Ebola: How Nigerians can escape a killer disease font size Print Email 03.Aug.2014 | DISQUS_COMMENTS | Vera Onana Amidst the fear that Ebola haemorrhagic virus has found its way into Nigeria and the concern over possible hazards that the virus may cause to public health in the country, VERA ONANA writes on the deadly virus and what Nigerians can do to prevent the spread of the disease. ONE cannot doubt the fact that many Nigerians are deeply concerned about the outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic virus which has claimed many lives in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Since the first case of the deadly disease was reported in Lagos when a Liberian, Mr Patrick Sawyer, reportedly slumped at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, and was subsequently rushed to a private hospital in the city, the fear of the virus has spread like wildfire among Nigerians. By now, few Nigerians can claim not to have heard about the disease. However, for that category of Nigerians, their ignorance is bound to fade away with time as a lot of awareness is being created about the disease. It needs be stressed that the probability that this dreadful virus may have found its way into the Africa’s most populous country cannot be ruled out, since the virus spreads through contact with bodily fluids, and there is fear in many quarters that some Nigerians may have had contact with the Liberian before and after his death. How Sawyer contracted the virus Sawyer, a consultant for Liberia’s Finance Ministry, died on Friday after arriving at Lagos airport on June 20, having vomited and suffered diarrhoea on two flights. The 40-year-old Liberian/U.S. citizen had been to the funeral of his sister who also died from the disease. He was put in isolation at the First Consultants Hospital in Obalende, one of the most crowded parts of the city. Mr Sawyer took two flights from Monrovia to Lome en route Lagos. So far, 59 people, who came in contact with Mr Sawyer, have been identified by Nigerian health officials and are under surveillance, though health officials have said they are looking at contacting 30,000 people who could be at risk of contracting the disease. How Ebola virus started In 1976, Ebola (named after the Ebola River in Zaire) first emerged in Sudan and Zaire. The first outbreak of Ebola (Ebola-Sudan) infected over 284 people, with a mortality rate of 53 per cent. A few months later, the second Ebola virus emerged from Yambuku, Zaire, Ebola- Zaire (EBOZ). EBOZ, with the highest mortality rate of any of the Ebola viruses (88 per cent), infected 318 people. Despite the tremendous effort of experienced and dedicated researchers, Ebola’s natural reservoir was never identified. The third strain of Ebola, Ebola Reston (EBOR), was first identified in 1989 when infected monkeys were imported into Reston, Virginia, from Mindanao in the Philippines. Fortunately, the few people who were infected with EBOR (seroconverted) never developed Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF). The last known strain of Ebola, Ebola Cote d’Ivoire (EBO-CI), was discovered in 1994 when a female ethologist performing a necropsy on a dead chimpanzee from the Tai Forest, Cote d’Ivoire, accidentally infected herself during the necropsy. Signs and symptoms of Ebola The 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa is the worst outbreak of the haemorrhagic disease since it was discovered in 1976. In total, 1,201 cases including 672 deaths (case fatality rate 56 per cent) have been reported during the 2014 outbreak. Since Ebola was discovered in 1976, some 1,200 people have been killed by the virus from 3,147 cases – illustrating the virulence of the virus. Symptoms present themselves anywhere from two to 21 days after infection, but mostly between day eight and 10 days. The symptoms are similar to the flu, cholera, typhoid and malaria and they include: fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, weakness, diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach pain and lack of appetite. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding. Bleeding can occur from the eyes, ears, nose, mouth and anus. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that laboratory findings include low white blood cell and platelet counts and elevated liver enzymes. People are infectious as long as their blood and secretions contain the virus. Ebola virus was isolated from semen 61 days after onset of illness in a man who was infected in a laboratory. Science writer, David Quammen, who has investigated the origins and spread of the virus, writes that “RNA viruses (of which Ebola is one) produce acute infections, severe for a short time and then gone. Either they soon disappear or they kill you.” Symptoms A person infected with Ebola won’t realise the deadly disease is lurking in their body for up to three weeks. When it hits, the onset is sudden and harsh. A fever, crippling headaches and muscle aches are the first sign that something is wrong. But the fact the virus mimics the symptoms of a common cold means it is difficult to spot. Within a few days, the virus causes a condition known as disseminated intravascular coagulation. It causes blood clots and haemorrhaging. In Ebola victims, the clots affect their liver, spleen, brain and other internal organs, forcing capillaries to bleed into the surrounding tissue. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea with blood and mucus, conjunctivitis and a sore throat follow. A rash is then likely to appear on the torso, spreading quickly to the limbs and head. The patient will then endure spontaneous bleeding from their ears, eyes, mouth and other orifices as well as any breaks in the skin. Internally they will suffer bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract and internal organs, as the virus pierces veins and blood vessels. Death is usually brought on by haemorrhaging, shock or renal failure and typically occurs between eight and 17 days after a person first falls ill. Are you at risk of catching the incurable, deadly disease? Ebola is a severe, often fatal illness; with a death rate of up to 90 per cent. The illness affects humans as well as primates, including monkeys, gorillas and chimpanzees. How is Ebola virus transmitted? Ebola is transmitted through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals. In Africa infection in humans has happened as a result of contact with chimpanzees, gorillas, fruit bats, monkeys, forest antelope and porcupines found ill or dead in the rainforest. Once a person becomes infected, the virus can spread through contact with a sufferer’s blood, urine, saliva, stools and semen. A person can also become infected if broken skin comes into contact with a victim’s soiled clothing, bed linen or used needles. Those at risk Health workers, family members or others in close contact with infected people, mourners with direct contact with the bodies of deceased victims and hunters in contact with dead animals. When should you seek medical care? If a person is in an area affected by the outbreak, or has been in contact with a person known or suspected to have Ebola, they should seek medical help immediately. What is the treatment? Severely ill patients require intensive supportive care. They need intravenous fluids to rehydrate them. But there is currently no specific treatment for the disease. Some patients will recover with the appropriate care. Can Ebola be prevented? Currently there is no licensed vaccine for Ebola. Several are being tested but are not available for clinical use. Is it safe to travel to affected areas? The World Health Organisation (WHO) reviews the public health situation regularly, and recommends travel or trade restrictions if necessary. The risk of infection for travellers is very low since person-to- person transmission results from direct contact with bodily fluids of victims
Posted on: Sun, 03 Aug 2014 03:08:58 +0000
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