Top Tips: What You Need To Know About Ebola

For the past four, five, six, heck I cannot even remember how many weeks but everytime I turn on my tv or radio there is always talks about Ebola this and Ebola that. I even read an article that claimed a doctor at Korle-Bu teaching hospital said he and his colleagues will flee if Ebola patients reported at the infirmary.

So before we ever get to the stage of doctors running for their lives, here are few tips on preventive measures, transmission, signs and symptoms of the deadly Ebola virus.

Signs & Symptoms

First symptoms include: fever, sore throat, muscle pain and intense weakness (and errrm don’t go gaga if you are suffering from any of these symptoms, it just might not be the deadly virus)

This is followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding.

Transmission

Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and indirect contact with environments contaminated with such fluids. Burial ceremonies in which mourners have direct contact with the body of the deceased person can also play a role in the transmission of Ebola. Men who have recovered from the disease can still transmit the virus through their semen for up to 7 weeks after recovery from illness.

Health care workers have reported cases of infection passed on from the handling of infected chimpanzees, monkeys, forest antelope and porcupines,gorillas and fruit bats. Pig farms can help to multiply infection rates if they are situated near fruit bat colonies, since the pigs carry the virus without symptoms and can pass it on to humans.

Preventive Measures

Well since there is no cure or vaccine the least anyone can do is:

Wash hands regularly and practice good hygiene.

Animal products including: blood and meat should be thoroughly cooked before consumption.

Gloves and appropriate personal protective equipment should be worn when taking care of ill patients at home. Again, regular hand washing is required after visiting patients in hospital, as well as after taking care of patients at home.

Finally as cliche as it may sound, “prayer answers all” so to all my believers, lets get on our knees and hopefully this deadly virus would die out soon.

Source: WHO