What is the Ebola Virus Disease?
In the recent days, another outbreak of one of the most fatal diseases known to mankind has taken the whole world by storm. The Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) or the Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever affects the primates and humans and has a fatality rate of 90%. The virus belongs to the Ebola species and is contacted when a person comes in contact with the body fluids and blood of an infected person or animal. Once contacted, the person tends to suffer from extensive external and internal bleeding or hemorrhage which ultimately results in death. While the disease is fatal, medical practitioners have been able to contain it during the previous occurrences. Awareness and proper precautions will certainly contain it this time too!
What are the causes of the disease?
The first step towards awareness about EVD is to understand what causes the disease and the things that a person must be careful about. There are a total of four sub-types of the Ebola virus. They are:
· Ebola Zaire
· Ebola- Ivory Coast
· Ebola – Sudan
· Ebola – Reston
The first three are potential causes of the disease in humans but the fourth one affects non-human primates only. Researchers believe that the virus uses animals like monkeys, bats and chimpanzees native to Africa as hosts and that human being contact the disease when they come in contact with these animals. Blood and body secretions are the mediums through which it gets transmitted to others.
· Contact with the infected person’s sweat, blood or other fluids can cause the disease to propagate.
· Contact with the infected animal’s body, consumption of infected meat that is not cooked properly is another cause
What DOES NOT cause Ebola virus infection?
· There is no evidence that proves that insect bites can cause the disease.
· EVD is not an airborne or waterborne disease. Neither does it spread through casual human contact.
· Besides infected meat, contact with other foods is not a medium of transfer of the virus.
What are the symptoms of Ebola infection?
After infections, the symptoms may take anytime between two to twenty one days to surface. The affected person does not become contagious until the symptoms appear. Common primary symptoms include:
· Fever
· Sore throat
· Muscle pain and headaches
Post this, the other major indications appear: These are:
· Diarrhea
· Body rashes
· Vomiting
· Dysfunction of vital organs like the liver and kidneys
· Reddened eyes
It is during this stage that the bleeding begins and the disease takes a toll. Blood may appear in the vomit, stool or along with cough.
What are the precautions to be taken against the virus?
The Ebola virus causes organ dysfunction and weakens blood vessels causing intense hemorrhages. Due to the contagious nature of the disease, the primary precaution is to effect extreme cautiousness while caring for infected patients or suspected cases. Other precautions include:
· Bush meat, if consumed, must be cleaned and cooked thoroughly.
· Even if minor symptoms surface, it is best to seek immediate medical help.
· Proper quarantine measures are essential to prevent further spread of the disease.
What should one do when a person in the vicinity contacts the disease?
Even if there is a suspicion that a person shows symptoms of the disease, the local Ebola treatment centre must be immediately contacted. Remember, the Ebola virus can be contained with diligence and awareness on a person’s part.
About Author
Manipal Hospitals has always been in the forefront when it comes to providing quality services and facilities to its patients since five decades. One of Asia’s largest health care Providers, Manipal is devoted in providing world category health care to one and every one.
In the recent days, another outbreak of one of the most fatal diseases known to mankind has taken the whole world by storm. The Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) or the Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever affects the primates and humans and has a fatality rate of 90%. The virus belongs to the Ebola species and is contacted when a person comes in contact with the body fluids and blood of an infected person or animal. Once contacted, the person tends to suffer from extensive external and internal bleeding or hemorrhage which ultimately results in death. While the disease is fatal, medical practitioners have been able to contain it during the previous occurrences. Awareness and proper precautions will certainly contain it this time too!
What are the causes of the disease?
The first step towards awareness about EVD is to understand what causes the disease and the things that a person must be careful about. There are a total of four sub-types of the Ebola virus. They are:
· Ebola Zaire
· Ebola- Ivory Coast
· Ebola – Sudan
· Ebola – Reston
The first three are potential causes of the disease in humans but the fourth one affects non-human primates only. Researchers believe that the virus uses animals like monkeys, bats and chimpanzees native to Africa as hosts and that human being contact the disease when they come in contact with these animals. Blood and body secretions are the mediums through which it gets transmitted to others.
· Contact with the infected person’s sweat, blood or other fluids can cause the disease to propagate.
· Contact with the infected animal’s body, consumption of infected meat that is not cooked properly is another cause
What DOES NOT cause Ebola virus infection?
· There is no evidence that proves that insect bites can cause the disease.
· EVD is not an airborne or waterborne disease. Neither does it spread through casual human contact.
· Besides infected meat, contact with other foods is not a medium of transfer of the virus.
What are the symptoms of Ebola infection?
After infections, the symptoms may take anytime between two to twenty one days to surface. The affected person does not become contagious until the symptoms appear. Common primary symptoms include:
· Fever
· Sore throat
· Muscle pain and headaches
Post this, the other major indications appear: These are:
· Diarrhea
· Body rashes
· Vomiting
· Dysfunction of vital organs like the liver and kidneys
· Reddened eyes
It is during this stage that the bleeding begins and the disease takes a toll. Blood may appear in the vomit, stool or along with cough.
What are the precautions to be taken against the virus?
The Ebola virus causes organ dysfunction and weakens blood vessels causing intense hemorrhages. Due to the contagious nature of the disease, the primary precaution is to effect extreme cautiousness while caring for infected patients or suspected cases. Other precautions include:
· Bush meat, if consumed, must be cleaned and cooked thoroughly.
· Even if minor symptoms surface, it is best to seek immediate medical help.
· Proper quarantine measures are essential to prevent further spread of the disease.
· Finally, awareness about the diseases, its causes, symptoms and precautions will certainly go a long way in containing its spread.
What should one do when a person in the vicinity contacts the disease?
Even if there is a suspicion that a person shows symptoms of the disease, the local Ebola treatment centre must be immediately contacted. Remember, the Ebola virus can be contained with diligence and awareness on a person’s part.
About Author
Manipal Hospitals has always been in the forefront when it comes to providing quality services and facilities to its patients since five decades. One of Asia’s largest health care Providers, Manipal is devoted in providing world category health care to one and every one.
