Thursday, October 2, 2014

How to Best Prevent Ebola Infections

Prevention of Ebola virus infection

According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) the control and prevention of Ebola virus is based on three pillars:

     Control the infection in animals: there are currently no vaccines designed to prevent infection with the Ebola-Reston virus in animals, which is why we should apply chemical methods of disinfection using sodium hypochlorite and other detergents regularly in farm animals as monkeys and pigs. Suspecting outbreak of any animal should be quarantined or may even sacrifice themselves to prevent transmission to humans.
     Reducing the risk of human infection: the absence of a human vaccine nor specific treatment against infection with Ebola virus education of the population at risk is a key weapon. You must implement awareness campaigns on the various risk factors and protective measures against them. In some African countries, an outbreak of Ebola happen reporting mechanisms and dissemination of messages are activated to reduce the risks of transmission, which should focus on the following aspects:

 
  •          Reduce contact with wild animals that may be infected as apes, monkeys and some bats. Avoid eating raw meat.
  •          Use of gloves and protective clothing when handling animals.
  •          Use gloves, masks and gowns for special lower the risk of transmission from person to person as a result of close contact with infected people, particularly their body fluids.
  •          Wash hands frequently, especially after visiting sick relatives in hospital and after caregiving in the home.
  •          Disseminate messages informing the public about the characteristics of the disease and outbreak control measures, including burial of the deceased.
     Prevent Ebola infection in health centers: this refers to the use of isolation measures and use of necessary equipment (gloves, masks, gowns) to reduce the risk of transmission from patients to health professionals, such as doctors, nurses and laboratory technicians who handle blood and other body fluids of patients infected with the virus.

5 Things to Know About Ebola

ebola patient receiving treatment in latter stages of disease

The current outbreak of Ebola virus in West Africa, has been declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an international public health emergency, which must be implemented emergency measures to stop transmission between countries.

Countries affected so far just do not have the capacity to handle an outbreak of this size and complexity, on their own. I urge the international community to provide this support as urgently as possible. "

Although it now appears, the Organization had rightly expressed his concern about the situation:
             

What you should know

While many cases are located in the border area of ​​Guinea Conakry, Liberia and Sierra Leone, the declaration of emergency by the WHO shows that everyone should be informed regarding Ebola (EVE), so you share things you need to know.


 1. Causes: According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is caused by a virus belonging to the family called Filoviridae, which scientists have identified five types.

2Transmission: This disease can be primarily transmitted to humans from infected animals and materials, indicates that University.

Subsequently, the virus spreads in the community through transmission from person to person by direct contact, through mucous membranes or continuity solutions skin indicates WHO.

3 Symptoms: The FSC is a severe acute viral disease that is often characterized by the sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat, says the World Health Organization.

This is followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, liver kidney dysfunction, and in some cases internal and external bleeding.

4 Diagnosis: There are several tests that can be performed to find out if you have EVE, but before that WHO should be discarded indicates that the person suffers from malaria, typhoid, cholera and other viral haemorrhagic fevers.

Among existing laboratory tests that can detect Ebola are: the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the polymerase chain reaction reverse transcription (RT-PCR)

5. Prevention and treatment: Because there is no vaccine against type animal virus that gives animals, WHO recommends regular cleaning and disinfection of pig farms and will inactivate the virus and the disease can be prevented.

Medical researchers note that there is no known cure, existing antivirals do not work well against Ebola virus. So a sick person should be hospitalized and receive intensive care, but 90% of them die.

As the disease progresses is usually too late for your attention, it is important that everyone is informed about their proliferation. And that vulnerable countries to provide information for the Ebola virus.

Ebola History

If contracted, Ebola is one of the most deadly diseases that exist. It is a highly infectious virus which can kill more than 90% of the people who contract, causing a panic in infected populations.

The international humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders has treated hundreds of people with the disease and helped contain numerous threatening epidemics.

