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 can be obtained from hospitals and public health departments. Proper training is required for one to properly use the equipment. The main components include a full body gown together with protective eye wear, a face mask, medical gloves and a shield. When handling infected sharps, ensure that you wear two pairs of gloves.
If you suspect that you have come into contact with an infected person, you need to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and plenty of water. A hand sanitizer may also be helpful in the event that water is a problem. This helps to reduce the risk of transmission both to you and others. Do not use items that have been used by a person suspected to be infected. Places that have been used by persons with the disease should be hosed down before they can be reused.
Disinfection and sterilization are procedures that can be instituted whenever there is a need to reuse equipment that has been contaminated. Chlorine bleach is particularly effective for needles and other sharps. The sharps are typically soaked in the bleach for about thirty minutes to kill the virus. This process has to be repeated at least twice. The bleach may also be used on large equipment and surfaces.
Even with death from Ebola, the virus does not die. The corpse remains a source of infection for a long time. It is during this period that the probability of getting infected is highest due to very high numbers of the virus. When disposing of the body, there should never be direct contact with it. Deaths from the virus must be reported to the public health department.
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.
Controlling the Ebola outbreak requires a well coordinated disease surveillance system. Such a system helps in early disease detection and prompt intervention to interfere with the transmission. Patients with a confirmed diagnosis should be treated in isolation. Only persons that are properly trained should attend to the patients.
Personal protective equipment can be obtained from hospitals and public health departments. Proper training is required for one to properly use the equipment. The main components include a full body gown together with protective eye wear, a face mask, medical gloves and a shield. When handling infected sharps, ensure that you wear two pairs of gloves.
If you suspect that you have come into contact with an infected person, you need to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and plenty of water. A hand sanitizer may also be helpful in the event that water is a problem. This helps to reduce the risk of transmission both to you and others. Do not use items that have been used by a person suspected to be infected. Places that have been used by persons with the disease should be hosed down before they can be reused.
Disinfection and sterilization are procedures that can be instituted whenever there is a need to reuse equipment that has been contaminated. Chlorine bleach is particularly effective for needles and other sharps. The sharps are typically soaked in the bleach for about thirty minutes to kill the virus. This process has to be repeated at least twice. The bleach may also be used on large equipment and surfaces.
Even with death from Ebola, the virus does not die. The corpse remains a source of infection for a long time. It is during this period that the probability of getting infected is highest due to very high numbers of the virus. When disposing of the body, there should never be direct contact with it. Deaths from the virus must be reported to the public health department.
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.
Controlling the Ebola outbreak requires a well coordinated disease surveillance system. Such a system helps in early disease detection and prompt intervention to interfere with the transmission. Patients with a confirmed diagnosis should be treated in isolation. Only persons that are properly trained should attend to the patients.
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