Have You Heard that Ebola Virus was almost in Nigeria? Do You Know that the dreaded EBOLA Virus has entered Lagos? My crew proudly researched about this deadly virus and share with you things you need to know about it and how to prevent it.
Things you need to know about Ebola Virus to stay SAFE…
1. It is a Central African disease that has traveled over countries in a living host to West Africa. It is easily spread by physical contact and eating contaminated bush meat. Major hosts are in 5 species of Bats but monkeys and apes are easily infected and killed.
2. It kills in a week, leaving no time to treat an individual.
3. It has no known vaccine or cure
4. Known cases have been experienced recently in Guniea, Liberia and Central Africa Rep, spreading eastwards and westwards towards Nigeria. Death toll so far in West Africa is over 100.
5. The Ebola outbreak of 2014 is the most challenging one witnessed in Africa.
What is the incubation period of this disease?
Signs and symptoms of the fever generally appear 1-3 weeks after contact with the virus.
Who can be infected?
Both men and women of all age groups who are exposed to infected rat feaces/urine. Those who live in areas with a high population of rats with many breasts (Multimammate); People living in dirty environment (poor sanitation); Travelers who stay for an extended amount of time in an area where the infection is common; Health workers and those who are taking care of infected persons.
Who is at risk?
People exposed to and handling wild animals; People depending on wild animals such as bats as a food source; Mortuary attendants; Health workers caring for Ebola VD patients; Health workers in hospital settings with poor basic hygiene and sanitation practices; Family members of an infected patient; People that go to hospitals with poor hygiene and sanitation practices.
How is Ebola Virus Disease spread?
The manner in which the Ebola virus first appears in a human at the start of an outbreak has not been determined. However, Ebola VD could be spread through the following: Direct contact with an infected animal or human; Direct contact with the blood and 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 the carcass of infected animals; Inhalation of contaminated air in hospital environment; Use of infected non human primate/bats as food source; Non implementation of universal precautions.
How To Prevent Ebola Virus:
1. Avoid bush meat or any meat you are not sure of its source.
2. Wash your hands frequently with detergent or soap using clean water.
3. Avoid trips to Ebola endemic countries (DRC ,UGANDA , CONGO, GABON SUDAN etc)
4. Get a hand sanitizer for people to use in your office and educate them on the importance of sanitizers, Get one for your kids to use in school frequently and if possible for their class.
5. Avoid buying Food stuffs, Clothing or other personal materials from Markets/Shops that share the same vicinity with live or roasted bush meat, dealer’s or sellers
6. Be careful with hands when using railings on the stairs, door knobs and other utilities used by the public.
7. Gloves and other appropriate protective clothing should be worn when handling sick animals or their tissues
8. Watch out for people with flu-like symptoms and sudden fever
9. Avoid Pig farms, Pig farms in Africa play a role in the amplification of infection because of the presence of fruit bats on these farms.
10. Avoid bat meats and bat products.
FOR HEALTH WORKERS:
WHO states as follows, Standard precautions are recommended in the care and treatment of all patients regardless of their perceived or confirmed infectious status. They include the basic level of infection control—hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment to avoid direct contact with blood and body fluids, prevention of needle stick and injuries from other sharp instruments, and a set of environmental controls.
Signs and symptoms of Ebola
EVD is a severe acute viral illness often characterized by the sudden onset of
1.Fever
2.Intense weakness
3.Muscle pain,
4.Headache and sore throat.
5.Followed by vomiting, Diarrhea, Rash, Impaired kidney and Liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding
