Ebola virus is fast spreading across West-Africa and
its cure is unknown. The Ebola disease first identified in 1976 around the
regions of South Sudan (former Sudan) and the Democratic Republic of Congo has
recently spread to other countries like Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and
Nigeria. The suspected case of Ebola virus as recorded by World Health Organisation
(WHO) has risen to 2,615 with 2,427 reported dead. The deadly disease has
several symptoms ranging from fever, headaches, and diarrhoea, vomiting, sore
throat, and rash and muscle pains. These symptoms can be mistaken for malaria,
cholera and fever. Ebola Virus can be contacted through body fluid from animals
such as Bats, Chimpanzees and Gorilla and direct contact with other people’s
blood, sweat, and dead bodies and contaminated medicated equipment. The symptom
starts manifesting within 2 to 21 days maximum after a person has contracted
the disease. It is therefore necessary for anyone experiencing any of these
signs to visit the hospital for proper control. Self treatment/medication must
be avoided when these symptoms are evident in order to prevent complication and
further damage to one’s health.
How
to prevent Ebola virus
There are certain measures that a person must
observe in order to prevent contacting the virus. Some of them are:
1. The importance of washing the hands with soap and
water cannot be overemphasized. Washing your hands after coming home from work
or arriving at the office is a vital measure to take. By doing this simple
task, you will have washed off any residue that may have contaminated your
hands. If you don’t have water, you can use clean sand and ash as recommended
by W.H.O.
2. Avoid contact with infected person’s bodily fluid
such as sweat, blood, embalming dead bodies and if possible saliva.
3. Hand disinfectants, including products such as detergent,
bleach and bleaching powder can be used as a means of disinfectant.
One positive aspect is that the disease is not air
borne, so do not be afraid of breathing fresh air even when you think someone
around you may have it. Simply avoid direct body contact with the person, don’t
say it’s my mother, father, wife, husband, aunt, brother, or friend.
Please add your own suggestion or idea on how to prevent this virus.
