July 30, 2014

Ebola Virus: The What, Where, How and more

This is particularly for my African readers; more specifically those in West Africa. However, just because you're in other parts of the world, this is information that may be helpful because of air travel. Most of the information listed here is from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) websites.

I'm going to make this as easy as possible to read, because I know some people just don't have the attention span to read a whole bunch. I don't even have the attention span to write out everything. If you want more info, just click on the any of the websites above.

berry dakara


WHAT IS EBOLA?
Ebola is a virus. It causes Ebola Virus Disease (formerly known as Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever), which is severe and has up to a 90% fatality rate in humans.

WHERE DID IT COME FROM?
The natural hosts of the virus are considered to be fruit bats in Africa. (I know some parts of Nigeria eat bats - STAY AWAY OOO). The first Ebola outbreak happened in 1976 in Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo. In fact, it gets its name from the Ebola River in DRC.

HOW DOES SOMEONE GET IT?
Initially, someone has to have come in contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of an infected animal. Then human-to-human transmission occurs when a person comes in contact with bodily fluids of someone who is infected. Exposure to objects, such as needles, that have been contaminated with secretions of an infected person, can also lead to transmission of the disease. Additionally, it's probable that mourners of people who died, that come in contact with the corpse, may also get it.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Joint and muscle aches
  • Weakness
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Stomach pain
  • Lack of appetite
Some patients may experience:
  • A Rash
  • Red Eyes
  • Hiccups
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Chest pain
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Bleeding inside and outside of the body
Symptoms may appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure to ebolavirus though 8-10 days is most common.

DIAGNOSIS
Just because you have the symptoms above, doesn't necessarily mean you have Ebola. Malaria, Typhoid fever, Meningitis, Cholera, as well as a few other illnesses, have similar symptoms. It's important that you get yourself to a hospital immediately anyways, and get tested.

VACCINE/TREATMENT
Unfortunately, no vaccine or cure is available against Ebola. Vaccines and treatments are being researched, but none are available for clinical use. The only thing that can be done is to manage those who are already infected. They are usually severely dehydrated, and therefore need oral rehydration with electrolyte solutions or intravenous fluids.

All infected people and animals must be immediately quarantined to prevent further spread of the disease.

HOW CAN I PROTECT MYSELF?
1. Be AWARE! Read up what you can on Ebola - Google is your friend. And help to spread the word around.
2. Wash your hands regularly. Cakes and I have bought hand sanitizers to carry around with us. They have little bottles available in stores and pharmacies.
3. I would also limit bodily contact with strangers right now.
4. If you're in the healthcare field, make sure to wear gloves, masks, goggles, etc, keep instruments sanitized/sterilized. This should be the case with any ill person who comes in for care, because you only find out it's Ebola AFTER they've been tested.
5. DON'T EAT BATS!

Okay, that's about all I think is necessary for now. Stay safe everyone!

*no hugs and definitely no kisses today*

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8 comments:

  1. Let me tell you a little thing about hand saniters. They are one of the greatest carriers of germs. Imagine a scenario where you just shook someone's sweaty palm. You dip your contaminated palm into your bag, to grab the bottle, you have already transferred germs to the outer part of the bottle. So, you apply the contents of the bottle, rub your palms together and guess what, the palm you just "sanitised", TOUCHES the bottle again to put it back in your bag or car. See what I mean? Scenario 2, you still grab the bottle, squirt out the solution and put it back into your bag before you "clean your hands", guess what, by touching the bottle in the first place, you have transferred germs to its surface, which you put back in your bag and zip it. That bottle will touch every other thing in your bag as you walk around, further spreading the germs. If you ever need to pick up anything in your bag, you get re-contaminated again. How about the surface of your phone. See, hand saniters, especially those bottles you can pick up at supermarkets are not as effective as we think they are. Soap and water, always your best bet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL, fair enough. But I would use hand sanitizers in addition to washing my hands, not in exclusion.

      Delete
  2. Berry I won't gree oh. You must send the hugs and kisses. Ebola or no ebola.lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. NEVER!!! If you ain't Cakes or a cute little baby, I ain't touching. In fact, go and stand THERE... no, THERE... THERE has even moved further away.

      Delete
    2. If only I stayed in Lagos.
      I would be that person sitting next to you in Church going "pls can I use your pen /share your bible/get a sheet of paper"?
      *evil smile*. Don't start looking out for me on Sunday oh.lol.
      Ebola isn't any of our portions in Jesus Name.amen

      Delete
  3. Lmaoooooo at don't eat bats

    BLEURGH - http://www.bleurghnow.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks Berry for the info.

    www.mylifeasmoby.com

    ReplyDelete

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