Ebola prevention: Myth and truth
AUGUST 8, 2014 BY OLUFEMI OBOYE
Leave a Comment
Olufemi Oboye
Olufemi Oboye
The Ebola outbreak in Guinea and its spread to
other areas of West Africa, including Nigeria has
caused global alarm. According to the Centre for
Disease Control, since the detection of Ebola in
March, the number of suspected and confirmed
cases attributed to Ebola in the West African
countries, such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea
and Nigeria stands at 1,711.
Meanwhile, a Saudi man tested for the disease
has
died in Jeddah after returning from Sierra Leone
on
Sunday. If there were a linkage of the Saudi
man’s
death to the Ebola virus, it would be the first
fatality outside the West African countries.
As one of the world’s most infectious and deadly
diseases, with no cure, the level of fear,
surrounding Ebola is to an extent expected.
However, much of the fear is rooted in
misunderstandings. Dispelling this is perhaps
the
biggest challenge in tackling Ebola and is critical
to
furthering our knowledge about the disease and
efforts to control it.
Here is the myth versus the truth about some of
the most common misconceptions about Ebola
virus:
Myth: Ebola virus is airborne, waterborne or
spreads through casual contact.
Truth: Ebola virus spreads when the bodily fluids
of an infected person meet the mucous
membranes of a non-infected person. That
means
Ebola virus in fluids, such as saliva, blood, sweat
or urine has to be exposed to your eyes, mouth,
nostrils, ears, genital area or an open wound in
order to infect you.
In other words, it takes a lot of contact, not just
casual contact, to become infected with the
virus.
This is the reason why many of the victims of the
disease in West Africa are health care workers or
family members caring for a sick relative. For
example, the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi
Chukwu, during a news conference in Abuja,
revealed that a nurse, who was one of the
medical
personnel that attended to the late Liberian-
American, Patrick Sawyer, died of the disease.
He
also confirmed that five other medical
practitioners, who participated in the treatment of
Sawyer, were infected with the virus.
Myth: This is the first major outbreak of Ebola.
Truth: This is the largest outbreak of Ebola in
history, but it is not the first. The virus was first
diagnosed in humans in 1976 in the Democratic
Republic of Congo, where it infected 318 people
and had an 88 per cent fatality rate. Since then,
various strains of the disease have popped up
around the African continent, infecting as many
as
425 people in 2000, and most recently, 57
people
in 2012, according to World Health Organisation,
as of August 4, 2014, the most recent count
available, Ebola virus in Liberia, Guinea, Sierra
Leone and Nigeria since the virus emerged again
this year.
Myth: Ebola can be treated with antibiotics,
chewing large quantity of bitter kola, onions, or
drinking condensed milk.
Truth: Antibiotics cure bacterial infections, not
viral
infections. At present, there is neither a cure nor
a
vaccine for the Ebola virus. Instead, there is an
experimental serum called ZMapp , which
contains
antibodies designed to help block the virus.
Before
the 2014 Ebola outbreak, it was only tested on
monkeys and has not been approved for human
use.
Myth: Ebola liquefies your organs, which causes
bleeding from the orifices.
Truth:Ebola symptoms can include bleeding from
the eyes, ears, nose and mouth. However, the
body’s organs are not liquefied. Once the Ebola
virus makes its way into the body, it gets in the
body’s cells and replicates itself. Then it
produces
a protein that is called ebolavirus glycoprotein,
and
attaches to the cells on the inside of the blood
vessels. This increases permeability of the blood
vessels, leading to blood “leaking out” of the
vessels. Even people who do not show
hemorrhagic symptoms will experience this
leaking
of blood from the vessels. The continuous loss of
blood will eventually lead to shock and ultimately
death.
To reduce the risk of human-to-human
transmission in the community, close contact
with
infected patients, particularly with their bodily
fluids need to be avoided. Also, do not touch
sick
people who show symptoms of Ebola, such as
fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, headaches and
sometimes heavy bleeding.
Gloves and appropriate personal protective
equipment should be worn when taking care of
ill
patients at home. Regular hand washing is
required after visiting patients in hospital, as well
as after taking care of patients at home.
Do not touch the dead bodies of suspected or
confirmed Ebola patients. Wash your hands with
water and soap regularly.
Make use of hand sanitisers after coming in
contact with objects for use in public places
Communities with any suspected case of Ebola
should inform the relevant authorities.
There should be prompt and safe burial of people
who have died of Ebola.
In conclusion, reducing the risk of wildlife-to-
human transmission from contact with infected
fruit bats, monkeys, apes, can be achieved by
thorough cooking of animal products, such as
blood and meat, to proper heat and sterilising
procedures. At this time, the consumption of raw
meat should be discouraged. Animals should be
handled with gloves and other appropriate
protective clothing.
Have a blessed weekend.
Copyright PUNCH. All rights reserved. This
material, and other digital content on this
website,
may not be reproduced, published, broadcast,
rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part
without prior express written permission from
PUNCH.
Contact: editor@punchng.com

.

cumz: .

oga Ade.. you dey book space?

Spencer63:
oga Ade.. you dey book space?

abi na
oga Seun...
please con push this thread for FP.. Na confirm FP material