There is no doubt that the Ebola outbreak has created a lot of fear all over the world. The main driving force behind this fear is the fact the virus spreads very first and seems unstoppable once it starts taking down a population. Is there any way to protect ourselves against the disease? Unfortunately, there is no vaccine that has been approved as yet. The only proven way of Ebola protection is to avoid getting into contact with the virus.
Personal protective equipment can be obtained from hospitals and public health departments. Proper training is required for one to properly use the equipment. The main components include a full body gown together with protective eye wear, a face mask, medical gloves and a shield. When handling infected sharps, ensure that you wear two pairs of gloves.
If you suspect that you have come into contact with an infected person, you need to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and plenty of water. A hand sanitizer may also be helpful in the event that water is a problem. This helps to reduce the risk of transmission both to you and others. Do not use items that have been used by a person suspected to be infected. Places that have been used by persons with the disease should be hosed down before they can be reused.
If you have items that need to be re-used then proper disinfection and sterilization are necessary. Chlorine bleach is effective for needles and other sharps. The sharps should be soaked for at least thirty seconds in the bleach. Bleach solution is also effective in cleaning surfaces and equipment. The process should be repeated at least twice. Heat resilient items can be sterilized by boiling for about twenty minutes.
People who die from Ebola remain infectious for a long period of time. The virus feeds on the tissues until the whole body has decomposed. This means that careful disposal of corpses is required. Any death that is suspected to be a result of Ebola should be reported to the local department of public health. There should be no direct contact whatsoever.
Other animals other than human beings have also been shown to be hosts of the virus. Some of the well known animals that are commonly infected include fruit eating bats in the tropical rainforests and non-human primates. It is widely believed that the first infection in humans originated from these hosts. Any fluids and tissues from these animals may transmit the illness and should be avoided.
If you have a history of recent travel to a place with confirmed cases of the virus, you need to monitor yourself. Look out for an increase in your body temperature that may suggest a fever. The virus usually takes a couple of days to incubate. If you experience such a fever with or without any of the following symptoms: abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle pains, headache or unexplained bleeding, go the hospital immediately.
To control the Ebola outbreak, there is a need to have a well coordinated surveillance system that helps in early disease detection and prompt intervention. This is the only way that will help interrupt disease transmission. Persons with confirmed disease should be isolated for treatment. Only properly trained medical personnel should attend to them.
Personal protective equipment can be obtained from hospitals and public health departments. Proper training is required for one to properly use the equipment. The main components include a full body gown together with protective eye wear, a face mask, medical gloves and a shield. When handling infected sharps, ensure that you wear two pairs of gloves.
If you suspect that you have come into contact with an infected person, you need to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and plenty of water. A hand sanitizer may also be helpful in the event that water is a problem. This helps to reduce the risk of transmission both to you and others. Do not use items that have been used by a person suspected to be infected. Places that have been used by persons with the disease should be hosed down before they can be reused.
If you have items that need to be re-used then proper disinfection and sterilization are necessary. Chlorine bleach is effective for needles and other sharps. The sharps should be soaked for at least thirty seconds in the bleach. Bleach solution is also effective in cleaning surfaces and equipment. The process should be repeated at least twice. Heat resilient items can be sterilized by boiling for about twenty minutes.
People who die from Ebola remain infectious for a long period of time. The virus feeds on the tissues until the whole body has decomposed. This means that careful disposal of corpses is required. Any death that is suspected to be a result of Ebola should be reported to the local department of public health. There should be no direct contact whatsoever.
Other animals other than human beings have also been shown to be hosts of the virus. Some of the well known animals that are commonly infected include fruit eating bats in the tropical rainforests and non-human primates. It is widely believed that the first infection in humans originated from these hosts. Any fluids and tissues from these animals may transmit the illness and should be avoided.
If you have a history of recent travel to a place with confirmed cases of the virus, you need to monitor yourself. Look out for an increase in your body temperature that may suggest a fever. The virus usually takes a couple of days to incubate. If you experience such a fever with or without any of the following symptoms: abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle pains, headache or unexplained bleeding, go the hospital immediately.
To control the Ebola outbreak, there is a need to have a well coordinated surveillance system that helps in early disease detection and prompt intervention. This is the only way that will help interrupt disease transmission. Persons with confirmed disease should be isolated for treatment. Only properly trained medical personnel should attend to them.
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