As
we all know, established cases of victims of the Ebola virus have been
recorded in West African countries. While it is not our intention to
scare you, it is essential that we are all informed about the virus, and
exercise necessary precautions.
Facts:
·
Transmission
to humans is thought to originate from infected bats or non-human
pirates (monkeys, apes, chimpanzees, gorillas) that
are infected by the virus.
·
Undercooked infected bat and primate (bush) meat transmits the virus to humans.
·
Human
to human transmission is only achieved by physical contact with a
person who is acutely and gravely ill from the Ebola virus
or their body fluids.
·
Transmission among humans is almost exclusively among caregiver family members or health care workers tending to the very ill.
·
The virus is easily killed by contact with soap, bleach, sunlight, or drying.
·
A person can incubate the virus without symptoms for 2-21 days, the average being 5-8 days before becoming ill.
·
Only
when ill does the viral load express itself first in the blood and then
in other bodily fluids (to include vomit, feaces, urine,
breast milk, semen and sweat).
·
You cannot contact Ebola by handling money, buying local bread or swimming in a pool.
Symptoms:
Sudden
onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat
are typical signs and symptoms. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhea,
rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both
internal and external bleeding.
Prevention:
·
Avoid places where you can come in contact with bats, apes, monkeys, etc.
·
Practice good hand washing habit.
·
Listen to and follow directives issued by your country’s respective Ministry of Health.
·
If
you suspect someone close to you or in your community of having Ebola
virus disease, encourage and support them in seeking appropriate medical
treatment in a hospital.
·
If
you choose to care for an ill person in your home, notify public health
officials of your intentions so they can train you and provide
appropriate
gloves and personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as instructions
as a reminder on how to properly care for the patient, protect yourself
and your family, and properly dispose of the PPE after use.
·
When
visiting patients in the hospital or caring for someone at home, hand
washing with soap and water is recommended after touching a patient,
being in contact with their bodily fluids, or touching his/her
surroundings.
·
People who have died from Ebola should only be handled using appropriate protective equipment and should be buried immediately.
·
Animal products (blood and meat) should be thoroughly cooked before eating.
0 comments:
Post a Comment
All content except noted photos and videos copyright © 2023, King Angela Uyi Creations.
All rights reserved. *Any images or videos not listed as mine are copyright to their respective owners and were used under creative common license or fair use standards. IF A PHOTO OR VIDEO IS YOUR MATERIAL AND YOU DO NOT WISH IT TO BE ON THE SITE, PLEASE EMAIL Us angelaeuyi@gmail.com AND WE WILL REMOVE IT IMMEDIATELY. Content created and maintained by King Angela Uyi.