Ebola Epidemic: Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF) or simply Ebola
is a disease of humans and other primates caused by an Ebola virus. There are
now more than 7,400 confirmed suspected cases of Ebola.
is a disease of humans and other primates caused by an Ebola virus. There are
now more than 7,400 confirmed suspected cases of Ebola.
Signs and Symptoms
Signs
and symptoms of Ebola include, fever, sore throat, muscle pain, headaches, vomiting,
diarrhoea, rash, decrease function of the liver and kidney, bleeding, malaria, cholera,
influenza, etc.
and symptoms of Ebola include, fever, sore throat, muscle pain, headaches, vomiting,
diarrhoea, rash, decrease function of the liver and kidney, bleeding, malaria, cholera,
influenza, etc.
Incubation Period
The incubation period
is two days to three weeks
is two days to three weeks
Mode of Transmission
i.
Through blood or bodily fluids of an infected person
Through blood or bodily fluids of an infected person
ii.
Through fruit bats
Through fruit bats
Prevention and Control
i.
Checking and killing on infected animals and disposing of the bodies if
the disease is discovered.
Checking and killing on infected animals and disposing of the bodies if
the disease is discovered.
ii.
Proper cooking of meat.
Proper cooking of meat.
iii.
Wearing a protective clothing when handling meat may also be helpful
Wearing a protective clothing when handling meat may also be helpful
iv.
Washing hands when around a person with the disease.
Washing hands when around a person with the disease.
v.
Samples of bodily fluids and tissues from people with the disease should
be handled with special caution
Samples of bodily fluids and tissues from people with the disease should
be handled with special caution
vi.
By giving sweet and salty water to drink or (intravenous fluids)
By giving sweet and salty water to drink or (intravenous fluids)
vii.
Isolation of suspected person.
Isolation of suspected person.
The Origin of Ebola Virus
The Ebola virus originated in 1976
when there was outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever in Zaire and Sudan. The
virus is said to be transmitted to a human through contact with infected blood
and bodily fluids of an infected persons. Both of these mechanisms will occur in
clinical and non-clinical situations. Due to the high fatality rate and the
often remote areas where the infections occur, the outbreak is considered low.
Ebola is also believed to be a zoonotic virus as it is currently devastating
the population of lowland gorillas in Central Africa.
when there was outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever in Zaire and Sudan. The
virus is said to be transmitted to a human through contact with infected blood
and bodily fluids of an infected persons. Both of these mechanisms will occur in
clinical and non-clinical situations. Due to the high fatality rate and the
often remote areas where the infections occur, the outbreak is considered low.
Ebola is also believed to be a zoonotic virus as it is currently devastating
the population of lowland gorillas in Central Africa.
How Ebola Virus came to Nigeria
On
July 20, 2014, an acutely ill traveller from Liberia (Patrick Sawyer) arrived
at the International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria and was confirmed to have Ebola
virus disease (Ebola) after being admitted to a private hospital. This index
patient potentially exposed 72 persons at the airport and the hospital. He died
on July 25.
July 20, 2014, an acutely ill traveller from Liberia (Patrick Sawyer) arrived
at the International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria and was confirmed to have Ebola
virus disease (Ebola) after being admitted to a private hospital. This index
patient potentially exposed 72 persons at the airport and the hospital. He died
on July 25.
Government Effort toward Ebola Virus
i.
Provision of vaccine to the people that are affected.
Provision of vaccine to the people that are affected.
ii.
By training health workers on the control of the virus
By training health workers on the control of the virus
iii.
They also create an isolation hospital to keep suspected cases of Ebola
virus victims.
They also create an isolation hospital to keep suspected cases of Ebola
virus victims.
iv.
Provision of funds for the control of the disease.
Provision of funds for the control of the disease.