Basic Epidemiology Of Ebola


Ebola is a deadly and infectious virus disease that originate from Zaire and Sudan in 1976. The name Ebola was derived from river Ebola in Zaire. Ebola is also referred to as Ebola hemorrhagic fever. Ebola virus disease affects human beings and other primates such as monkeys. After the first outbreak of Ebola virus in Sudan and Zaire, there have been other cases in several countries such as Uganda and currently West Africa countries which are Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Senegal. The outbreak in the West Africa has resulted to deaths of a large number of people. Ebola virus is passed to human beings from wild animals and then is transmitted from one person to the other through different ways. Basic Epidemiology of Ebola refers to the study of how Ebola spreads and how to control it; which will be explained in this essay.


Ebola virus takes two to twenty one days to be infectious. The virus can only be transmitted from one person to another once the symptoms begin to show. The first Ebola symptoms are, fever that is accompanied by fatigue, headache, muscle pain and sore throat. The victim also begins to vomit, diarrhea, liver and kidney failure and bleeding both internal and external bleeding. The victim may also notice blood in the stool. Ebola is spread through direct contact with an infected person or animal. It can be through body fluids such as sweat, saliva, mucus, feces, vomit and blood of an Ebola victim. The virus can never be spread through air. An infected person cannot spread the virus by sneezing or coughing. People are advised to avoid touching open wounds, nose, mouth and blisters of an infected person whether dead or alive.


Ebola virus can also be spread through blood transfusion from persons with Ebola if only the symptoms have developed. Insects like mosquitos do not transmit Ebola virus. It is only transmitted by mammals that include; human beings, apes and monkeys. The virus can be prevented and controlled through different ways. One of the ways to control Ebola is by avoiding direct contact with wild animals. People should use gloves or any other protective outfit while handling animals such as monkeys and apes. It is also important to thoroughly cook animal products such as meat. Another way to control Ebola virus is through practicing safe burials of people who died from Ebola. People who may have been in direct contact with an Ebola victim, should be screened thoroughly and treated immediately to avoid the virus from spreading.


Conclusively, health practitioners should always handle Ebola victims with a lot of care. Hygiene is also crucial and this is what all health workers should put in mind. This includes; safe injection, hands and respiratory hygiene. Contaminated areas and surfaces such as clothes and beddings should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. Laboratory technicians should also be careful when handling samples because some samples may contain the virus. All health institutions should be well equipped and the staff involved should be highly trained.

 
 
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