FEW THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW AND TEACH: EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE!!! A] 1. Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans. 2. EVD outbreaks have a case fatality rate of up to 90%. 3. EVD outbreaks occur primarily in remote villages in Central and West Africa, near tropical rainforests. 4. The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission. 5. Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are considered to be the natural host of the Ebola virus. 6. Severely ill patients require intensive supportive care. No licensed specific treatment or vaccine is available for use in people or animals. B] 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. C] Genus Ebolavirus is 1 of 3 members of the Filoviridae family (filovirus), along with genus Marburgvirus and genus Cuevavirus. 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). BDBV, EBOV, and SUDV have been associated with large EVD outbreaks in Africa, whereas RESTV and TAFV have not. The RESTV species, found in Philippines and the People’s Republic of China, can infect humans, but no illness or death in humans from this species has been reported to date. D] Ebola is introduced into the human population through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals. In Africa, infection has been documented through the handling of infected chimpanzees, gorillas, fruit bats, monkeys, forest antelope and porcupines found ill or dead or in the rainforest. 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 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 frequently been infected while treating patients with suspected or confirmed EVD. This has occurred through close contact with patients when infection control precautions are not strictly practiced. E] •Fever •Headache •Joint and muscle aches •Weakness •Diarrhea •Vomiting •Stomach pain •Lack of appetite Some patients may exhibit: •A Rash •Red Eyes •Hiccups •Cough •Sore throat •Chest pain •Difficulty breathing •Difficulty swallowing •Bleeding inside and outside of the body F] 1. when you notice any of these signs and symptoms, on/off-the-job, inform the nearest health centres for immediate action. 2. In the absence of effective treatment and a licensed human vaccine, 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. 3. 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. 4. wearing of protective clothing (such as masks, gloves, gowns, and goggles) 5. the use of infection-control measures (such as complete equipment sterilization and routine use of disinfectant) 6. isolation of Ebola HF patients from contact with unprotected persons.
Posted on: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 19:24:56 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015