily fluids, advises the World Health Organisation (WHO).
6. If you need to go near someone with the virus, use protective gear such as face masks and gloves.
7. Health workers in West Africa have taken full precautions, wearing protective suits that cover their entire bodies, as well as hosing down areas infected patients have used.
8. WHO states any areas an infected person could have had contact with, such as bed linens, should be disinfected.
9. If you believe someone you know has been infected, or if you think you might have contracted Ebola, the best thing to do is isolate yourself from any other people around you and call medical help immediately.
10. A sudden temperature, muscle aches, vomiting or a rash might indicate you have the disease.

EBOLA TREATMENT

    Presently no drug has been approved to treat Ebola Virus Disease . People diagnosed with Ebola receive supportive care and treatment for complications. Scientists are coming closer to developing vaccines for these deadly diseases. For now there is no vaccine or specific treatment for Ebola.

#HEalth is #Wealth, #stayHealthy

Tuesday, August 05, 2014