HISTORY Ebola haemorrhagic fever (Ebola HF) is a severe, often fatal viral hemorrhagic disease in humans and primates such as monkeys, gorillas, chimpanzees, and fruit bats. Ebola HF is caused by infection with a virus of the family (filoviridae), genus (Ebolavirus). The first Ebolavirus species was discovered in 1976 in Zaire (Presently known as Democratic Republic of Congo) near the Ebola river. There are five known species of Ebola virus. These are: 1. Ebola Virus (Zaire ebolavirus) 2. Sudan virus (Sudan ebolavirus) 3. Tai forest virus (Tar forest ebolavirus) a. k. a Cote d’ivoire ebolavirus 4. Bundibugyo virus (Bundibugyo ebolavirus) 5. Reston virus (Reston ebolavirus) The virus is zoonotic (animal borne) with bats being the most likely reservoir OUTBREAK OF EBOLA DISEASE: Past and Present YEAR COUNTRY CASES DEATHS 2012 DRC 57 29 2012 UGANDA 24 17 2011 UGANDA 1 1 2008 DRC 22 14 2007 UGANDA 149 37 2007 DRC 264 187 2005 CONGO 12 10 2004 SUDAN 17 7 2003 (2) CONGO 35 29 2003 (1) CONGO 143 128 2001/02 CONGO 59 44 2001/02 GABON 65 53 2000 UGANDA 425 224 1996 SOUTH AFRICA 1 1 1996 (2) GABON 60 45 1996 (1) GABON 31 21 1995 DRC 315 254 1994 COTE D’IVOIRE 1 1 1194 GABON 52 31 1979 SUDAN 34 22 1977 DRC 1 1 1976 SUDAN 284 151 1976 DRC 318 280 MODE OF TRANSMISSION 1. Through direct contact with an infected animal (monkey, bat, chimapanzee) 2. Direct contact with a sick person’s blood or body fluids (urine, saliva, faeces, vomit and semen) through broken skin or mucous membranes NOTE: Mucous membranes are those pink fleshy places in the openings of the body such as the eye, nose, inner ear, mouth, anus, opening of the penis and vagina or any wound on any part of the body. 3. Contaminated objects such as needles and syringes. 4. Dead bodies of infected individuals. Note: Ebola can only be spread to others after symptoms begin in infected individuals. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: Symptoms may be seen 2 to 21 days after contracting the ebolavirus. Early stage 1. Fever 2. Severe headache 3. Weakness 4. Abdominal pain 5. Lack of appetite 6. Sore throat 7. Hiccups 8. Chest pain 9. Rash 10. Muscular pain Late stage 1. Diarrhea (may contain blood) 2. Vomiting (may contain blood) 3. Red eyes 4. Difficulty in breathing and swallowing 5. Bleeding from the nose and mouth 6. Cough (may contain blood) PREVENTION/CONTROL 1. Avoid coming in contact with materials/body fluids of infected person 2. Avoid eating bush meat 3. Wash hands with soap and running water 4. Use hand Sanitizers 5. Seek medical help if you or your family members feel sick (i.e show any of the above mentioned sign and symptoms) 6. Dilute bleach in water and use to disinfect surrounding TREATMENT: Standard treatment for Ebola Hf is still limited to supportive therapy. This include: Balancing the patient’s fluids and electrolytes Maintaining their oxygen status and blood pressure Treating them for any complicating infections UNTRUE STORIES 1. Drinking and bathing with salt water 2. Eating of bitter kola 3. Witchcraft 4. Signs of the end of the world 5. Punishment from God for blood shedding in the land 6. God’s reaction to opposition to His supremacy : - cults, satanic churches, rituals, etc Question/Answers 1. Can ebola be transmitted through the air? No. Ebola is not a respiratory disease like flu. It is not transmitted through the air 2. Can I get ebola from contaminated food or water? No. It is not food or water borne disease. 3. Can Ebola virus be transmitted from an individual who is infected with the virus but doesn’t have any symptom? No. Individuals who are not symptomatic are not contagious. Before the virus can be transmitted, an individual would have to have direct contact with an individual who is exhibiting the symptoms. 4. Can I get ebola from consumption of fruits/vegetables purchased from the market? The answer is no. Please, help spread these facts and not the fear. Together we can win the battle against Ebola.
Posted on: Wed, 20 Aug 2014 08:49:38 +0000
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