By Kelechi Anozia.
The Ebola virus has claimed it’s first victim in Nigeria, a 40 year Liberian man on arrival at Lagos airport, he was rushed to the hospital where he later died. More than 660 people have died since February as a result of the virus and Nigeria is currently on ‘red alert’ as fears mount over a possible pandemic.
What is Ebola?
Fruit bats are thought to be the ‘original hosts’ of the Ebola virus, it was introduced to humans through ‘close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals.’ Human to human transmission results from direct contact with ‘blood secretions, organs or other bodily fluid of infected people, and indirect contact with environments contaminated with such fluids.’ Health workers and those that handle dead bodies are at high risk of contracting the disease. In Sierra Leone, Sheik Umar Khan, the doctor pioneering the fight against the disease in the country contracted it following the death of nurses at the treatment centre where he works.
Symptoms
The sudden onset of:
Fever
Intense weakness
Sore throat
Muscle pain
Followed by:
Rash
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Bleeding
Treatment
There is no vaccine or cure for the Ebola virus and the fatality rate is as high as 90%.
What can you do?
As there is no treatment, prevention is the only way to keep yourself safe. The Guardian, has outlined some precautionary measures:
- Avoiding direct and indirect contact with bodily fluids and tissue of infected persons is the way to go.
- The practice of barrier nursing for patients in hospitals is effective, so also is frequent hand washing using personal hand sanitizer.
- Fruits and vegetables must be washed properly before eating; avoid bush meat and even suya, which the source is not known.
- Avoid shaking of hands and hugging of people, at least for now.
- Watch children and even adults to discourage them from licking their fingers before washing. Nail biting should be avoided.
- The use of gloves and appropriate personal protective equipment must be used in taking care of ill patients. Proper handling of corpses, which may involve a modification of burial practices, is also a preventive step.
- Contact with body sweat or saliva could be a way of spreading the virus. As much as possible, it would be good to prepare your meals yourself.
Sources: WHO.