Dealing with the Ebola outbreak
What is the Ebola Virus?
Ebola was first tracked in two simultaneous outbreaks in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1976. Prior to the current outbreak, there were fewer than 1,800 recorded cases of Ebola, resulting in fewer than 1,100 fatalities. The 2014 outbreak is the first in West Africa and the first time virus transmission has been recorded in a capital city.
Symptoms
The World Health Organisation maintains a list of Ebola symptoms which you can find here
Transmission
The World Health Organisation maintains a list of Ebola symptoms which you can find here
Transmission
The World Health Organisation advises the following when considering how Ebola is transmitted. The most important thing to know about Ebola is that it is not airborne. The disease can only spread through direct contact with an infected person. It is passed through bodily organs and fluids, such as blood, urine, semen, and vomit, and enters the body of a new host through broken skin and mucus membranes.
Transmission is not limited to the living; the dead can also pass the disease on. For that reason, burial ceremonies play a key role in amplifying Ebola, along, of course, with treatment centres. Animals can also get infected; indeed, Ebola outbreaks often begin with a human coming into contact with an infected animal. Gorillas, chimpanzees, fruit bats, monkeys, forest antelope and porcupines are most susceptible to the disease.
For more information please consult the World Health Organisation’s advice.
Prevention
There is no guaranteed way to prevent transmission of Ebola, but steps can be taken to significantly decrease susceptibility. Close physical contact with the infected should be avoided or reduced as much as possible. Where this is not possible, gloves and other protective clothing should be worn to limit direct skin-to-skin contact. These protective items should then be safely disposed of.
It is also important to engage in regular and thorough handwashing and handrubbing using soap. When doing this, the World Health Organisation’s procedure for hand hygiene should be followed:
If your hands are not visibly soiled, handrubbing should be used. This is a 20-30 second procedure that involves using soap and rotational rubbing actions, without water, to get your hands clean.
If your hands are visibly soiled, more thorough handwashing should be used. This is a 40-60 second procedure that involves using soap and rotational rubbing actions, with water, to get your hands clean. Caution must be applied at every stage, even turning the faucet off after the washing is complete.
If you do start showing the symptoms of Ebola, contact a medical centre immediately and follow their advice closely. Keep away from others so they don’t contract the disease and be careful with your vomit, diarrhoea and other bodily fluids.
Key Points
Be vigilant. Stay aware of the people around you and be on the lookout for Ebola symptoms.
Be careful. Limit your contact with others as much as possible. Do not touch bodily fluids.
Be thorough. Engage in the regular, thorough hand hygiene procedures suggested by the WHO.
References
Ebola Virus Disease Factsheet, World Health Organisation
Five Moments for Hand Hygiene, World Health Organisation
How to Handrub, World Health Organisation
How to Handwash, World Health Organisation
Ebola Viral Disease – West Africa, 2014, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention