8 Things you Need to Know About Ebola

For some months now, the outbreak of Ebola virus in some parts of Africa (Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone) has made the headlines. This is not the first disease to wreck havoc in these areas. About 392 people were killed in a cholera outbreak less than two years ago. Most people can’t protect themselves because they are ignorant about the virus. Here are eight things you need to know about the Ebola virus.

1. Name: Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is also known as Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever (EHF). Ebola outbreaks have up to 90% fatality rate.

2. Occurrence: The first Ebola outbreak occurred in 1976 in two simultaneous outbreaks; one in a village near the Ebola River in Congo and the other in Sudan. Ebola outbreaks occur mostly in rural areas in Central and West Africa.

Fruit Bat

3. Natural host: Fruit bats (Pteropodidae)

4. Cause: The origin of the virus is not known.

5. Transmission:  The virus is transmitted from animals (such as fruit bats, gorillas, monkeys) to humans through close contact with secretions and bodily fluids of infected animals. Due to its highly contagious and infectious nature, human to human transmission is effected through bodily fluids and contact with blood of infected people. Men who have recovered from the illness can still spread the virus to their partner through their semen for up to 7 weeks after recovery. Health workers not wearing appropriate personal protective equipment can be infected. Persons who have died of Ebola must be handled using strong protective clothing and gloves, and be buried immediately.

6. Symptoms: Fever, headache, throat pain, muscle pain, sore throat, intense weakness followed by bleeding, vomiting, rash and diarrhea. Laboratory tests indicating low white blood cell & platelet counts and elevated liver enzymes further confirm the presence of the virus. Anyone showing these symptoms should see a doctor immediately.

7. Cure: No specific cure for the disease. However, severely ill patients should be isolated and given intensive medical care such as oral rehydration and infection control treatments.

8. Prevention: There is currently no vaccine for the Ebola virus, however, it can be prevented by raising awareness about the virus, ensuring that persons showing the symptoms seek adequate medical care, wearing appropriate PPE when caring for someone with the virus and hand washing (with soap and water) after touching an infected person.

Source: WHO, theguardian

Photocredit: getty images, theguardian