"I was collecting blood samples from patients. We did not have sufficient protective equipment and I developed the same symptoms, "says a Ugandan nurse. "On November 19, 2007, I received confirmation from the lab. I had contracted Ebola. "

 

The Background of Ebola 


The first time was the Ebola virus emerged in 1976 in simultaneous outbreaks in Nzara, Sudan, and Yambuku, the Democratic Republic of Congo, a region located near the Ebola River, which gives its name to the disease.

Frutívoros bats are considered the natural host of the Ebola virus. The fatality rate of the virus varies from 25 to 90% depending on the strain.

"MSF for Bundibugyo and was administered a treatment center. Many patients received care. Thank God I survived. After my recovery, I joined MSF, "Kiiza account.

It is estimated that by January 2013, more than 1,800 cases of Ebola have been diagnosed and nearly 1,300 deaths.

First, the Ebola virus has been associated with an outbreak of 318 cases of hemorrhagic disease in Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) in 1976 Of the 318 cases, 280 people died quickly. In the same year, 284 people in Sudan were also infected with the virus and 156 died.

There are five species of Ebola virus: Bundibugyo, Côte d'Ivoire, Reston, Sudan and Zaire, names of local data from their places of origin. Four of these five strains caused disease in humans. Even if the Reston virus can infect humans, no sickness or death have been reported.

MSF treated hundreds of people affected by Ebola in Uganda, Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Gabon and Guinea. In 2007, MSF completely contained an outbreak of Ebola in Uganda.

 

What causes Ebola?

 
Can be contracted Ebola both humans and animals. The virus is transmitted through contact with blood, secretions, or other bodily fluids.

Health workers are often infected while treating Ebola patients. This can occur due to contact without the use of gloves, masks or goggles appropriate.

In some areas of Africa, the infection was documented through contact with chimpanzees, gorillas, frutívoros bats, monkeys, antelopes and wild contaminated porcupines found dead or sick in the rainforest.

Funerals where people have direct contact with the deceased can also transmit the virus, whereas transmission via infected semen may occur up to seven weeks after clinical recovery.
No treatment or vaccine for Ebola.

 

What are the symptoms?

At first, the symptoms are nonspecific, which makes diagnosis difficult.

The disease is often characterized by sudden onset of fever, weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhea, itching, deficiency in liver and kidney functions, and in some cases internal and external bleeding.

The symptoms may appear two to 21 days after exposure to the virus. Some patients may have skin rashes, red eyes, hiccups, chest pains and difficulty breathing and swallowing.

 

How is Ebola Diagnosed? 

 
Ebola is difficult to diagnose because early symptoms such as red eyes and skin rashes are common.

Ebola infections can only be definitively diagnosed in the laboratory, after performing five different tests.

These tests are of great biological risk and should be conducted under conditions of maximum restraint. The number of human to human transmission occurred due to lack of protective clothing.

"Health workers are particularly susceptible to contracting the virus, then, for the treatment of patients, one of our main priorities is to train health staff to reduce the risk of contamination by disease while they are caring for infected people," says Henry Gray, MSF emergency coordinator during an outbreak of Ebola in Uganda in 2012.

"We have to adopt very strict security procedures to ensure that no health worker is exposed to the virus, either through contaminated material by patients or medical waste infected with Ebola."
 

What is the Treatment?

No specific treatment or vaccine for Ebola.

The standard treatment for the disease is limited to supportive care, which consists in hydrating the patient, maintaining their oxygen levels and blood pressure and treating any infections. Despite the difficulties in diagnosing Ebola in the early stages of the disease, those with symptoms should be isolated and the public health officials reported. The supportive therapy can continue as long as the protective clothing appropriate to that patient samples are tested to confirm infection are used.

MSF contained an Ebola outbreak in Uganda in 2012, installing a control area around the treatment center.

The end of an Ebola outbreak is officially declared only after the expiration of 42 days without any new confirmed case.

How Do You Know if You Have Ebola?