Ebola 101 Ebola has arrived in the United States. These are some basic things that you should know about Ebola: What Is Ebola? The Ebola virus can cause a deadly kind of hemorrhagic fever. A hemorrhagic fever means it causes bleeding, both inside and outside the body. Part of the problem is that the virus has a long incubation, which is from 8 - 21 days. Early symptoms include fever, muscle weakness, sore throat and headaches. As the disease progresses, the virus can impair kidney and liver function and lead to external and internal bleeding. It’s one of the most deadly viruses, with a fatality rate that can reach between 50% to 90%. How Is Ebola Transmitted? Some experts say that Ebola can spread through the air over short distances by an aerosol of airborne particles. Others say that the Ebola virus is not airborne and is therefore not transmitted the way a flu or some other viruses can be transmitted. They are all in agreement that Ebola can also spread via contaminated surfaces. Ebola is also transmitted through direct or indirect contact with blood or body secretions from an infected person. This means that it can be spread by direct contact with an infected person, or through contact with contaminated objects, such as surfaces, needles or medical equipment. A patient is not contagious until he or she starts showing signs of the disease. When an infected patient makes contact with a surface such as a doorknob or ATM keypad, they may leave behind the Ebola virus which survives for minutes to hours in the open, depending on environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity and sunlight. Another person who touches the virus infected surface, may then become infected by simply touching their own eyes, nose or mouth. Ebola is destroyed by direct sunlight, but it can remain viable for a surprisingly long time in environments where sunlight never reaches. Where Did the Virus Come From? The dangerous virus gets its name from the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which was near the site of one of the first outbreaks. The virus was first reported in 1976 in two almost simultaneous outbreaks in the Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The outbreaks claimed 151 and 280 lives, respectively. Certain bats living in tropical African forests are thought to be the natural hosts of the disease. The initial transmission of an outbreak usually results from a wild animal infecting a human, according to the World Health Organization. Once the disease infects a person, it is easily transmissible between people in close contact. Until this outbreak, approximately 2,361 people had been infected since the disease was identified in 1976. At least 1,548 of those infected died from it. Who Is At Risk? Those who are in close contact with infected people are most at risk to become infected. A person sitting next to an infected person, even if they are contagious, is not extremely likely to become infected. Health workers and caregivers of the sick are particularly at risk for the disease because they work in close contact with infected patients. It is most contagious during the final stages of the disease, when the virus causes internal and external bleeding. How To Avoid Contracting Ebola: A strong immune system is one of the best defenses against Ebola. You can strengthen your immune system by: 1. Consuming more nutritious foods including; fresh fruits and vegetables, leafy greens, herbal spices and anti-viral plants, which include peppermint, basil, rosemary, cinnamon and oregano, just to name a few. 2. Staying away from junk food, soda, sugar and processed foods. 3. Eat probiotic rich foods such as fermented vegetables, yogurt and kefir. 4. Drink plenty of pure water, preferably filtered. 5. Try to reduce your stress levels and also learn how to handle stress better, which is easier said than done. 6. Get 8 hours of quality sleep per night and try to go to bed the same time every day. 7. Exercise regularly 8. Get a vitamin D blood test. Blood vitamin D should be in the optimum range, which is about 50-65 ng/ml or 125-163 nmol/L, depending upon which units your test results are measured in. If your vitamin D levels are low, get your blood vitamin D up to optimum levels ASAP. Optimum levels of vitamin D can help your body to more effectively fight viruses. Obtaining an optimal level can be accomplished by taking 10,000 IU of vitamin D daily along with vitamin K2, which will enhance the efficacy of the vitamin D. Avoid viruses by: 1. Washing your hands frequently with plain soap and warm water. 2. Avoid physical contact with strangers 3. Avoid areas crowded with strangers 4. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with your hands, especially after touching objects in public. For Additional Information: naturalnews/047089_Ebola_pandemic_government_lies_disinformation.html geek/science/everything-you-need-to-know-about-ebola-1600880/
Posted on: Fri, 03 Oct 2014 10:45:44 +0000
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