Following the outbreak of the deadly
Ebola disease in some African countries it has become imperative to once again
arm Nigerians with the vital information they need to safeguard themselves
and
families considering the high mobility of Nigerians and the daily influx of
Africans into Nigeria most of which occur through informal channels.
Unlike the response to the Ebola
outbreak in 2014 when the nation earned accolades following the strategic
management of the disease, the mediocre manner in which the current Nigerian
Government has managed the lassa fever epidemic is an indicator that if
Nigerians don’t personally take needed public health safety steps, thousands
would have died before those saddled with the responsibility for public health
and safety realize what their duties are
What is Ebola Virus Disease?
Ebola virus disease or EVD is a
viral hemorrhagic fever of humans caused by ebolaviruses. The Signs and
symptoms of Ebola disease typically start between two days and three weeks
after contracting the virus with a fever, muscular pain, headaches and sore throat.
This is usually followed by, vomiting, diarrhea and some people begin to bleed
both internally and externally after the organs of the body become affected.
The disease currently has no cure although a new Ebola vaccine is currently
being tested following some recent outbreaks.
What You Should Do to limit Your
Risk of Contracting Ebola disease
1. Avoid
bush meat or any meat you are not sure of its source.
2. Wash
your hands frequently with detergent, soap using clean water.
3. Avoid
trips to Ebola endemic countries (DRC , UGANDA , CONGO, GABON etc)
4. Avoid
unnecessary handshakes, get a hand sanitizer for people to use in your office
and educate them on the importance of the sanitizers, Get one for your kids to
use in school frequently and if possible for their class.
5. Avoid
buying food stuffs, clothing or other personal materials from markets/shops
that share the same vicinity with live or roasted bush meat dealer’s or sellers
6. Be
careful with hands when using railings on the stairs, door knobs and other
utilities used by the public.
7. Gloves
and other appropriate protective clothing should be worn when handling sick
animals or their tissues
8. Watch
out for people with flu-like symptoms such as sudden fever
9. Avoid
Pig farms, Pig farms in Africa play a role in the amplification of infection
because of the presence of fruit bats on these farms.
10. Avoid bat meats and bat products
Precautionary Measure for Health
Workers
The world Health Organization (WHO)
recommends the following standard precautionary measures in the care and
treatment of all patients regardless of their perceived or confirmed infectious
status. They include the basic level of infection control—hand hygiene, use of
personal protective equipment to avoid direct contact with blood and body
fluids, prevention of needle stick and injuries from other sharp instruments,
and a set of environmental controls.
Signs and Symptoms of Ebola Virus
Disease
1.Fever
2.Intense
weakness
3.Muscle
pain,
4.Headache
and sore throat.
5.Followed
by vomiting, Diarrhea, Rash, Impaired kidney and Liver function, and in some
cases, both internal and external bleeding
“It is a tragedy, at rate at which
EBOLA VIRUS is spreading in West Africa. It is a fatal disease in the history
of the world. Intensive education (formal and informal approaches) of the
citizens of African can help prevent the spread. International cooperation is
urgently needed to combat the EBOLA virus.”
-Lailah Gifty Akita
***
Source: Public Health
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