EBOLA Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans. EVD outbreaks have a case fatality rate of up to 90%. The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission. Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are considered to be the natural host of the Ebola virus. Severely ill patients require intensive supportive care. No licensed specific treatment or vaccine is available for clinical use in people or animals. Ebola first appeared in 1976 in 2 simultaneous outbreaks, in Nzara, Sudan, and in Yambuku, Democratic Republic of Congo. The latter was in a village situated near the Ebola River, from which the disease takes its name. Genus Ebolavirus comprises 5 distinct species: 1. Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BDBV) 2. Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV) 3. Reston ebolavirus (RESTV) 4. Sudan ebolavirus (SUDV) 5. Taï Forest ebolavirus (TAFV). Transmission Ebola is introduced into the human population through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected humans and animals. Ebola then spreads in the community through human-to-human transmission, with infection resulting from direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) 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 get it. Signs and symptoms * sudden onset of fever * Intense weakness * muscle pain * headache *sore throat. * vomiting, *diarrhoea, * rashes * impaired kidney and liver function * both internal and external bleeding. Diagnosis Other diseases that should be ruled out before a diagnosis of EVD can be made include: * malaria, * typhoid fever * shigellosis, * cholera, * leptospirosis, * plague, *rickettsiosis, * relapsing fever, * meningitis, * hepatitis and other viral haemorrhagic fevers. Vaccine and treatment No licensed vaccine for EVD is available. Several vaccines are being tested, but none are available for clinical use. Severely ill patients require intensive supportive care. Patients are frequently dehydrated and require oral rehydration with solutions containing electrolytes or intravenous fluids. No specific treatment is available. New drug therapies are being evaluated. Prevention and control * Routine cleaning and disinfection of animal farms (with sodium hypochlorite or other detergents) should be effective in inactivating the virus. * If an outbreak is suspected, the premises should be quarantined immediately. * Culling of infected animals, with close supervision of burial or incineration of carcasses, may be necessary to reduce the risk of animal-to-human transmission. * Restricting or banning the movement of animals from infected farms to other areas can reduce the spread of the disease. Reducing the risk of Ebola infection in people * Raising awareness of the risk factors for Ebola infection and the protective measures individuals can take is the only way to reduce human infection and death. * Reducing the risk of wildlife-to-human transmission from contact with infected fruit bats or monkeys/apes and the consumption of their raw meat. * Animals should be handled with gloves and other appropriate protective clothing. * Animal products (blood and meat) should be thoroughly cooked before consumption. Reducing the risk of human-to-human transmission in the community arising from direct or close contact with infected patients, particularly with their bodily fluids. * Close physical contact with Ebola patients should be avoided. * Appropriate personal protective equipment should be worn when taking care of ill patients at home. *Regular hand washing is required after visiting patients in hospital, as well as after taking care of patients at home. *People who have died from Ebola should be promptly and safely buried by health workers. * Appropriate biosecurity measures should be in place to limit transmission. Like and share to save people. Donkor A. Ghaff
Posted on: Sun, 24 Aug 2014 13:46:41 +0000
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