By Judd-Leonard Okafor
Ebola has been in the spotlight this year, but even more so this week with the death on Thursday of Patrick Sawyer, 40. He was a consultant to Liberia’s finance ministry, taken ill on arrival at Lagos airport on July 22. His death on Friday prompted Nigeria to place all entry points into the country on “red alert”. Public messages that have been going out in the media push messages of prevention to avoid panic. Concern is rising about the disease, which has infected more than 1,000 and killed 660 in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea. So what should we know about it? The federal ministry of health put out a fact sheet last week.
What is Ebola haemorrhagic fever?
A highly infectious, serious and deadly disease affecting humans and animals such as monkeys, gorillas, chimpanzees, bats, reptiles, amphibians. The disease is caused by Ebola virus, and it occurs in sporadic outbreaks. It is called haemorrhagic because it causes bleeding.
Where is Ebola haemorrhagic fever found?
Though the natural habitat of Ebola virus is unknown, the virus is normally found in an animal host native to the African continent. The name is taken from a river, Ebola, in a region where the first outbreak occurred.
Where do cases occur?
Outbreaks have been mainly restricted to Africa. Confirmed cases of Ebola have been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Sudan, the Ivory Coast, and Uganda. It is usually spread within a health care setting. However, sporadic isolated cases may occur unnoticed. The virus is its own enemy. Its fatality rate of 90% means it kills nine out of every 10 people infected. Fortunately, that also means it wears itself out before it can spread wider.
How is it spread? [eap_ad_2] The way Ebola first appears in humans at the start of an outbreak is undetermined. However, it is spread through: *Direct contact with infected animal or human *Direct contact with the blood or secretions of an infected person, especially within families *Contact with contaminated medical equipment, such as needles *Reuse of unsterilized needles in hospital *Eating or handling of carcass of infected animals *Inhaling contaminated air in hospital environment *Use of infected non-human primate or bats as food source *Non implementation of universal precautions
What are the symptoms?
The time between infection and manifestation—known as incubation period—varies from two to 21 days. But the symptoms include: *Fever *Headache *Vomiting *Chest pain *Stomach pain *Cold *Cough *Joint and muscle pain *Sore throat *Weakness *Depression *Confusion *Red eyes *Internal and external bleeding, as the virus punches holes in blood vessels.
How is Ebola haemorrhagic fever prevented?
*Avoid contact with the blood and secretions of Ebola-infected animal and humans or dead bodies by: *Maintaining good hygiene and sanitation practice in hospitals *Iisolate Ebola infected patients *Dispose of dead bodies of Ebola patients in a safe manner *Avoid local traditional burial rituals such as embalming for Ebola patients
Health workers and visitors caring for Ebola patients should: *Wear proper personal protective equipment such as disposable face mask, gloves and goggles *Wear protective gown always *Use disposable needles *Avoid reuse of needles or use of inadequately sterilized needles *Avoid embalming of deceased Ebola patient
Who is at risk?
*People exposed to or handling wild animals
*People depending on wild animals, such as bats, for food
*Mortuary attendants
*Health workers caring for Ebola patients
*Health workers in hospital settings with poor basic hygiene and sanitation practices
*Family members of an infected person
*People who go to hospitals with poor hygiene and sanitation practices. (Daily Trust)[eap_ad_3]
