The dreaded EBOLA

Ebola virus disease caused by Ebola virus(zaire ebola virus), causes an extremely severe hemorrhagic fever in humans and other primates. The name Zaire ebolavirus is derived from Zaire (the country in which Ebola virus was first discovered)

 Ebola first appeared in 1976 in 2 simultaneous outbreaks, in Nzara, Sudan, and in Yambuku, Democratic Republic of Congo. The latter was in a village situated near the Ebola River, from which the disease takes its name. 

okay enough of the history,for more... google is your friend.

Here are KEY FACTS we need to know;

   * Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans (kills withing a week if not treated).

   * EVD outbreaks have a case fatality rate of up to 90%.

   * EVD outbreaks occur primarily in remote villages in Central and West Africa, near tropical rainforests.

  *  The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission.

   * Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are considered to be the natural host of the Ebola virus.

   * Severely ill patients require intensive supportive care. 

No licensed specific treatment or vaccine is available for use in people or animals.

TRANSMISSION:

It is introduced into the human population through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other body fluids of infected animals. In Africa, infection has been documented through the handling of infected chimpanzees, gorillas, fruit bats, monkeys, forest antelope and porcupines found ill or dead or in the rainforest.

It then spreads in the community through human-to-human transmission, with infection resulting from direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and indirect contact with environments contaminated with such fluids. Burial ceremonies in which mourners have direct contact with the body of the deceased person can also play a role in the transmission of Ebola ,hence they are cremated. Men who have recovered from the disease can still transmit the virus through their semen for up to 7 weeks after recovery from illness.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

They include;

-sudden onset of fever,

- intense weakness, 

-muscle pain,

- headache and sore throat. 

This is followed by vomiting, 

-diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding.

 Laboratory findings include low white blood cell and platelet counts and elevated liver enzymes.

The incubation period is 2 to 21 days.

 Other diseases that should be ruled out before a diagnosis of EVD can be made include: malaria, typhoid fever, shigellosis, cholera, leptospirosis, plague, rickettsiosis, relapsing fever, meningitis, hepatitis and other viral haemorrhagic fevers.

Now to the main gist,its  about  the incidence that occurred some days back about an out break  in Lagos which was unfortunately through a Liberian Mr. Sawyer, here is what  the Lagos state commissioner for health Dr. Jide Idris has to say about this..

As reported by CHANNELS TV today  he affirmed that there had only been one case of imported Ebola resulting in the death of a Liberian diplomat in Lagos.

He emphasized that health authorities were being very proactive about the detection of the Ebola Virus in the Liberian, who was on his way to Calabar for a conference, by ensuring that all contacts were being actively followed. Part of the measures taken after the death of the Liberian was the demobilisation of the private hospital where he was admitted and elimination of primary source of infection.

He stated that the decontamination process in all affected areas had commenced.

“The corpse of the victim has since been cremated, and the ash is awaiting further directives from the Liberian Embassy,” (adhering strictly to WHO guidelines)he said, commending the Management of the hospital for effectively detecting a high-risk patient within 24 hours.” The vehicle that conveyed the remains was also fully decontaminated,” he added.

In terms of contacts tracing, Dr Idris explained that so far a total of 59 contacts was registered consisting of 44 hospital contacts (38 healthcare workers and six laboratory staff) and 15 Airport contacts comprising 3 ECOWAS staff-driver, Liaison, and Protocol officers, Nigerian Ambassador to Monrovia, two nursing staff and five Airport passenger handlers.

He further explained that out of the number, 20 contacts had been physically screened of which 50 per cent were of the type one contact and another 50 per cent had type two contacts. 

Currently, the Nigerian federal government is making plans to set up isolation disease centres at international airports across the country.

  

 Hmmm,we sincerely want to believe this is true , this shouldn’t give room from relaxation ,infact the health sector needs to sit up (sadly ,the strike seemed more important than this incidence,whatever happened to the Hippocratic oat?) odiegwu oo…as some would say.

What is your take on this issue please? Is this all there is to be done?

Regards,
Blog Team.