Ebola is a viral disease that is spread through body fluids. It can survive in blood, mucus semen, saliva and even sweat. While a number of vaccines are at different phases of clinical trials, none has been approved for use in humans. The only way of ensuring that you remain protected is staying away from the virus. Personal protective equipment may confer Ebola protection when used in accordance with the existing guidelines.
Personal protective equipment should be worn by persons handling infected materials. The virus is transmitted in fluids such as saliva, blood, sweat or vomit. It is important that we stay as far away from these fluids as possible. The personal protective equipment is a fully body suit that comprises a gown, face mask, medical gloves and protective eye wear. Ensure that you put on two pairs of gloves especially when handling infected sharp objects.
Washing hands regularly helps to reduce the risk of transmission. Soap and water are often sufficient. If you have trouble getting water, you may use an alcohol based hand sanitizer as an alternative. Items that have been used by an infected person are likely to be contaminated and should not be reused, any rooms that have been used by infected persons should be hosed down before reuse.
Items that need to be reused can either be disinfected or sterilized. Sharps and other sharps can be effectively disinfected by soaking in chlorine bleach for about thirty minutes. The process is repeated about two or three times for maximal results. Chlorine bleach is also effective in cleaning up surfaces and large equipment. Heat resilient items may be boiled for about twenty minutes to achieve the same results.
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.
Apart from human beings, the virus has been shown to also infect bats and non-human primates. Scientists strongly believe that the first case of this illness originated from these hosts. Body fluids from these hosts should also be avoided. Meat derived from infected animals particularly if raw is highly infective and should never be consumed.
Persons with a history of recent travel to an endemic area need to undergo self monitoring for a few days. They should look out for a fever that is usually associated with other symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, muscle pains, unexplained bleeding or headache. The wise thing to do once these symptoms are experienced is to contact the public health department. The disease takes about two weeks to incubate before symptoms are experienced.
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 should be worn by persons handling infected materials. The virus is transmitted in fluids such as saliva, blood, sweat or vomit. It is important that we stay as far away from these fluids as possible. The personal protective equipment is a fully body suit that comprises a gown, face mask, medical gloves and protective eye wear. Ensure that you put on two pairs of gloves especially when handling infected sharp objects.
Washing hands regularly helps to reduce the risk of transmission. Soap and water are often sufficient. If you have trouble getting water, you may use an alcohol based hand sanitizer as an alternative. Items that have been used by an infected person are likely to be contaminated and should not be reused, any rooms that have been used by infected persons should be hosed down before reuse.
Items that need to be reused can either be disinfected or sterilized. Sharps and other sharps can be effectively disinfected by soaking in chlorine bleach for about thirty minutes. The process is repeated about two or three times for maximal results. Chlorine bleach is also effective in cleaning up surfaces and large equipment. Heat resilient items may be boiled for about twenty minutes to achieve the same results.
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.
Apart from human beings, the virus has been shown to also infect bats and non-human primates. Scientists strongly believe that the first case of this illness originated from these hosts. Body fluids from these hosts should also be avoided. Meat derived from infected animals particularly if raw is highly infective and should never be consumed.
Persons with a history of recent travel to an endemic area need to undergo self monitoring for a few days. They should look out for a fever that is usually associated with other symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, muscle pains, unexplained bleeding or headache. The wise thing to do once these symptoms are experienced is to contact the public health department. The disease takes about two weeks to incubate before symptoms are experienced.
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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